Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Some Days" by Billy Collins plays with the shifting perspectives of control and passivity, exploring themes of power, autonomy, and the unpredictability of existence through the metaphor of a dollhouse. Collins juxtaposes the act of manipulating dollhouse figures with the sensation of being one such figure, manipulated by unseen forces. This dichotomy serves to illuminate the fluctuating nature of human agency and the often arbitrary forces that govern our lives.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the act of arranging dollhouse figures. This act of positioning the figures “at the table,” bending their legs, and setting them into their chairs, is an overt display of control and dominance. The figures are subjected to the will of the speaker, their locations and poses dictated by an external force. They are described as “perfectly motionless, perfectly behaved,” underscoring their passivity and the absolute control exerted over them.

However, the poem quickly shifts perspective. The speaker finds themselves on the receiving end of this manipulation, being lifted and placed into the dollhouse's dining room. This reversal of roles—from the manipulator to the manipulated—introduces a sense of vulnerability and loss of control. The speaker, once a “vivid god” with shoulders in the clouds, is now reduced to sitting “amidst the wallpaper,” with a “little plastic face.” This shift highlights the fragility of autonomy and the ease with which one's sense of agency can be undermined.

Collins uses this metaphor to reflect on the human condition, suggesting that our sense of control over our lives is often illusory. Just as the speaker does not know whether they will be the manipulator or the manipulated from one day to the next, so too do humans navigate a world where circumstances can change unpredictably, leaving us feeling powerless or confined.

The closing lines underscore the poem’s exploration of existential uncertainty. The rhetorical question posed by the speaker invites the reader to empathize with the unsettling feeling of not knowing one's role from moment to moment—whether one will be the one exerting control or the one being controlled. This uncertainty mirrors the unpredictable nature of life, where shifts in fortune or circumstance can suddenly alter our position and perspective.

"Some Days" is a poignant meditation on the complexities of power, control, and human agency. Through the simple yet evocative metaphor of a dollhouse, Billy Collins captures the essence of our struggle with the forces that shape our lives, often beyond our control. The poem encourages reflection on the ways in which we navigate a world that can alternately empower and subjugate us, reminding us of the delicate balance between autonomy and vulnerability.

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