Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Male Order Catalog" by Wanda Coleman is a provocative and intricate poem that uses the structure of a catalog to explore the complexities of relationships, identity, and memory. Through a series of vivid vignettes, each centered around a specific article of clothing and associated with a man from the speaker's past, Coleman crafts a narrative that is both deeply personal and strikingly universal, touching on themes of desire, loss, and the ways in which our lives are woven into the fabric of our experiences with others.

Each section of the poem pairs a detailed description of an item of clothing with the name of a man, followed by a list of food, drinks, music, and a price tag. This format not only mimics the superficiality of a catalog but also serves as a metaphor for the commodification of relationships and the transactional nature of love and affection in a consumer-driven society. The items of clothing, varying in style and size, symbolize the different phases and facets of the speaker's identity, reflecting the changing nature of her desires and the roles she adopts in each relationship.

The descriptions of the clothing items are rich with sensory detail and imbued with emotional resonance, transforming mundane objects into repositories of memory and meaning. From the "polished cotton Hawaiian green & purple-brown print, scoop-necked muumuu" that accommodates the speaker's "pregnant-for-the-first-time belly" to the "sky-blue crepe skin-tight floor length evening gown" that becomes part of a risky act of smuggling, each piece of clothing carries the weight of the speaker's experiences, desires, and struggles.

The men associated with these items are characterized by their preferences in food, drink, and music, as well as by their impact on the speaker's life. These brief snapshots provide insight into the dynamics of each relationship, highlighting moments of connection and disconnection, intimacy and distance. The inclusion of prices next to some of the descriptions adds a layer of irony, suggesting the impossibility of capturing the true cost of these relationships in monetary terms.

"Male Order Catalog" is a testament to the power of clothing as a form of self-expression and as a means of navigating the complexities of human relationships. Through this unique lens, Coleman invites readers to reflect on the ways in which we clothe ourselves in the expectations, desires, and memories of our interactions with others, and on the enduring marks these relationships leave on our identities.

The poem ultimately challenges the reader to consider the intersections of love, memory, and material culture, and to question the ways in which we attempt to catalog and make sense of our lives and the people who move through them. Coleman's masterful use of language and her ability to evoke vivid images and emotions make "Male Order Catalog" a compelling exploration of the human heart and the artifacts that tell its stories.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Wicked_Enchantment/hKM_EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

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