Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Social Constructions of Reality at Coney Island: 3. The Gymnasts & 4. The Tower", Irving Feldman extends his exploration of Coney Island as a microcosm of American identity and community. In these two sections, he contrasts the athletic, communal achievements of gymnasts with the mythical imagery of a human tower, capturing the spirit of collective aspiration and the inevitable fall from grace. Both parts reflect Feldman's ability to blend vivid imagery with social commentary.

"3. The Gymnasts:"

In "The Gymnasts", Feldman portrays the gymnasts as embodiments of physical excellence and unity, beginning with an image that highlights their athleticism: "Legs v-ed out from the groin's nugget / —the many figured as a single man." Here, the gymnasts are compared to a singular entity, reflecting their synchronicity and teamwork. The metaphor of "the many figured as a single man" emphasizes their unity, while "the groin's nugget" captures the centrality of their shared purpose.

Feldman then describes the gymnasts as a "milling centipede of crossed purposes," suggesting the chaotic individuality that paradoxically comes together "pulling itself together and rising from the ground up, in honor of itself." This collective movement underscores their communal achievement as they form structures that elevate the group, not just physically but symbolically. The gymnasts are "present in the flesh and confirmed by others present equally to them," highlighting the importance of recognition and validation in communal activities.

The poem shifts to describe their daily journey to Coney Island: "leaving as early almost as the sun, / they come down from separate rooms, / starting from Elizabeth or Hoboken or the Bronx." These locations represent the diverse urban areas from which the gymnasts hail. Their athletic prowess is illustrated through striking imagery: "walking on their hands among us now / or spelling out with their spinning persons / leaping sentences of cartwheels and vaults." Here, Feldman compares their gymnastic feats to language, suggesting that their movements form a kind of physical poetry.

Nearby, Feldman contrasts the gymnasts with the bodybuilders: "the body-builders are defining / 'pecs,' biceps, 'glutes'—glowing maps of somber worlds in single display." The bodybuilders focus on individual strength and aesthetics, sinking "slowly into the background of every sky." However, the gymnasts "build themselves together, embody what they illustrate: / serenity of power in action, strength moving in matters of common concern."

Feldman concludes this section by emphasizing the gymnasts' ability to bring meaning to the chaos of Coney Island: "by wall or mound or pyramid, / by honeycomb, womb, huddle, swarm and tower, / these sociable forms, forms of habitation, / in the middle of nowhere bestow a sense to everything." This final image presents the gymnasts as architects of community and purpose.

"4. The Tower:"

"The Tower" shifts to a mythic and allegorical mode, describing a "tower of men" reaching upward like "a tongue toward flaming heaven." The tower is imbued with biblical imagery, as the gymnasts "scaling fire to reach the baby in the window of the burning tenement" evokes a heroic rescue. The gymnasts are mythologized as "jealous angels look down," their bravery making "the world come true." The final climber "holds the whole sky open, / plucks the radiance from the fire, the baby / Now from the sky's never!"

However, the triumphant image of the tower is fleeting. The tower "tumbles apart, leaping every which way down," and the gymnasts "crash off, shin and thigh, to slaughter waves." Despite the fall, Feldman conveys a sense of liberation: "we, set free, have walked away on the sand's radiant reaches."

The final lines capture the resilience of the community: "Now / the little kids go racing after and smack up geysers, shouting." The children continue the joy and spirit of Coney Island, embodying the continuity of aspiration and play even after the tower’s collapse.

In "Social Constructions of Reality at Coney Island: 3. The Gymnasts & 4. The Tower", Feldman juxtaposes the disciplined unity of the gymnasts with the allegorical tower, exploring themes of aspiration, community, and resilience. Through rich imagery and metaphor, he captures the blend of myth and reality that characterizes Coney Island, revealing the ways in which people find meaning and unity amidst the chaos. Ultimately, these sections celebrate the spirit of collective achievement and the persistence of joy even in the face of inevitable collapse.

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