Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Angela" by Norman Dubie is a poignant and evocative poem that delves into themes of aging, memory, and the juxtaposition of life's mundane and dramatic moments. Through rich imagery and a contemplative narrative, Dubie paints a portrait of a woman in the later stages of life, reflecting on both the physical and emotional landscapes that shape her existence.

The poem opens with a bottle of mineral water from Montreal, described as having an olive at the bottom, and a box of chocolates faded to the green of pondwater. These objects immediately set a tone of decay and transformation, symbolizing how time alters both objects and people. The imagery of the mineral water and olive suggests a preservation of sorts, while the faded chocolates reflect a loss of vibrancy, paralleling the inevitable changes that come with aging.

Dubie beautifully juxtaposes the seasons with the line, "Because it was spring, winter remained." This contrast is not only a literal description of the lingering cold but also metaphorically illustrates how past experiences and seasons of life linger in the present, especially as one grows older. The physical depiction of winter in the "sunken back of the white gelding" and under the "blue spruce which ran to the ridgepole" evokes a sense of enduring hardship and resilience.

Angela, the protagonist, is described as moving with "the great weight and perfume of the lilac blossoms that were her background." This description vividly combines the heaviness of her physical movements with the sensory experience of her surroundings, tying her identity closely to her environment. The lilacs, blooming in the spring, offer a contrast to the lingering winter, suggesting a complexity in her character that balances between vitality and decline.

The narrative then shifts to a more everyday scene where Angela, dragging a bucket of coal into the shed, encounters a squirrel. Her reaction—spitting at the squirrel and later hurling coal at it—highlights her frustration and perhaps bitterness, which could be a reflection of her general outlook on life's smaller annoyances or a deeper discontentment with her own circumstances.

The mention of a man confessing petty crimes to his mistress across the river adds a layer of moral and emotional complexity to the poem, juxtaposing Angela’s solitary and mundane actions with the secretive, possibly sordid behaviors of others. This contrast may enhance her sense of isolation or judgment towards the moral failings she perceives in others.

The poem closes with a powerful reflection on Angela’s past and present. The lines "X had died. Y had died. She was just older now under the grey skies" are stark and factual, underscoring the losses that come with age and the inevitable march towards mortality. However, Dubie introduces a vivid memory or dream of Angela's younger self, leaping "at the burning curtains," a metaphorical image that captures a moment of courage or crisis. This memory, described as a "happy organization of bones wired like a pterodactyl before an orange and red watercolor of sunrise," suggests a once vibrant and dynamic spirit, contrasting dramatically with her present reality.

"Angela" is a meditation on the complexities of aging, the persistence of past selves within us, and the ways in which we confront the encroachments of time. Dubie's use of vivid imagery and sharp contrasts in this poem beautifully captures the essence of a life marked by both the mundane and the profound.

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