Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Robert Creeley’s "The Bed," the poem offers a sardonic look at conventional domestic roles and the ordinary routines of married life. The poem begins with an ironic echo of Byron’s famous line, “She walks in beauty like the night,” instead invoking the image of a lake—a body of water that is contained, still, and even mundane. This description shifts the sense of beauty from something grand or mysterious to something enclosed and perhaps stagnant, setting the tone for a reflection on the constraints of domesticity.

The second line’s depiction of the woman eating “her steak / with fork and knife” illustrates her conformity to societal expectations. She performs her roles with propriety, fitting into the mold of a “proper wife” without deviation. This image is followed by the statement that she “proves” herself in this role, suggesting that her worth is measured by her ability to fulfill these conventional duties. The woman is defined by how well she maintains these roles, serving as a symbol of expected decorum and conformity, rather than as an individual with personal desires or distinct characteristics.

In the second stanza, the focus shifts subtly to the husband, whose “room and board” he can afford. This phrasing suggests that he, too, is confined by economic realities and mundane routines. He has “made friends / of common pains,” implying a resigned acceptance of the struggles that come with such a life. The phrase “meets his ends” evokes a sense of quiet resignation, as though his existence is about managing within limitations rather than aspiring to transcend them. This line hints at the weariness of repeated daily sacrifices, an existence governed by pragmatism rather than passion or fulfillment.

The final stanza, however, introduces a more critical tone. The speaker cries, “Oh god, decry / such common finery as puts the need / before the bed,” expressing disdain for the artificiality or pretense of the “common finery” that adorns their lives. Here, “common finery” likely refers to the superficial aspects of respectability and material stability that they have achieved, at the expense of deeper fulfillment or personal truth. The image of placing “the need before the bed” suggests that material concerns, responsibilities, and societal obligations have come to overshadow their intimacy or genuine connection.

The last two lines underscore this critique, as the speaker laments that this arrangement “makes true what is the lie indeed.” This phrase suggests that the couple has come to embody a lie—a life built on expectations and propriety rather than personal authenticity or love. The repetition of “true” and “lie” emphasizes the conflict between external appearances and internal realities. Creeley’s choice of words here hints at the existential cost of conforming to societal ideals at the expense of personal desires or emotional honesty. The relationship, confined to roles and material expectations, has become a hollow enactment of societal norms.

Through its simple yet biting language, "The Bed" critiques the limitations and falseness that can arise from traditional domestic roles. Creeley draws attention to the tension between personal identity and societal expectations, suggesting that such a life may lead to an internal deadening, where individuals become mere embodiments of roles rather than fully realized people. The poem subtly questions whether “common finery” and adherence to propriety are enough to satisfy the human spirit or if they merely create the appearance of fulfillment, leaving individuals isolated in a life that “is the lie indeed.”

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...