Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "The Safecracker" intricately weaves together imagery of security, desire, and vulnerability, creating a metaphorical narrative that blurs the line between a physical heist and an intimate encounter. Through the use of evocative language and powerful symbols, the poem explores the delicate and complex dynamics of intimacy, trust, and the breaking down of emotional barriers.

The poem begins with a description of a night when "the moon seems impenetrable," setting a tone of secrecy and impenetrability. The moon, often a symbol of mystery and illumination, is here depicted as a "locked porthole to space," suggesting something distant and unreachable. This sets the stage for the idea of breaking through barriers, whether they are literal or emotional. The imagery of a householder barring "his windows / and doors," with his dog vigilantly keeping watch, emphasizes a sense of guardedness and the lengths to which one goes to protect what is inside. The maiden, "with her rosy knees sealed tightly together," represents innocence and purity, further reinforcing the idea of something precious being kept under lock and key.

As the poem introduces the figure of the safecracker, it shifts from the external, protective world to the secretive and precise work of breaching those defenses. The safecracker's tools—"Axe . . . Chisel . . . Nitroglycerin"—are instruments of force and precision, highlighting the duality of his task. He is both destructive and careful, as he "sands his fingertips / to feel the subtle vibrations / of wheel lining up, just so, with wheel." This meticulous attention to detail suggests a deep understanding of the mechanisms that guard what is valuable, whether those mechanisms are physical locks or emotional defenses.

The safecracker's work is described with a sense of reverence, as "his toolmarks are his fingerprints," implying that his identity is intrinsically tied to his ability to unlock and access what is hidden. The comparison of the vault to an egg with "a single fault line" introduces a new layer of vulnerability—within the hard exterior lies "the golden yolk just waiting." This imagery of the egg, a symbol of potential and life, contrasts with the earlier tools of destruction, suggesting that what is being unlocked is something fragile and precious.

The poem reaches a turning point with the description of "a kind of wind . . . a door flies open," and the "glitter / of forsythia forced out of the branch." The sudden opening, the release of the forsythia, symbolizes the moment of breakthrough—when what was locked away is finally revealed. The forsythia, with its bright yellow blossoms, represents new life, beauty, and the bursting forth of something long contained.

The final lines of the poem bring the metaphor to a deeply personal level. The safecracker's actions are paralleled with the touch of a lover: "With smoothest fingertips you touch / the locked cage of my ribs . . . just so. / My knees fall open." This intimate act of unlocking the speaker's body and emotions is likened to the opening of Cleopatra's tomb, invoking the historical and cultural significance of locks and what they protect. Cleopatra, whose Egyptians "first invented the lock," smiles, suggesting that this act of unlocking is both ancient and timeless, a fundamental part of human experience.

"The Safecracker" is a rich and layered poem that uses the metaphor of a heist to explore themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and the complex interplay between security and desire. Pastan masterfully connects the physical act of breaking into a safe with the emotional act of opening oneself up to another, highlighting the delicate balance between protection and exposure in relationships. The poem ultimately suggests that true intimacy involves both the skillful navigation of barriers and the willingness to be vulnerable, resulting in a powerful and transformative connection.

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