Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Strong Men, Riding Horses" by Gwendolyn Brooks is a profound meditation on the constructs of masculinity, the myth of the American West, and the personal acknowledgment of vulnerability in contrast to these grandiose images. Brooks, through the lens of a character named Lester, deconstructs the romanticized vision of strength and independence traditionally associated with the Western genre and its iconic figures—strong men, riding horses across vast, open landscapes. The poem navigates the spaces between myth and reality, public persona and private self, exploring the pressures of societal expectations on individual identity.

The opening lines evoke the vastness of the American West, a symbol of freedom, adventure, and boundless opportunity, setting the stage for a narrative steeped in the lore of rugged individualism and stoic masculinity. Brooks paints a picture of men who are as vast and enduring as the landscapes they traverse, "From dawn to sunset. Rested blue to orange. / From hope to crying." This imagery suggests a journey not only across physical distances but through the emotional spectrum, implying a resilience and capacity for endurance that defines the archetypical strong man.

However, Brooks quickly introduces a contrast with the phrase "Except that Strong Men are / Desert-eyed," suggesting a hardness or emptiness that comes with such a life. The mention of being "Pasted to stars already" hints at a detachment from the earthly, the real, a preoccupation with a legacy that perhaps overlooks the present, the tangible. This detachment extends to modernity with "Have their cars / Beneath them. Rentless, too," indicating a freedom from everyday concerns that binds most people, such as paying rent or dealing with mundane challenges.

The poem then shifts to a personal reflection with "I am not like that." Lester, serving as Brooks's voice or the everyman, admits to not embodying these ideals of strength and invulnerability. He confesses to the realities of his existence—paying rent, feeling threatened by "illegible landlords" and "robbers," indicating vulnerability and fear. This admission disrupts the mythic narrative of the strong, untouchable man, revealing a more complex and relatable human experience.

Lester's acknowledgment of his use of "camouflage" and his efforts to "word-wall off that broadness of the dark" speaks to the strategies employed to navigate societal expectations and personal insecurities. His final admission, "I am not brave at all," is a poignant counterpoint to the poem's opening, underscoring the poem's exploration of the constructs of masculinity and the dissonance between societal myths and personal realities.

"Strong Men, Riding Horses" is a nuanced critique of the American mythos of rugged individualism and the stoic, untouchable male figure. Brooks uses the character of Lester to peel back the layers of this myth, revealing the vulnerabilities and complexities that lie beneath. The poem invites readers to question the sustainability of these ideals and to consider the value of acknowledging and embracing one's vulnerabilities as part of the human condition. Through this introspective journey, Brooks challenges the reader to reconceptualize strength, not as an absence of vulnerability, but as the courage to confront and share one's truths.

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