Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Face in the Bar Room Mirror," by Kenneth Fearing, is a thought-provoking exploration of the lives of men who frequent a bar, seeking solace or meaning amid the routines of everyday life. By examining the repetition, rituals, and quiet despair of these patrons, Fearing delves into themes of existential longing, escapism, and the search for change in an unchanging world.

The poem opens with a vivid and rhythmic description of the men:  

"Fifteen gentlemen in fifteen overcoats and fifteen hats holding fifteen glasses in fifteen hands,  

Staring and staring at fifteen faces reflected in the / mirror behind the polished bar,"  

The repetition of "fifteen" emphasizes the uniformity of the men and their behavior, creating a sense of monotony and routine. The "mirror behind the polished bar" reflects each man's face back to him, hinting at introspection and perhaps a search for identity.

Fearing continues by establishing the repetitive nature of their visits:  

"Tonight, as last night,  

And the night before that, and night after night, after / night, after night—"  

This repetitive phrasing conveys a sense of perpetual sameness, as if each night blends into the next with little variation. The men are trapped in a cycle of coming to the bar, drinking, and reflecting.

The poem then shifts to questioning the motivations and dreams of these men:  

"What are they dreaming of,  

Why do they come here and when will it happen, that thing for which they return and return, / To stand and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait—"  

Fearing captures their yearning for change or fulfillment by repeating "wait," suggesting that they are all anticipating something significant that never seems to arrive.

He explores their inner thoughts further:  

"What fifteen resolves are growing clear and hard, between cryptic remarks, in those fifteen living silences,  

What crystal stairs do they climb or descend into fif. / teen unseen heavens or hells,"  

The "fifteen resolves" hint at silent determinations forming in the minds of each man, while "living silences" suggests unspoken but deeply felt desires. The "crystal stairs" metaphor evokes dreams or aspirations, whether heavenly or hellish, that remain hidden beneath the surface.

Fearing also examines the existential questions that haunt these men:  

"What fifteen replies do they give the single question, does anything on earth ever change, or stay?"  

This question underscores the tension between their longing for change and their fear of it, reflecting the universal struggle between inertia and transformation.

The poem culminates with a dramatic shift:  

"Before the shot rings out, the mirror shatters, the floor / gapes open and the heavens fall,  

And they go at last on their fifteen separate, purpose- / ful ways—"  

The imagery of the "shot rings out," the "mirror shatters," and the "floor gapes open" suggests a cataclysmic event that breaks the monotony and forces the men to confront their reality. They are compelled to leave the bar and face their separate destinies, each going their own way.

Fearing concludes with a description of the men as escape artists:  

"Fifteen magicians,  

Masters of escape from handcuff and rope, straitjacket, / padlock, dungeon and chain,  

Now planning escapes still more dazzling, / And fifteen times more terrible than these."  

By comparing the men to "fifteen magicians" and "masters of escape," Fearing highlights their ability to navigate life's challenges and constraints. However, their new escapes are "fifteen times more terrible," suggesting that their future attempts at freedom may be desperate or destructive.

Structurally, "The Face in the Bar Room Mirror" employs free verse, allowing Fearing to capture the flow and rhythm of the men's lives without being constrained by strict form. The repetition of "fifteen" creates a hypnotic effect that mirrors the repetitive cycles of their lives.

In "The Face in the Bar Room Mirror," Kenneth Fearing presents a poignant meditation on the existential struggles of men seeking solace, change, or escape. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic repetition, Fearing captures the quiet despair and longing of individuals trapped in routines, ultimately revealing the universal desire for transformation despite the fears and uncertainties that accompany it.

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