Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Angel Arms," by Kenneth Fearing, is a chilling and provocative poem that delves into the psyche of a disturbed individual named Feldman, who obsesses over a pure, unattainable ideal of femininity. The poem intertwines themes of purity, violence, and delusion, revealing how deeply Feldman is affected by societal norms and his own distorted vision of love and morality.

The poem begins by introducing Feldman's idealized vision of a woman: "She is the little pink mouse, his far away star, / The pure angel in his sleep." This woman is described in contrasting images of innocence and sensuality: "With skirts blowing back over stark, bright thighs, / And knees that are ivory, or white, or pink." She represents purity and unattainability, embodying Feldman's obsessive fantasies.

The repeated imagery of the "little pink mouse" and "far away star" reinforces the idea that she is both innocent and distant, an object of desire beyond Feldman's reach. The poem further emphasizes her unattainable purity: "No damn immoral scum will ever kiss her lips, / No crazy black fiend will ever stain her thighs." The language here reveals Feldman's deep-seated prejudices and delusions about protecting this idealized woman from any perceived impurity.

Despite his obsession, Feldman also desires to possess her: "She is going to be Feldman's girl some day." However, his possessiveness is tinged with violence, revealing his unstable mental state and underlying rage. The contrast between his perception of her as "clean" and "pure" and the sordid reality he inhabits is striking: "She is a little pink mouse / Squeaking among the rubbish and dried tobacco juice of black alleys, / A blazing star among dirty electric lights in warehouse lofts."

The poem shifts to a darker tone as Feldman becomes increasingly disturbed by how others perceive him: "Do they think he is a woman-faced roach, / A walking sewer, with his girl a bottle-fly buzzing on the rim?" The imagery here is grotesque, showing how Feldman internalizes negative perceptions and becomes obsessed with proving himself.

His violent fantasies reach a climax as he imagines killing "all the morons," being "applauded by crowds," and "praised in the churches." In his delusions, he sees himself as a hero, validated by society and rewarded with the love of his "little pink mouse," who will then become "Feldman's girl some day."

However, the fantasy becomes more twisted as he envisions a "hot summer night" when the city "trembles like a forest after battle." In this vision, his ideal woman will "drop from an 'L' train sliding through the sky like a burning snake / And give him the wink, and he will come along." The train becomes a symbol of chaos and destruction, and Feldman's fixation on this moment reveals his increasing instability.

The poem concludes with a disturbing image of Feldman's delusional relationship with his idealized woman: "She is the little pink mouse that whispers 'Coo-coo, Feldman!' / A touch-me-not star, / His smiling angel with her soft angel arms / Jerking the barbed wire caught in his bones." The barbed wire symbolizes the pain and violence that Feldman inflicts upon himself due to his unattainable fantasies and distorted sense of love. Her "soft angel arms" appear to offer comfort but instead cause pain as she "jerks the barbed wire."

Structurally, "Angel Arms" is written in free verse, allowing Fearing to create a disorienting and fragmented narrative that mirrors Feldman's disturbed mental state. The repetition of key phrases like "little pink mouse" and "Feldman's girl" underscores the obsessive nature of Feldman's thoughts.

In "Angel Arms," Kenneth Fearing exposes the dangerous consequences of societal norms and ideals that distort individual perceptions of love and purity. The poem captures the fragility of Feldman's mental state and his descent into violence and delusion, offering a stark critique of how societal expectations can lead to destructive fantasies. Through vivid imagery and unsettling metaphors, Fearing crafts a disturbing portrait of a man consumed by his own twisted ideals.

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