Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Coming Soon" by Jordan Davis is a quietly evocative poem that captures a moment of solitude and introspection amidst the routine of daily life. Through the simple act of returning home, the speaker is confronted with silence and absence, which prompt reflections on identity, time, and the nature of human connections.

The poem begins with the speaker's return to a seemingly empty home, marked by the ritualistic knocking and turning of a key. The immediate response is not from a human but from a Boston Terrier, described in a series of contrasting qualities that capture the complexity of even the simplest forms of companionship. This interaction, or lack thereof, with the dog sets the tone for the poem—a blend of expectation and the reality of solitude.

The mention of "10:30, or so it says on the VCR" situates the poem in a specific temporal and cultural context, invoking a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time through the outdated technology. The differentiation between the "lit front room" and the "dark, and silent" kitchen/bedroom further emphasizes the theme of absence, as the speaker navigates the spaces of the home, noting the signs of life that are not immediately present.

The absence of Todd and Carrie raises questions about the nature of the relationships within the poem. Their unspecified whereabouts, coupled with the atmospheric details of "spring, / And it is snowing," contribute to a sense of dislocation and the unexpected. The whimsical image of a wind chime evoking the fanciful sight of "a glockenspiel being played by a monkey / In a little cap" injects a moment of surreal humor, juxtaposing the ordinary with the imagined.

As the speaker notes the absence of "any breathing, or other sleep noise," the silence of the home becomes more pronounced, amplifying the speaker's sense of isolation. This quietness, devoid of the typical markers of domestic life, invites contemplation and a confrontation with the self.

The poem closes with the realization "It's 10:43, and somehow I am still me," a reflection that, despite the passage of time and the absence of others, the speaker's sense of self remains intact. This moment of self-recognition, framed by the specific yet mundane details of the setting, highlights the continuity of the self amidst change and the absence of others.

"Coming Soon" is a meditative exploration of solitude, the passage of time, and the resilience of the self in the face of absence. Jordan Davis masterfully uses the domestic setting and the quiet moments of everyday life to probe deeper existential themes, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of solitude and self-awareness.

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