Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marilyn Hacker's "Days of 1994: Alexandrians" captures the intricate tapestry of conversations, relationships, and existential reflections of a group of friends navigating the twilight of the twentieth century. The poem, dedicated to Edmund White, juxtaposes the mundanity of everyday life with the looming presence of mortality, creating a poignant meditation on the passage of time and the bonds that connect us.

The opening lines set the scene at a bistro table, where "death, like a hanger-on or a wanna-be / sits with us." This personification of death as an intrusive but familiar presence underscores the poem's central theme: the inescapable reality of mortality that colors the lives and conversations of the friends. The cluttered table symbolizes the complexity and richness of their shared experiences and histories.

Hacker's depiction of the elderly friends who "take lovers, rent studios, / plan trips to unpronounceable provinces" reveals a defiance against aging and an embrace of life. These actions reflect a desire to continue engaging with the world, to create and explore despite the encroaching presence of death. The ironic wager by the fifty-year-old about his biographer outliving him adds a layer of dark humor, acknowledging the absurdity and inevitability of death.

The eighty-one-year-old dandy's frank discussion of his grief over his companion's death highlights the theme of loss and resilience. His ability to savor the pleasures of life, such as "spiced pumpkin soup, and a / sliced rare filet," despite his sorrow, embodies a stoic acceptance and a celebration of life's fleeting moments.

Hacker's use of dialogue and snippets of conversation—"Her new book ...” “... brilliant!” “She slept with ...” “Really!”—captures the vibrant, intellectual milieu of the group. These exchanges, filled with gossip and literary critique, reflect the richness of their social and cultural lives. The "long arabesques of silver-tipped sentences" drifting on the current of their two languages illustrate the fluidity and beauty of their communication, even as dusk and the end of the century loom.

The poem then shifts to a more intimate and somber reflection on illness. The thirty-eight-year-old's chemotherapy and the speaker's own previous experience with cancer introduce a shared vulnerability and a deeper layer of connection. The discussion of dietary changes and health regimes underscores the characters' attempts to exert control over their bodies and destinies in the face of an unpredictable disease.

Hacker deftly contrasts this focus on health with the copious avocado salads, symbolizing an attempt to maintain normalcy and enjoyment amid the specter of illness. The conversation about politics serves as a diversion, a way to avoid the "terror that shares / both of our bedrooms." This shared terror, cancer, is an unspoken bond that both unites and isolates them.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the passage of time and the uncertainty of the future. The speaker's hope to "see her, see him again" in four months is tinged with the recognition of life's contingencies. The final image of walking home along the river, into the wind as the clouds break open, suggests both an openness to the unknown and a confrontation with the inevitable changes that time brings.

"Days of 1994: Alexandrians" is a rich and layered poem that captures the interplay of life, death, and the enduring power of human connection. Hacker's use of vivid imagery, dialogue, and reflection creates a tapestry that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The poem's exploration of mortality, resilience, and the beauty of shared moments offers a poignant meditation on the complexities of living in the shadow of death.

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