Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Door" by Martha Collins is an intricate and contemplative poem that explores themes of communication, perception, and the nature of relationships through the imagery of doors, windows, and the spaces between words and silence. Collins navigates the boundaries between self and other, inside and outside, inviting readers to consider the ways in which we connect, the barriers we encounter, and the openings we create or discover.

1. The poem begins with an appeal to be drawn out from silence, a request to be heard and understood: "Sound me out / of this silent place   Oh listen." This opening sets a tone of longing for communication and connection, underscored by the conditional "(if we could talk)," suggesting the challenges and limitations inherent in expressing and sharing one's inner world.

2. A scene outside the speaker's office window provides a metaphor for isolation and the absence of engagement: seagulls on a soccer field, "a team / with no opponent." This image of unchallenged, perhaps aimless, congregation reflects on the human desire for interaction and the sense of purpose found in connection and opposition.

3. The speaker's contemplation of a shell leading to thoughts of a pearl, and the repetition of "pearl pearl," evoke themes of beauty and value emerging from enclosure and protection. This section suggests that within barriers and silences, there may lie hidden treasures of insight and understanding.

4. Collins considers the "space before the words / begin, or after the words, or between" as moments of potential and transformation. The "opened / mouth between the words" symbolizes the threshold of communication, the pause that holds both the risk and promise of revelation.

5. The distinction between a window and a door serves as a central metaphor for the poem. Unlike a window that offers a passive view of the external world, a door represents active engagement: "Door, rather, opening / out and in." This imagery emphasizes the poem's exploration of dialogue and connection, rejecting passive observation in favor of interaction and exchange.

6. The declaration of love, "I love you, I / said," is presented as "a small thing, a small sense / of something not / myself --" This admission highlights the act of reaching beyond oneself, offering a piece of oneself to another. The final line, "You," stands alone, signifying the other as the focus of this offering, the recipient of the speaker's affection and vulnerability.

"Door" is a lyrical meditation on the complexities of communication and connection. Through its evocative imagery and thoughtful pacing, Collins invites readers to reflect on the doors we open and close in our relationships, the words we choose to share or withhold, and the profound impact of recognizing and being recognized by another. The poem navigates the delicate balance between selfhood and otherness, silence and speech, inviting a deeper consideration of the ways in which we seek to understand and be understood.

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