Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Open" by Martha Collins is a deeply evocative and layered poem that explores themes of vulnerability, memory, desire, and the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of personal and historical pain. Through a series of contrasting images and experiences, Collins delves into the paradoxes of openness and the intricate dance between connection and harm, love and loss.

1. The poem begins with a tender image of a yard "half-blue with scylla, / no, scilla: little blue hats that opened / into stars." This portrayal of the natural world's innocuous beauty and transformation sets a tone of wonder and potential. However, the mention of "unless the sea / could ache like this --" introduces an undercurrent of pain and longing, suggesting that even in beauty, there can be a profound sense of ache.

2. The speaker reflects on the physical memory of a past lover, describing a dynamic of creation and form: "I am the mold, he / is the made." This intimate recall transitions into the memory of another, indicating the layered and overlapping nature of personal histories and relationships.

3. A stark shift occurs with the recollection of hearing someone justify historical violence: "Stalin was right to kill / those people, they were the bourgeoisie." This line confronts the reader with the harsh realities of ideological extremism and the justification of atrocities, contrasting sharply with the poem's earlier intimacy and vulnerability.

4. A scene of confession and absence is depicted "Today by the couch where I said I need / you," surrounded by flowers while the addressed "you" is away. This moment captures the longing for closeness and the poignancy of expressing need, set against the physical distance and absence of the loved one.

5. The speaker grapples with the notion of justified violence in a personal context, reflecting on a complex goodbye and the desire for retaliation against a hurtful other. The dream-like streets become a space of self-inflicted pain, highlighting the destructive cycle of seeking to harm in response to being harmed.

6. The closing section reaffirms the speaker's state of openness, likening themselves to the yard described at the beginning, but now reserved "for anyone now but you." This declaration of waiting and the memory of sleeping "in your arms all night, a river / between its banks" evoke a sense of longing for reconnection and the stability of love. The speaker's openness is both an invitation and an assertion of readiness, despite the risks and uncertainties inherent in opening oneself to another.

"Open" is a poignant meditation on the human capacity for both tenderness and cruelty, the desire for connection amidst the complexities of past experiences, and the enduring hope for love and understanding. Collins navigates the fragile boundaries between self and other, memory and desire, pain and pleasure, crafting a narrative that invites readers to reflect on the depths of their own vulnerabilities and the courage required to remain open to love and life.

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