Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alice Fulton's "Fierce Girl Playing Hopscotch" is a richly evocative poem that uses the game of hopscotch as a metaphor for the journey from childhood to adulthood. Through vivid imagery and poignant reflections, Fulton explores themes of memory, identity, and transformation, capturing the essence of a young girl’s fierce spirit and the complexities of her future.

The poem begins with the image of a girl playing hopscotch, swaying "like a crane to the tunes of tossed stones." This graceful, bird-like movement suggests both the innocence and the focus of the child engaged in her game. The speaker identifies herself as a product of the girl's circumstances, "I am what you made to live in / from what you had: hair matted as kelp, bad schools." This line reveals a connection between the girl's present and the speaker's future, emphasizing the impact of early experiences on one's later identity.

Fulton then addresses the girl directly, acknowledging the inevitable distance between them: "Oh, you will never know me. I wave and you go / on playing in the clouds / boys clap from erasers." The image of boys clapping erasers conjures a sense of school life and childhood, while also suggesting the ephemeral nature of these moments, as the dust from the erasers fades into the air. The speaker likens herself to "the pebble / you tossed on the chalked space and war- / danced toward, one-leg two-leg, arms treading air," embodying the innocence and determination of the girl's game.

The poem transitions to a broader reflection on the future, where "waves rechristen the sea / after its tiny jeweled lives / that hiss 'Us Us' to the shore all day." This imagery of the sea's constant renewal speaks to the ongoing cycles of change and growth. The speaker nostalgically calls out for the "kid called Kateydid," along with other nicknames like "moonfaced / Kewpiedoll," "excitable pouting / Zookie," and "somber O-Be-Joyful." These names evoke a range of childhood personalities and moods, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the girl's identity.

The line "Lost girl, playing hopscotch, I will do what you could" conveys a sense of fulfillment and continuation, as the speaker vows to achieve what the girl once dreamed of. The invocation of "Name of father, son, ghost. Cross my heart and hope" adds a solemn, almost ritualistic tone, suggesting a deep commitment to honoring the past and forging a meaningful future.

Fulton concludes with a powerful image of transformation and continuity: "While the sea’s jewels build shells and shells / change to chalk and chalk to loam and gold / wheat grows where oceans teetered." This sequence captures the natural processes of change and the interconnectedness of life. The metamorphosis from shells to chalk to fertile loam, and finally to golden wheat, symbolizes the potential for growth and renewal, even from the remnants of the past.

"Fierce Girl Playing Hopscotch" is a beautifully layered poem that captures the essence of childhood innocence, the inevitability of change, and the enduring impact of early experiences on one’s identity. Through her masterful use of imagery and poignant reflections, Alice Fulton invites readers to reflect on their own journeys from past to present, celebrating the resilience and fierce spirit that guide us through life's transformations.

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