Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "The Answering Machine" is a poignant reflection on grief, memory, and the eerie persistence of a loved one's voice after death. The poem captures the complex emotions that arise when encountering remnants of a deceased person's life, particularly the unsettling experience of hearing their voice on an answering machine long after they have passed away. Through vivid imagery and a deeply personal narrative, Pastan explores themes of loss, the passage of time, and the strange comfort that technology can provide in the face of overwhelming sorrow.

The poem begins with the speaker making a call and hearing the voice of the deceased on the answering machine: "I call and hear your voice / on the answering machine / weeks after your death." This initial encounter with the voice is described as a "fledgling ghost," a metaphor that suggests the voice is a lingering, fragile presence, not quite fully departed from the world. The notion of the voice "longing / for human messages" imbues the recording with a sense of yearning, as if the machine itself is waiting for a connection that can no longer be fulfilled. This idea of a disembodied voice longing for communication emphasizes the deep sense of absence felt by the speaker.

The speaker then contemplates whether to leave a message, acknowledging the profound impact of the loss: "Shall I leave one, telling / how the fabric of our lives / has been ripped before / but that this sudden tear will not / be mended soon or easily?" The metaphor of a "ripped" fabric conveys the idea that life, once whole, has been violently torn by the death of the loved one. The "sudden tear" represents the abruptness and finality of death, and the recognition that this wound will be difficult, if not impossible, to heal. The speaker’s hesitation about leaving a message reflects the futility of trying to communicate with someone who is no longer there, yet there is also an implicit desire to reach out, to bridge the gap that death has created.

As the poem continues, the speaker describes the scene in the deceased's house: "In your emptying house, others / roll up rugs, pack books, / drink coffee at your antique table, / and listen to messages left / on a machine haunted." The house is in the process of being dismantled, its contents packed away as part of the inevitable process of moving on. However, the voice on the answering machine remains, haunting the space even as it is emptied of the physical presence of the deceased. The voice is described as "more palpable than photographs / or fingerprints," suggesting that it holds a more immediate and visceral connection to the person who has died. Unlike photographs or other tangible mementos, the voice captures the living essence of the individual, making their absence feel all the more poignant.

The poem then shifts to the speaker's internal struggle: "On this first day / of this first fall without you, / ashamed and resisting / but compelled, I dial again / the number I know by heart." The "first fall" without the loved one marks a new season of grief, a time of transition that is fraught with emotional difficulty. The speaker’s mixed feelings—shame, resistance, and compulsion—highlight the complicated nature of mourning. Despite knowing that the loved one is gone, the speaker is drawn to the familiar sound of their voice, unable to fully let go.

The poem concludes with the speaker expressing a kind of gratitude: "thankful in a diminished world / for the accidental mercy of machines, / then listen and hang up." The "diminished world" reflects the emptiness and loss that the speaker feels, yet there is also an acknowledgment of the "accidental mercy" provided by the answering machine. This phrase suggests that, while the machine’s ability to preserve the voice is unintended, it offers a small but significant comfort to the grieving speaker. The act of listening and then hanging up becomes a ritual of connection and release, allowing the speaker to momentarily reconnect with the past before returning to the reality of the present.

"The Answering Machine" is a moving exploration of the ways in which we cope with the loss of a loved one, particularly in a world where technology can both preserve and amplify the pain of absence. Pastan's use of the answering machine as a central image in the poem underscores the tension between the permanence of recorded memories and the impermanence of life. The poem captures the bittersweet nature of hearing a familiar voice after death, offering a glimpse into the complex emotions that accompany grief and the delicate balance between holding on and letting go.

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