Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Satisfaction Coal Company" by Rita Dove is a poignant narrative poem that weaves together memory, aging, and the changing landscapes of both a town and a life. Through the eyes of an older man reflecting on his past, particularly his days working at the coal company, Dove explores themes of time, identity, and the subtle intersections of daily life with personal history.

The poem opens with a description of an ordinary day in the protagonist's life, marked by small, somewhat disconnected activities like reading "Jet" magazine, watching TV, and acknowledging the new neighbor. This portrayal sets the tone for a life that has slowed down, filled more with observation than action. The mention of the gas heater and the protagonist’s lack of awareness of the warmth it provides serves as a metaphor for his disconnection from the present, emphasizing how he has become accustomed to, and perhaps indifferent toward, his immediate surroundings.

As the poem progresses into the second stanza, the focus shifts to the protagonist’s memories of working at the coal company. His journey to work is detailed and routine, yet each element—the bus ride, the walk past the canal, entering the building—carries a rhythmic, almost ritualistic quality. The act of sweeping is compared to a woman brushing her hair, a simile that not only feminizes the action but also infuses it with a sense of tenderness and care, contrasting sharply with the harshness typically associated with coal companies.

This stanza also introduces a sense of community and continuity, particularly on Saturdays when children would accompany him, turning the mundane task of cleaning into a playful and collective endeavor. Their shouts upon counting nailheads in the leather cushions link to a specific time ("Thirty-four!") and suggest a deeper connection to history, both personal and communal.

In contrast, during the week, the protagonist becomes more attuned to the nuances of his environment—the fluctuations of the lights at the Portage Hotel, the sounds of the nearby train. These observations build a sensory map of his workplace and its surroundings, enriching his mundane routine with layers of significance that go unnoticed by others.

The third stanza shifts from the physical and communal to the personal and introspective. Here, the protagonist reflects on the past, acknowledging the poverty of his earlier years but also recognizing a shared experience—"everyone had been poor." This shared hardship adds a layer of communal identity and resilience to his recollections. The act of sweeping, once a simple task, now becomes a metaphor for reflection and the passage of time, as he notes the difference between the physical act and the mental state of "listening."

In his present, the nights "take care of themselves," a phrase that may imply a relinquishing of control or a surrender to the passage of time. The canary’s song and the wino’s smile represent small, perhaps bittersweet comforts in his current life. The poem closes with a nostalgic yet somewhat ambivalent desire to revisit the corner near the coal company, not necessarily to relive the past but to stand and "get warm"—a metaphor for reconnecting with his former self and perhaps finding solace in the memories of a life fully lived.

Overall, "The Satisfaction Coal Company" uses the life and reflections of an older man to paint a nuanced picture of aging, memory, and the personal significance imbued in everyday places and routines. Through detailed imagery and emotional depth, Dove captures the complexities of looking back on a life intertwined with the broader strokes of time and societal change.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Walk_On_The_Wild_Side/O3aH-iGIjmcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22What+to+do+with+a+day%22+RITA+DOVE&pg=PA49&printsec=frontcover

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