Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Transport of Slaves from Maryland to Mississippi" by Rita Dove is a poignant and introspective poem that explores complex emotions and moral dilemmas surrounding an act of violence during an attempted slave escape. Through the voice of a slave woman who finds herself in a critical and conflicting position, Dove delves into themes of survival, loyalty, and the blurred lines between oppressor and victim.

The poem is set in the aftermath of a violent breakout attempt by a group of slaves, who, "broke their chains, killed two white men, and would have escaped, had not a slave woman helped the Negro driver mount his horse and ride for help." This backdrop sets a tense and dramatic scene, raising questions about the motivations and inner turmoil of the woman who chose to intervene.

Dove begins the poem with the slave woman reflecting on her actions: "I don't know if I helped him up / because I thought he was our salvation or not." This opening line immediately introduces ambiguity and conflict in the woman’s mind, highlighting her uncertainty about whether her actions were driven by a belief in potential rescue or something else.

The description of the driver, left "for dead in the middle of the road, dust hovering around the body like a screen of mosquitoes shimmering in the hushed light," evokes a vivid, almost ethereal image of the scene. The violence inflicted upon him is graphically detailed—"The skin across his cheekbones burst open like baked yams—deliberate, the eyelids came apart—his eyes were my eyes in a yellower face." This description not only underscores the brutality of the attack but also creates a powerful connection between the woman and the driver. She sees in his suffering a reflection of her own, encapsulated in the shared look of their eyes—a moment of human recognition that transcends their immediate circumstances.

Dove’s choice to have the woman reflect that "Death and salvation—one accommodates the other" further explores the dual nature of the situation. The statement reflects on how closely life and death, freedom and bondage, are intertwined in the slaves' reality, where acts of desperation can be seen as both a reach for salvation and an acceptance of death.

The woman's internal struggle is poignantly conveyed in the lines, "I am no brute. I got feelings. / He might have been a son of mine." These lines reveal her humanity and the personal conflict she faces. Her actions are not out of cruelty or betrayal but possibly out of a maternal instinct and a complex understanding of the shared plight that binds her to the driver, despite the role he plays in her oppression.

Overall, Rita Dove's "Transport of Slaves from Maryland to Mississippi" is a compelling exploration of the moral complexities faced by individuals under the extreme pressures of slavery. Through the intimate and conflicted narrative of the slave woman, Dove challenges the reader to consider the painful choices and deep emotional scars endured by those caught in the brutal system of slavery, illuminating the profound human costs of such an inhumane institution.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Collected_Poems_1974_2004/fRyZCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

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