Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" by Galway Kinnell is a tender, intimate poem that captures a moment of familial love and connection. The poem eloquently portrays the blending of erotic love and parental love, illustrating how they coexist and enhance one another.

The poem begins with a humorous and self-aware reflection on the speaker's own habits: "For I can snore like a bullhorn / or play loud music / or sit up talking with any reasonably sober Irishman." This opening establishes the speaker's robust and perhaps noisy presence, which does not disturb his child's sleep. Fergus, the child, sleeps soundly through various loud activities, "sink[ing] deeper / into his dreamless sleep." This characterization of Fergus's sleep as deep and undisturbed sets the stage for the significant contrast that follows.

The poem then shifts to a quieter, more intimate scene: "but let there be that heavy breathing / or a stifled come-cry anywhere in the house / and he will wrench himself awake." This transition highlights the sensitivity and responsiveness of Fergus to the sounds of his parents making love, suggesting a profound connection and attunement even in his sleep. The phrase "stifled come-cry" delicately conveys the intimacy of the moment between the speaker and his partner.

Following their lovemaking, the couple lies together in a quiet, familiar embrace: "we lie together, / after making love, quiet, touching along the length of our bodies, / familiar touch of the long-married." The description of their touch as "familiar" emphasizes the deep bond and comfort that comes with a long-term relationship. This moment of post-coital peace is tenderly disrupted by the arrival of Fergus.

Fergus, wearing "his baseball pajamas," struggles with the small neck opening, which adds a touch of endearing realism and childhood innocence to the scene. He "flops down between us and hugs us and snuggles himself to sleep," finding comfort and security between his parents. The phrase "his face gleaming with satisfaction at being this very child" captures Fergus's pure joy and contentment in being close to his parents.

In the poem's final lines, the parents share a moment of silent communication: "In the half darkness we look at each other / and smile / and touch arms across this little, startlingly muscled body." This physical and emotional connection across their child's body symbolizes the unity and shared love within the family. Fergus is described as "this one whom habit of memory propels to the ground of his making," suggesting that his instinctual return to his parents is a deeply ingrained and natural response.

The poem concludes with a profound sense of gratitude and reverence for the gift of love and parenthood: "sleeper only the mortal sounds can sing awake, / this blessing love gives again into our arms." The "mortal sounds" refer to the natural, human noises that awaken Fergus, signifying the intimate and loving environment that nurtures him. The description of Fergus as a "blessing" underscores the joy and fulfillment that the parents find in their child, reaffirming the cyclical and enduring nature of love within the family.

"After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" by Galway Kinnell beautifully captures the intersection of erotic and parental love, illustrating how the two forms of affection coexist and enrich each other. Through its tender imagery and heartfelt tone, the poem celebrates the intimacy and connection that define family life, offering a poignant reflection on the blessings of love and togetherness.

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