Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Going. The Letters. The Staying" by Joshua Beckman is a deeply evocative poem that weaves together themes of transition, communication, and the intense, often ineffable experiences that mark human existence. Through a series of fragmented yet interconnected images and actions—going, writing letters, staying—Beckman captures the essence of life's fluidity and the profound impact of seemingly mundane moments.

The poem opens by laying out its primary motifs: "The going. The letters. The staying." This triptych sets the framework for understanding the narrative as a cycle of departures, exchanges, and continuities. Each element holds its own significance, suggesting movement, connection, and perseverance, respectively. The repetition of "The life of the little boy" emphasizes the centrality of this character, perhaps representing innocence, growth, or the essence of human vulnerability and wonder.

The mention of "The letter. The mushrooms." followed by the direct address "Dear Mom," introduces a personal and intimate tone. The speaker recounts an experience of taking mushrooms, a moment shared that transcends the ordinary through a heightened sense of awareness and connection. This experience is not only a bonding moment but also a point of transformation, where the ordinary—"Our skin. The boy getting on the bus and the street lamp"—becomes imbued with new meaning and significance.

The repeated phrase "It’s getting cooler" juxtaposes the internal, warm, and immersive experience induced by the mushrooms with the external reality of changing weather, perhaps signaling a transition in time or a shift in emotional state. This refrain, along with "It’s a little bit better," suggests a subtle but noticeable change in the speaker's perspective or circumstances, hinting at the therapeutic or enlightening effect of their experience.

The imagery of taking mushrooms and boarding a crowded bus portrays a merging of personal revelation with the collective experience of urban life. This blending of the individual and the communal reflects the poem's exploration of connection—to others, to the environment, and to the self. "I’m writing to say how everyone seemed" leaves the reader on the cusp of insight, suggesting that the speaker has gained a new understanding or empathy towards the people around them, though the precise nature of this realization remains tantalizingly unspoken.

Beckman's poem is characterized by its sparse language and the deliberate ambiguity of its imagery, inviting multiple interpretations and reflections. The cyclic structure—returning to the themes of going, letters, and staying—mirrors the rhythms of life, where beginnings and endings, communications, and periods of stability are intertwined. The focus on the life of the little boy, mentioned repeatedly, anchors the poem in the continuity of existence, the cycles of learning, experiencing, and growing.

"The Going. The Letters. The Staying" is a meditation on the moments that define and connect us, the small transformations that occur within the flow of daily life, and the profound simplicity of human experiences. Beckman's work challenges readers to find meaning in the routine, to appreciate the layers of connection that bind us, and to remain open to the subtle shifts in perspective that life's journey offers.

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