Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Courtship" by James Dickey delves into the transient and often surreal experiences of soldiers stationed on a remote island during a period of peace. The poem juxtaposes the rugged, makeshift living conditions and the soldiers' longing for normalcy and domesticity against the backdrop of their isolated, war-torn environment. Dickey uses the construction of a house as a central metaphor for building and maintaining a semblance of home and stability in an otherwise unstable, temporary setting.

The poem begins with the soldiers trading rations of whiskey for lumber to build not just a temporary shelter, like a tent, but a permanent structure—a house with "a porch, two rugs, and a kitchen." This act of building is significant as it represents a desire to create a lasting, comforting space amid the chaos and impermanence of war. The house stands on a clifftop, overlooking an island that has "changed to peace one night while we slept," suggesting a sudden, almost unnoticed transition from conflict to calm.

The reference to not bringing girls they would marry but instead imagining the presence of women cut out from magazines pinned to their walls introduces a theme of idealized and unattainable femininity. These images of women, "smiling like a harem from our walls," serve as a substitute for real relationships, highlighting the soldiers' isolation and the artificiality of their constructed domesticity.

As the poem progresses, the soldiers' interactions with their environment and the house reveal deeper emotional and psychological complexities. The act of drinking tea on the porch they built, "seeing the earth no longer from aircraft, but a porch we had built for idling upon," symbolizes a shift in perspective—from the war-torn skies to a more grounded, peaceful existence. This change in viewpoint allows them to momentarily escape the realities of war and indulge in ordinary, civilian pleasures.

However, as they settle into this makeshift home, "strange claims settled upon us," indicating that their attachment to the place grows stronger, stirring feelings of what life could be like beyond the war. They start to envision futures involving children with women they have yet to meet or love, contrasting sharply with the superficial images of the magazine women plastered on their walls. This longing for genuine connection and a return to normalcy is poignant and highlights the deep emotional and psychological impact of war on soldiers.

The concluding stanzas of the poem introduce a captain who descends the cliff each evening to collect blue, foreign flowers "for no one, to place on the table." This act is laden with symbolism—perhaps an attempt to bring beauty and normalcy into their lives, or a ritualistic homage to the unattainable or lost. The imagery of the captain's dangerous descent and the ephemeral nature of the flowers he collects underscores the fleeting beauty and the precariousness of their situation.

Ultimately, the poem closes with the line "All ends in gentleness," repeated as a refrain throughout, suggesting a resignation to the inevitable dismantling of their temporary sanctuary and the acceptance of returning to the realities of war and displacement. This refrain evokes a sense of peace and acceptance despite the underlying turmoil and impermanence of their lives.

"Courtship" is a poignant exploration of the human need for stability, love, and normalcy in the face of chaos and uncertainty. Through vivid imagery and deep symbolism, James Dickey captures the complex emotional landscapes of soldiers during wartime, highlighting their struggles to maintain a sense of home and normality amid the transient and often harsh realities of military life.

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