Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "What We Want" delves into the complexities of desire, the elusive nature of fulfillment, and the ways in which our deepest yearnings linger, often unrecognized, within our daily lives. The poem suggests that what we think we want is often different from what we truly desire, and that these true desires manifest in subtle, often unconscious ways.

The poem begins with a straightforward statement: "What we want / is never simple." This line sets the tone for the exploration of the multifaceted nature of desire. The idea that our wants are "never simple" suggests that even when we believe we know what we want, those desires are layered, contradictory, or difficult to fully grasp.

Pastan then describes how we "move among the things / we thought we wanted." The use of the past tense "thought" indicates a realization that the things we once believed would satisfy us may no longer hold the same power. These items—a "face, a room, an open book"—are tangible, familiar objects that we have attached our desires to. The phrase "and these things bear our names" personifies these objects, implying that they have become a part of our identity. However, in a twist, Pastan writes, "now they want us," suggesting that these once-desired objects now exert a pull on us, perhaps trapping us in the expectations we placed on them.

The poem then shifts to the elusive nature of true desires: "But what we want appears / in dreams, wearing disguises." This line introduces the idea that our deepest desires are not straightforward or easily understood; they come to us in dreams, where they are hidden or masked. The fact that these desires "wear disguises" underscores the difficulty of recognizing or acknowledging them.

The next lines, "We fall past, / holding out our arms / and in the morning / our arms ache," evoke a sense of longing and loss. The imagery of falling and reaching out in a dream suggests a futile attempt to grasp something unattainable. The "aching" arms in the morning symbolize the lingering effects of this unfulfilled longing, a physical manifestation of a deeper emotional need that has not been met.

Pastan continues by exploring the nature of memory and the subconscious: "We don't remember the dream, / but the dream remembers us." This suggests that even if we cannot consciously recall our dreams, the desires they represent remain with us, influencing our thoughts and feelings throughout the day. The dream, though forgotten, still shapes our experience, much like an "animal is there / under the table," unseen but present, or "as the stars are there / even in full sun," hidden yet always existing.

The closing lines of the poem reinforce the idea that our true desires are often invisible to us, yet they persist, guiding our actions and emotions in subtle ways. The comparison to stars during the day—always present but obscured by the brightness of the sun—suggests that these desires are fundamental, always with us, even if we are not always aware of them.

"What We Want" is a contemplative exploration of the nature of desire and the often unrecognized ways it shapes our lives. Pastan uses rich imagery and subtle shifts in perspective to convey the complexity of human longing, suggesting that what we truly want is often hidden from us, lurking in the background of our conscious thoughts, much like stars hidden in daylight or an animal quietly waiting under the table. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own desires and the ways in which these hidden yearnings influence their daily existence.

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