Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Updike’s poem "Colonoscopy" ventures into the deeply personal and often uncomfortable territory of medical examinations, specifically the process and experience of undergoing a colonoscopy. The poem balances the intrusion and clinical nature of the procedure with a touch of humor and the profound implications of facing one’s own mortality and bodily functions.

The poem opens with a candid address of the discomfort associated with the procedure—"Talk about intimacy! I'd almost rather not." This line sets the tone for a dialogue that many might find too personal or invasive to discuss openly. Updike uses vivid imagery to describe the preparation for the procedure: a battle with nausea induced by a "liter of sickly-sweet liquid" that the patient must drink to clear out their system. This imagery emphasizes the physical unpleasantness and the vulnerability one feels in such moments.

As the poem progresses, the narrative shifts to the procedure room, where the patient, described metaphorically as a bride, meets the doctor, likened to a groom with his "tools, his probe and tiny TV camera and honeyed words." This metaphor extends to suggest a forced intimacy, a union between patient and physician brought about by medical necessity rather than desire. The description of the doctor as tan and recently vacationed adds a layer of irony to the clinical setting, contrasting the doctor's leisure with the patient’s discomfort.

During the procedure, the patient watches the journey of the camera through their colon, displayed on a screen. Updike describes the interior scenes with a mix of technical and poetic language: "its segments marked by tidy annular construction-seams as in a prefab tunnel slapped up by the mayor’s son-in-law." This mix not only demystifies the medical procedure but also adds a layer of surrealism to the experience, likening the colon to a tunnel constructed in a haphazard, nepotistic project.

The "sudden wash of sparkling liquid" and "hairpin turns" evoke a sense of journey and adventure, as if the patient and doctor are explorers navigating the mysterious inner landscapes of the body. Yet, this exploration is tinged with the reminder of the body’s less glamorous functions and the frailty of human life.

In the conclusion, the procedure ends with the doctor's reassuring words from off-screen, suggesting a successful examination but also the inevitability of repetition: "Perfect. Not a polyp. See you in five years." Updike ends on a contemplative note, questioning the permanence of life’s structures—both bodily and existential—with "The funhouse may have folded." This line poignantly captures the uncertainty of life, the transient nature of health, and the inevitability of change and decay.

"Colonoscopy" is a masterful blend of the clinical and the poetic, turning a routine medical procedure into a reflection on life, vulnerability, and the human condition. Updike’s use of language transforms the mundane into the sublime, inviting readers to find depth and meaning in the ordinary events of life.

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