Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William DeWitt Snodgrass's poem "A Flat One" is a harrowing portrayal of the end-of-life struggles experienced by an elderly man, referred to as Old Fritz, whose body and willpower are pitted against the inevitable encroachment of death. Snodgrass, known for his confessional style and unflinching exploration of human suffering, delivers a narrative that is both clinical and deeply emotional. The poem is a stark examination of the futility of medical intervention in the face of death and the toll it takes on both the patient and those who care for him.

The poem’s structure is methodical, mirroring the monotonous and grueling routine of caring for a bedridden, dying man. Each stanza unfolds with a relentless precision, detailing the tasks performed by the caregivers: turning the patient over, feeding him, and managing his bodily functions. The language is blunt and unembellished, with phrases like "scared, so we could turn / You over" and "ravenously your useless food" emphasizing the grim reality of the situation. Snodgrass does not shy away from depicting the indignities of old age, particularly in lines such as "We'll plug your old recalcitrant anus / And tie up your discouraged penis." The imagery here is visceral, evoking the body's betrayal and the painful efforts to sustain life in a shell that has already begun to fail.

The poem’s tone shifts between detached observation and suppressed emotion, reflecting the caregivers' struggle to maintain professionalism while confronting the emotional toll of their work. The speaker's frustration and resentment are palpable, particularly in lines like "Seven months gone down the drain; thank God / That's through." The repetition of mundane tasks—emptying urine jugs, cleaning bedsores, disposing of medical waste—underscores the futility of the effort expended to keep Old Fritz alive, a life that, in the speaker’s view, holds no quality or purpose.

Snodgrass also explores the psychological impact on the patient, Old Fritz, who is portrayed as a man clinging to life despite the overwhelming physical pain and the clear futility of his condition. "Old man, these seven months you've lain / Determined—not that you would live— / Just to not die," suggests a tenacious will to survive, even when survival is stripped of all dignity and comfort. The poet draws a parallel between Old Fritz’s stubbornness and his former life as a soldier, implying that his determination to "not die" is a remnant of his past battles, now misplaced in a fight he cannot win.

The poem reaches its emotional climax in the final stanzas, where the speaker reflects on the nature of the care provided. There is a sense of futility and perhaps even guilt in the admission that the care given may have done more harm than good: "I can't think we did you much good. / Well, when you died, none of us wept." This stark confession is followed by a disturbing acknowledgment of the system’s demands: "You killed for us, and so we kept / You, because we need to earn our pay." The caregivers, trapped by their professional obligations, are complicit in prolonging Old Fritz's suffering, a reality that weighs heavily on the speaker's conscience.

Ultimately, "A Flat One" is a meditation on the human condition, exploring themes of mortality, suffering, and the ethical complexities of end-of-life care. Snodgrass does not offer easy answers or comforting resolutions; instead, he presents the raw, unvarnished truth of what it means to endure and witness the slow decline of life. The poem challenges the reader to confront the uncomfortable reality of death and to consider the implications of our attempts to stave it off, not just for the dying but for those who are left to bear witness.

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