Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "A Husband's Prayer” by Mark Wunderlich, the speaker offers a prayer that is at once deeply personal and reflective of broader human concerns about duty, marriage, and the relationship between the sacred and the mundane. The poem is a meditation on responsibility, gratitude, and the challenges of maintaining a connection to another person while navigating the complexities of life. Through a combination of domestic imagery and spiritual reverence, Wunderlich explores how the divine manifests in the small, everyday moments of existence and in the bonds we form with others, particularly in the context of marriage.

The poem begins with an invocation to a higher power, "You, author of all wonders," acknowledging the divine force behind all creation. This sets the tone for the speaker’s prayer, which focuses on both the beauty and the weight of the life they are living. The reference to "our own shoemaker’s daughter" is particularly striking, as it presents an image of a woman who is humble and unassuming—"illiterate and bent," yet one who "proclaims from her special chair / in the meetinghouse." This woman, with her simplicity and groundedness, stands as a symbol of the everyday wisdom that the speaker values. She is an unlikely prophet, yet her message is one of humility and the importance of living within one’s means—"to find beauty in utility" and "to beware idolatry." Through her, the speaker is reminded not to overreach, but to appreciate the beauty of the life that has been given to him.

The speaker expresses gratitude for the tangible gifts that have been bestowed upon him—"a spouse, / and a house, a barn and sheds, gardens, / a small orchard, a field rich with clover." These images of abundance evoke a sense of stability and contentment, suggesting that the speaker finds fulfillment in the simple, essential elements of life. The mention of "hives humid and speckled with pollen" adds a sensory detail that emphasizes the richness of this existence, while grounding the prayer in the natural world and the cycles of life that sustain it.

However, the speaker’s prayer also reveals the complexities of marriage and the emotional challenges that come with it. The line "From the coolest and boggiest portion / of my heart, my worries multiply as spores" metaphorically captures the internal struggle of the speaker, as their concerns grow uncontrollably, like an infestation. The use of the image of "canker the apple leaf" ties this internal turmoil to the natural world, suggesting that these worries are not just abstract but affect the speaker’s emotional and psychological well-being, much like a disease affects a plant. This connection between the internal and external worlds serves as a powerful reminder that the personal and the natural are deeply intertwined.

The speaker expresses a longing to communicate more deeply with their spouse, to share the burdens that weigh on them: "if only I could / describe them into the space between our pillows / at night." The intimacy of this moment, the shared vulnerability of lying together at night, conveys a desire for connection and understanding that transcends the physical. Yet, the difficulty in articulating these burdens—"if only I could"—suggests the challenge of expressing complex, internal emotions within the confines of a relationship. This difficulty is a poignant aspect of the speaker’s prayer, as it acknowledges the inherent tension in human relationships: the need to share and connect, even when words fail.

As the poem progresses, the speaker turns to the metaphor of thistles and noxious vines that threaten the marriage. "When thistles spring up in the field / of our marriage, when the noxious vine / twines onto the maple," the speaker acknowledges that there will be difficulties and challenges in the relationship. However, the act of "pulling it up / by its roots" implies an active commitment to addressing these problems, rooting out what is harmful before it can take hold. This idea of tending to the marriage with care and effort reflects the speaker’s desire to protect and nurture the bond, even in the face of inevitable struggles.

The mention of the "gothic script" tattooed on the young gardener’s stomach is a striking and mysterious image. The speaker struggles to read it, perhaps symbolizing their own difficulty in understanding or connecting with others on a deeper level. Yet, the final lines offer a moment of clarity and resolution: "remind me / my own name is written in the mind of another / however faint." This realization suggests that, even in the midst of confusion or uncertainty, the speaker's identity is recognized and preserved in the mind of their spouse. This recognition of one’s name in another’s mind becomes a form of spiritual affirmation—a reminder that love and connection are not just about understanding each other perfectly, but about the mutual recognition of one another's humanity and existence.

The closing lines of the poem provide a vision of peace and contentment: "Let that be enough. Let me not dwell / on our weaknesses, on our smells, our shedding / skin and hair." The speaker wishes to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship, leaving behind the distractions of physical imperfections and flaws. The image of the "small chalet / somewhere on the cool green pasture / of an alp where we shelter" evokes a sense of tranquility and solace, a place where the speaker and their spouse can find refuge from the struggles of the world. The "striped ticking" of the bed and the "barely touching" hands suggest a quiet, peaceful intimacy, where connection is maintained not through grand gestures, but through the simple, quiet presence of the other.

In “A Husband's Prayer”, Mark Wunderlich explores the complexities of love, marriage, and personal responsibility. The poem meditates on the difficulty of expressing internal struggles, the importance of tending to one’s relationships, and the desire for peace and understanding within a partnership. Through vivid, natural imagery and the recognition of both the joys and challenges of marriage, the speaker offers a prayer that is both a plea for strength and a reflection on the intimate bond between partners. The prayer is ultimately one of acceptance, of finding contentment in the recognition of shared humanity, and of the quiet peace that can come from mutual care and understanding.

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