Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sonnets: 28" by Wanda Coleman delves into themes of economic struggle, societal expectations, and personal aspirations through the vivid lens of a conversation with a gypsy, intertwining humor with poignant reflection on life's material and emotional scarcities. This sonnet, marked by Coleman's characteristic blend of incisive commentary and lyrical intensity, navigates the complex terrain of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness within the constraints of socio-economic realities.

The poem opens with an inquiry into the yield of rutabagas, a humble root vegetable, setting the stage for a meditation on sustenance and survival in the context of "simple poverty-struck tastes." The speaker's self-identification as a "feverish hardworker" with modest needs underscores a life of effort unrewarded in proportion to its expenditure, highlighting the broader economic disparities that define many lives ("if rich by standards of starving mobs").

The mention of a toast "over dry blond bubbly" with a gypsy about securing "both-money and man" introduces a thematic exploration of the societal pressures on women to achieve financial stability and romantic fulfillment. The gypsy's advice to "nail-it-to-the-cross before sixty" reflects the pervasive fear of aging without having secured these markers of success, framing such achievements as a safeguard against "courting bitter withered cronehood."

Coleman weaves in the tale of the gypsy's ancestor, a "baleboosteh behayma babushka" who sacrificed her physical and mental well-being "polishing corporate marble" for the sake of her family ("ten crumbcatchers and her momzer"). This narrative thread serves as a cautionary tale about the potential costs of dedication to familial and economic survival, challenging the glorification of self-sacrifice without acknowledging its toll.

The warning to embrace "savvy politic and long-term whoopy" lest one fall victim to "panic weather / a black spasm on a brokedown bed" captures the urgency of navigating life's challenges with wisdom and an eye towards future happiness. This advice suggests a balance between pragmatic decision-making and the pursuit of pleasure as essential to avoiding a fate marked by desperation and despair.

"Sonnets: 28" is a multifaceted exploration of the intersections between economic necessity, societal expectations, and personal fulfillment. Through the conversation with the gypsy, Coleman highlights the complexity of navigating these pressures, particularly as a woman striving to carve out a space of autonomy and satisfaction within a landscape often marked by scarcity and limitation. The sonnet form, traditionally associated with expressions of love and existential musings, here becomes a vessel for Coleman's reflections on the broader human struggle for dignity and happiness amidst the vicissitudes of life.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bathwater_Wine/rS6cPn9ECAgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=28.

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