Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Dividends," by Kenneth Fearing, is a stark critique of capitalism and its moral implications. The poem delves into the psyche of individuals navigating the corporate world, exposing how their pursuit of profit and security leads to moral corruption, hypocrisy, and ultimately, their downfall. Fearing employs fragmented imagery and repetition to convey the calculated, cold-blooded nature of corporate life while also highlighting its fragility.

The poem opens with a description of how advantage and escape are carefully planned and orchestrated: "This advantage to be seized; and here, an escape prepared / against an evil day; / So it is arranged, consummately, to meet the issues." The word "consummately" suggests that these arrangements are made with utmost skill and precision. "Convenience and order. Necessary murder and divorce. / A decent repute." These lines reveal the moral compromises made in the pursuit of profit, where even murder and divorce are considered "necessary" for maintaining "a decent repute."

The narrative shifts to a specific scenario: "She thought it was too soon but they said no, it was too / late. They didn't trust the other people. / Sell now." The urgency to "sell now" reflects the ruthless decision-making driven by distrust and competition. The phrase "They didn't trust the other people" underscores the pervasive paranoia in the corporate world.

The poem then introduces a male character who "was a fool to ignore the market": "He could be explained, / he said. With the woman, and after the theater she / made a scene. None of them felt the crash for a long / time." His failure to heed market trends leads to financial ruin, foreshadowed by "the crash." The parenthetical question "(But what is swifter than time?)" suggests that the consequences of their actions catch up quickly.

Fearing continues to describe how individuals rationalize their actions: "So it is resolved, upon awakening. This way it is devised, / preparing for sleep. So it is revealed, uneasily, in / strange dreams." The cyclical nature of their rationalization—resolved upon waking, devised before sleeping, and revealed in dreams—suggests a persistent unease despite their careful planning.

The poem addresses the pervasive fear of the "gray, hungry, envious millions," a metaphor for the masses who are excluded from the corporate elite's wealth and power. The wealthy protect themselves by keeping "a veiled / watch" on their friends, distrusting handshakes and selectively smiling.

A recurring theme throughout the poem is distrust: "They didn't trust the others. They were wary. It looked / suspicious. They preferred to wait, they said." This paranoia underscores the fragile nature of corporate alliances.

Fearing introduces the concept of "dividends," which are "waiting to be used": "Such is the evidence, convertible to profit. These are the / dividends, waiting to be used." Dividends symbolize the tangible results of careful planning and manipulation. However, the demands continue, and "the endless issues are all secure." Despite this seeming security, there is a growing sense of dread and inevitability.

The poem reaches a climax with a depiction of death and decay: "Almighty God, these are the plans, / These are the plans until the last moment of the last hour / of the last day, / And then the end. By error or accident." Despite their meticulous planning, individuals succumb to "error or accident." Fearing lists different forms of demise: "Burke of cancer. Jackson out at the secret meeting of the / board. Hendricks through the window of the nineteenth floor." These deaths represent the unpredictable and often violent ends that await those who are entrenched in this ruthless system.

The final lines reveal the futility of their pursuits: "Maggots and darkness will attend the alibi. / Peace on earth. And the finer things. / So it is all devised. / Thomas, the car." The imagery of maggots and darkness underscores the decay and emptiness that accompany death, while "Peace on earth" and "the finer things" reflect the hollow promises of prosperity. The final command, "Thomas, the car," implies that life moves on mechanically despite the chaos and death.

Structurally, "Dividends" is written in free verse, allowing Fearing to create a fragmented and disjointed narrative that mirrors the dissonance of corporate life. The repetition of key phrases like "Such are the plans" and "They didn't trust the others" reinforces the themes of paranoia, hypocrisy, and moral compromise.

In "Dividends," Kenneth Fearing masterfully exposes the moral corruption and fragility of the corporate world. By juxtaposing the meticulous planning of individuals with their inevitable downfall, he highlights the futility of their pursuits and the emptiness of their lives. The poem serves as a powerful critique of capitalism and its dehumanizing effects, ultimately revealing the fragility of a system built on profit and paranoia.

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