Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jonathan Williams's poem "Fastball" is a playful yet poignant exploration of ambition, failure, and legacy, using baseball as an extended metaphor to reflect on the life and myth of Walt Whitman. Through fragmented lines, allusions, and sharp wordplay, Williams combines the cultural iconography of America’s pastime with Whitman’s expansive poetic persona. The poem intertwines humor with reverence, positioning Whitman as both a towering figure and a fallible human, ultimately portraying the complexity of striving for greatness.

The poem opens with a dedication "(for WW, Hot for Honorary Installation at Cooperstown)," immediately tying Whitman to the world of baseball, specifically the Baseball Hall of Fame. This tongue-in-cheek dedication situates Whitman as a legendary figure worthy of mythic status, much like the sport's greatest players. However, by framing the poem as an honorary installation rather than a true one, Williams hints at a tension between aspiration and recognition, setting the stage for an exploration of Whitman’s symbolic "at-bat."

The first stanza introduces the idea of folklore: "not just folklore, or / a tall can of corn (or Grass on Cranberry Street)." Here, Williams melds baseball jargon with literary allusion. A "tall can of corn" refers to an easily caught fly ball, while "Grass on Cranberry Street" alludes to Whitman’s Leaves of Grass and his ties to Brooklyn, where Cranberry Street is located. The fusion of baseball slang and literary reference emphasizes the overlap between the mythologizing of sports heroes and literary giants. Whitman is positioned as both an everyman and a legend, whose "at-bat" carries the weight of cultural expectation.

The phrase "to point at the wall and win / the whole ball of wax" evokes Babe Ruth’s famous called shot, where he allegedly pointed to the outfield before hitting a home run. This gesture becomes a metaphor for daring ambition, for the act of declaring one’s intent to achieve greatness. Yet the stanza’s transition to "yet" signals a shift, preparing the reader for an unexpected outcome.

The next section reveals Whitman’s "strikeout," framing it as both literal and symbolic: "Walt Whitman / struck out, singing." The juxtaposition of failure ("struck out") with the joyous act of singing encapsulates Whitman’s ethos—his unwavering celebration of life, even in the face of defeat. The following lines, "'rambled / all around, / in & out the town,'" reflect Whitman’s characteristic wanderlust and his poetic embrace of movement, diversity, and experience. The fragmentation of "ram- / bled" mirrors the meandering nature of Whitman’s journeys and writings, while the abrupt conclusion, "til the butchers / cut him down," introduces a darker tone, hinting at mortality and the inevitable end of his expansive vision.

The poem’s middle section adopts the language of baseball to describe Whitman’s effort: "hard from the heels, swung, / took a notion, had a hankering." These phrases evoke a vigorous, wholehearted attempt, underscoring Whitman’s boldness and commitment. Yet the conclusion—"had good wood, but / came out – / a ripple / in the breeze"—deflates the grandiosity of the moment. The image of a "ripple in the breeze" captures both the fleeting nature of individual effort and the humility of failure, contrasting with the towering myth Whitman represents.

The poem concludes with a playful and irreverent epithet: "bingo! – / old solitary Whiff-Beard." The term "Whiff" is baseball slang for a strikeout, and "Beard" alludes to Whitman’s iconic facial hair. By dubbing him "Whiff-Beard," Williams transforms Whitman into a figure of both humor and pathos, encapsulating his mix of grandeur and fallibility. The nickname also suggests a sense of enduring individuality—Whitman remains "old solitary," a unique and solitary force despite his shortcomings.

Structurally, the poem mirrors its thematic exploration of unpredictability and fragmentation. The use of enjambment, uneven line lengths, and scattered punctuation reflects the chaotic rhythm of a baseball game, as well as the fits and starts of creative ambition. The interplay between high culture (Whitman’s poetic legacy) and popular culture (baseball imagery) creates a layered and textured reading experience, emphasizing the universal nature of striving and falling short.

Thematically, "Fastball" examines ambition, effort, and the inevitable gap between myth and reality. Through the metaphor of Whitman’s strikeout, Williams explores the paradox of greatness: the simultaneous celebration of bold attempts and acknowledgment of human limitations. By framing Whitman’s "at-bat" as both a failure and a moment of joy, the poem underscores the importance of effort and authenticity over the final result.

In conclusion, "Fastball" by Jonathan Williams is a witty and multifaceted meditation on ambition, failure, and legacy, using baseball as a lens through which to view Whitman’s expansive life and work. Through its playful language and rich allusions, the poem captures the spirit of striving and the inevitability of imperfection, celebrating both the grandeur of effort and the humility of being human. Whitman’s "strikeout" becomes a metaphor for the universal pursuit of meaning and greatness, reminding us that even in failure, there is poetry.

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