Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Whom Do You Visualize as Your Reader?" is a playful yet thoughtful exploration of the imagined audience for the poet's work. The poem succinctly presents three different figures who represent varying relationships to the poet and her writing, each one shedding light on the complexities of the poet's self-perception and the potential reception of her work.

The first figure is "the humanities 5 section man / who has been sharpening / his red pencil / these twenty years." This character represents the archetype of the academic critic, someone who has spent decades analyzing, critiquing, and perhaps even finding fault with literary works. The "red pencil" is a symbol of correction and judgment, a tool used to mark errors or suggest revisions. The fact that this person has been "sharpening" the pencil for "these twenty years" suggests a relentless, perhaps overly meticulous, approach to criticism. This figure might be seen as a source of anxiety for the poet, representing the fear of harsh judgment or the pressure to meet high standards. Yet, by visualizing this reader, the poet acknowledges the reality of literary scrutiny, which is an integral part of the writing process.

The second figure is "my mother / who suspected me / of such thoughts / all along." This reader represents a more personal and intimate relationship, where the act of writing is deeply connected to familial expectations and perceptions. The mother’s "suspicion" of the poet's thoughts suggests a sense of pre-emptive judgment or concern, as if the mother always knew that her child harbored complex, perhaps troubling, ideas. This figure might evoke feelings of vulnerability for the poet, as the act of writing reveals thoughts and emotions that could confirm a parent's fears or suspicions. It reflects the tension between the desire for self-expression and the need to navigate familial relationships, where one's innermost thoughts might be both expected and feared.

The third figure is "the running back / who after the last touchdown / reads my poems by his locker / instead of the sports page." This character is perhaps the most surprising and delightfully unexpected of the three. The image of a running back—a figure typically associated with physicality, athleticism, and a focus on sports—turning to poetry in a quiet moment of reflection suggests the broad, unexpected appeal of the poet's work. It also hints at the transformative power of poetry, which can reach audiences outside of traditional literary circles. This reader represents the possibility of connection beyond the poet's usual or anticipated audience, suggesting that poetry has the potential to resonate with anyone, regardless of their background or interests.

In "Whom Do You Visualize as Your Reader?" Pastan cleverly encapsulates the diverse and sometimes conflicting relationships between a poet and her audience. Each imagined reader reflects different aspects of the poet's concerns, hopes, and the impact of her work. The academic critic, the watchful mother, and the unexpected athlete together create a tapestry of possible readers, illustrating the multifaceted nature of a poet's engagement with her audience. The poem suggests that, in writing, one must navigate the pressures of criticism, the expectations of loved ones, and the hope for broad, perhaps surprising, connections.

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