Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Last Night" by Sharon Olds is a vivid and intense exploration of a night of passion that borders on the feral and chaotic. The poem delves into the raw, visceral experience of a sexual encounter, examining the fine line between pleasure and fear, love and violence. Through powerful imagery and evocative language, Olds captures the complexity of human intimacy, portraying it as a transformative, almost primal experience.

The poem begins with the speaker's reflection on the events of the previous night, describing a sense of fear or trepidation in the aftermath. The term "love" is questioned, as the speaker compares the experience to "dragonflies in the sun," engaged in a frantic, intense coupling. The heat and intensity are emphasized with "100 degrees at noon," suggesting an almost unbearable, searing experience. The image of dragonflies, with their abdomens stuck together, evokes a sense of entrapment and physicality, as well as a lack of emotional connection.

The speaker's description of herself as "something twisting and twisting out of a chrysalis" conveys a sense of transformation and emergence. This metamorphosis is not gentle or beautiful but rather immense and disorienting, characterized by a loss of language and a focus on physical sensations. The repeated phrase "all head, all shut eyes" emphasizes a disconnection from the outside world and a complete immersion in the physical experience. The "humming like madness" suggests a frenetic, overwhelming intensity, further likened to the unpredictable movements of dragonflies.

The speaker questions whether she truly knew her partner, noting the absence of "kiss" and "tenderness." Instead, the encounter is described in stark, almost brutal terms: "more like killing, death-grip holding to life." This line captures the paradox of the experience, where the act of holding on to life is intertwined with a sense of danger and potential destruction. The description of "genitals like violent hands clasped tight" conveys a sense of desperation and urgency, as if the act is both life-affirming and annihilating.

The metaphor of being "closed in a great jaw and eaten" amplifies the sense of being consumed and devoured by the experience. The reference to "screaming" and the speaker's groan as she remembers it highlight the intensity and possibly painful nature of the encounter. The mention of starting "to die" and the subsequent refusal to remember, likened to a drunkard's forgetfulness, suggests a coping mechanism for processing the overwhelming nature of the event.

Despite the ferocity of the night, the poem transitions to a tender moment afterward. The partner holds the speaker's hands "extremely hard," anchoring her as she shudders, likened to a ferry's axle slipping. This image of mechanical instability contrasts with the earlier natural and animalistic imagery, suggesting a moment of grounding and stabilization. The partner's actions—keeping the speaker "sealed exactly against you" and securing her in their arms until she sleeps—introduce a moment of tenderness and security, countering the night's earlier chaos.

The poem concludes with the morning after, characterized by a sense of calm and contentment. The speaker describes waking "clasped, fragrant, buoyant," capturing a serene and fulfilled state. This final image, "the morning after love," suggests a resolution and a return to normalcy after the intense and transformative experience of the previous night. It signifies a reaffirmation of the bond between the lovers, now settled into a gentle, peaceful intimacy.

"Last Night" by Sharon Olds explores the dual nature of intense sexual experiences, oscillating between chaos and calm, violence and tenderness. The poem captures the raw, unfiltered reality of human intimacy, acknowledging the complexities and contradictions inherent in such encounters. Through vivid imagery and introspective reflection, Olds offers a nuanced portrayal of love as a multifaceted and deeply transformative force.

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