Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sonnet: Try - No More Access to Her Underpants" by John Updike is a poignant and vivid exploration of lost intimacy and emotional alienation. The sonnet uses evocative imagery and a tone of lament to capture the speaker's sense of estrangement from a woman with whom he once shared a deep, physical connection. The poem weaves together elements of desire, memory, and bitterness, reflecting the complexity of relationships that have soured.

The poem opens with a striking image of the woman in a red dress, which immediately establishes a sense of distance. The dress acts as a "carapace upon her tasty flesh," suggesting that what was once accessible and intimate has now become shielded and remote. The red dress, stretched across her back, symbolizes the barrier that now exists between her and the speaker. The reference to her back being "bare for me no more" reinforces the loss of intimacy and the speaker's longing for a past closeness.

The imagery in the poem is intensely physical, recalling moments of intimacy with detailed sensuality—"that once so nicely bent itself in bed / to take my thrusts and then my stunned caress." These memories highlight the physical relationship they once shared, making the current emotional distance even more painful. The "film / of down, of sheen, upon the dulcet skin" underscores a detailed and cherished memory, emphasizing what the speaker now misses.

However, the tone shifts at the poem's volta where the woman is described as turning "to others at the party." This moment marks a clear division between past and present, highlighting her disinterest and emotional unavailability. The description of her physical features continues, but they are now objects of loss rather than pleasure: "Her ass, its solemn cleft; her breasts, their tips / as tender in color as the milk-white bit / above the pubic curls; her eyes like pits / of warmth in the tousled light." Each detail serves to remind the speaker of what is no longer his, deepening the sense of loss.

The final lines of the sonnet are sharply bitter, describing the woman as locked "in antarctic ice by this bitch." The use of the word "bitch" reveals the speaker's anger and frustration, suggesting a turn from mere sorrow to resentment. This harsh ending starkly contrasts with the sensual and nostalgic tone of the earlier lines, reflecting the complex emotions that can accompany the end of a relationship.

Overall, the sonnet is a powerful depiction of longing, memory, and the pain of lost intimacy. Updike's use of rich imagery and the structured form of the sonnet craft a deeply emotional narrative that captures the universal themes of love, loss, and bitterness.

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