Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker's poem "Soften and Melt" is a brief but evocative exploration of the interplay between external forces and internal responses across different life forms and stages of life. Through the perspectives of an old woman, a tulip, and a dog, Ostriker captures the varying ways in which living beings are influenced, moved, or compelled by forces beyond their control. The poem’s simplicity belies its depth, as each statement reflects a profound and elemental interaction with the world.

The poem begins with the line, "the man made me soften and melt," spoken by "the old woman." This line immediately conveys a sense of vulnerability and surrender, suggesting that the old woman, perhaps after a long life of experiences, has been profoundly touched or transformed by a man's influence. The verbs "soften" and "melt" evoke a physical and emotional yielding, a release of tension and a dissolution of boundaries, possibly pointing to love, affection, or a deep emotional connection that has affected her in her later years. The use of "old woman" also hints at the passage of time and the accumulation of experiences that have led her to this state of tenderness and receptivity.

The next line shifts to the natural world: "the bee made me shiver like a rag," said by "the dark red tulip." Here, the tulip's reaction to the bee is one of intense sensitivity. The imagery of "shiver like a rag" suggests a delicate trembling, as if the tulip, vibrant and alive, is both invigorated and slightly overwhelmed by the bee’s presence. The bee, a symbol of life and pollination, brings both energy and a kind of gentle violence to the tulip, causing it to respond in a way that is both involuntary and vital. The "dark red tulip" implies richness, perhaps maturity or fullness, and its reaction to the bee highlights the intimate, almost erotic, relationship between the natural world and the forces that animate it.

The final line introduces a different kind of interaction: "the bitch made me push," spoken by "the dog." This line carries a sense of instinct and necessity. The word "bitch" here is a straightforward reference to a female dog, and the phrase "made me push" likely refers to the act of giving birth. The dog’s response is driven by an instinctual compulsion, a biological imperative that is powerful and unyielding. The simplicity and directness of this statement reflect the raw, primal forces at work in the animal world, where survival and reproduction are governed by instinct rather than choice.

Each of these statements encapsulates a moment of response to an external influence, whether it be emotional, natural, or instinctual. The old woman’s softening and melting, the tulip’s shivering, and the dog’s pushing all represent different forms of yielding—each one a response to a force that cannot be resisted. Yet, these responses are also life-affirming, showing how beings of all kinds, whether human, plant, or animal, are shaped and defined by their interactions with the world around them.

"Soften and Melt" is a meditation on the inevitability of these responses, the ways in which life softens, shivers, and pushes against the forces that act upon it. Ostriker’s use of simple, direct language gives the poem a sense of immediacy and universality, while the different perspectives add layers of meaning to the exploration of how we all—whether old or young, human or non-human—are moved and molded by the world. The poem speaks to the shared experience of being alive, the ways we are all interconnected, and the transformative power of external forces on our inner lives.

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