Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth’s poem "Steerage" eloquently captures the essence of immigration as experienced by the poor, encapsulating the blend of heritage, memory, and struggle in a powerful narrative. The poem begins with the description of an old leather satchel, symbolizing the journey of the speaker’s grandparents and the memories it carries. The satchel, with its living redolence and animalistic vitality, becomes a vessel of history and emotion, holding not just belongings but the very essence of past lives.

The photographs within the satchel, colored by the tea and fecal tones of early photography, portray the speaker’s grandparents, carrying everything Europe has crammed into a single bag. The bag, clumsily held on a shoulder, symbolizes the weight of their journey and the transition from the old world to the new. The satchel’s interior, likened to a vault of an animal body, evokes the visceral connection to ancestry and the rawness of their immigrant experience.

Goldbarth delves into the concept of "steerage," both literally and metaphorically. Steerage, the inferior below-decks accommodations on a ship, extends to represent the broader immigrant experience of hardship and marginalization. The satchel, now containing a miniature replica of itself, evokes a sense of continuity and preservation of identity amid displacement. This image is “vaguely canopic,” referencing ancient Egyptian jars used to store the vital organs of the deceased, suggesting that the satchel holds the very soul of the family’s history.

The poem’s imagery weaves the ancestral figures into the realm of myth and folklore, likening them to the “wee folk” or sprites found in various cultures. This comparison elevates the grandparents’ journey to a mythic level, emphasizing the universal nature of migration and the resilience of those who undertake it. These figures, with their credos and acorn-color aprons or radiant cobweb negligees, symbolize the persistence of cultural identity and the richness of heritage that immigrants carry with them.

Goldbarth’s reflection on his own childhood experiences further deepens the poem’s exploration of memory and identity. The tumult over his father’s attempts to sort out family business in the bureaucratic labyrinth of City Hall highlights the struggles faced by immigrants in navigating the complexities of their new world. The father’s diminished return from the building, “the size of an ocean liner,” underscores the overwhelming nature of such challenges.

The personal vignette of the father shaving and whistling a tune passed down from his own father encapsulates the enduring connections to the past and the small acts of solace and continuity that sustain individuals through hardship. This tune, a “goofy old world melody,” symbolizes the music not of this world—a transcendent link to heritage and identity that offers comfort and a sense of belonging.

In "Steerage," Goldbarth masterfully intertwines personal memory, cultural heritage, and the immigrant experience, creating a poignant meditation on the resilience and enduring spirit of those who journey across borders in search of a better life. The poem’s rich imagery and emotional depth invite readers to reflect on their own connections to the past and the ways in which we all navigate the spaces between worlds.

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