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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Alice Fulton's "Two Cries & a Clutch" is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the bittersweet nature of past relationships, and the inevitable changes that life brings. Through evocative imagery and candid introspection, the poem explores the lingering impact of youthful love and the contrasting realities of the present. The poem begins with a memory of a boy who once liked the speaker: "This boy liked me once: two cries & a clutch." This opening line captures the intensity and brevity of a youthful romance, emphasizing the physical and emotional closeness experienced in that fleeting moment. The phrase "Young blood, thin as a pick" evokes a sense of vitality and fragility, setting the tone for a reflection on the impermanence of such connections. The speaker recounts how this boy "broke my lips & woke my tongue," suggesting a transformative encounter that awakened her desires and sharpened her emotions. The imagery of "His contrary motions roughed the nubs of my spine" and "I sharpened my heart on his" conveys a visceral sense of intimacy and the mutual impact they had on each other. This relationship, though fleeting, left an indelible mark on the speaker's heart. As time has passed, the boy has moved on to another lover, described as "another nymph in his guitar case: venus plucked & scrubbed." This metaphor suggests a replacement that is both objectified and sanitized, highlighting the speaker's sense of loss and the boy's need for something pristine and unblemished. The speaker, in contrast, acknowledges her need for something more substantial than "twenty toes twisting beneath a sheet," suggesting a longing for deeper connection and meaning. The poem shifts to the present, where the speaker reflects on the changes that have occurred: "His shaggy hair's gone lean. Mine's gray as filaments." This juxtaposition of their physical transformations underscores the passage of time and the inevitable aging process. The speaker's acceptance of her "forty-watt glow" and the melting of her flesh as she "stick[s] to chairs & churn[s] the words" conveys a sense of resignation and self-awareness. The speaker reminisces about the past, specifically the times they spent together in the "wet storeways of Graytown, U.S.A." The imagery of "police cars smoothed by in the groundsteam" and "rain made a heart murmur" creates a nostalgic atmosphere, evoking the intimacy and secrecy of their youthful love. The whispered words "mine one of us said to one of us" capture the deep emotional connection they shared, a connection that feels distant and elusive now. The poem concludes with a reflection on the changes in their social interactions: "We didn't speak to strangers then." This line suggests a time when their world was small and intimate, focused solely on each other, in contrast to the present where the speaker feels a sense of isolation and disconnection. "Two Cries & a Clutch" is a beautifully crafted meditation on the complexities of love, memory, and the passage of time. Alice Fulton's rich and evocative language invites readers to reflect on their own past relationships and the ways in which they continue to shape our present selves. Through her candid and introspective tone, Fulton captures the bittersweet nature of growing older and the enduring impact of youthful love.
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