Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Tess Gallagher’s poem “Ring” delves into the themes of memory, loss, and the persistent presence of the past through the evocative imagery of a ring. The poem explores the emotional weight carried by objects that once held personal significance, transforming them into symbols of longing and remembrance.

The poem begins with a reference to two rings: the one the deceased wore and the one they found together in a shop in Oregon. The moss agate ring, described as "so green / it was nearly black," stands out as a significant memento, its color and substance representing something rich and mysterious. The speaker’s initial decision to give the ring to a friend who “wore no rings and needed its luck” suggests an attempt to pass on its supposed power or meaning. However, this act of giving away something precious soon feels like a mistake, as the speaker senses that the ring has lost its significance and lies neglected.

The retrieval of the ring and its placement around the speaker’s neck like a high school charm symbolize the awkwardness of trying to recapture the past. This attempt to hold onto something meaningful feels juvenile and out of place, particularly when contrasted with the "rose-gold / of wedding bands," which represent a different kind of mature, committed love. The poem then transitions into a frantic search for the ring, indicating a deeper psychological and emotional need to reconnect with the past.

Gallagher uses vivid imagery to convey the intensity of this search and the despair of not finding the ring: “Not to find it—worse / than omen.” The comparison of this loss to “happiness squandered in fountains / with wrongheaded wishing” underscores the futility and heartbreak associated with misplaced hope and misdirected desires. The ring’s disappearance becomes symbolic of the elusive nature of happiness and the treacherous ways memory can haunt and taunt.

The poem takes a contemplative turn as the speaker reflects on how memory works: “that my senses are inhabited like the log / into which a bear has crawled to dream / winter away.” This metaphor captures the hibernation of grief and the way memories can lie dormant, only to resurface unexpectedly. The ongoing presence of the deceased is described as "volatile, sacramental," suggesting both instability and sanctity in the way they continue to affect the living.

The poem’s climax comes with the image of a boy running with a kite over gravestones, merging the earth with the sky. This powerful image encapsulates the blend of life and death, memory and presence, showing how the past and the departed continue to influence the living in profound ways. The final lines return to the scene in Oregon, blending the memory of love with the present reality of loss. The ring, with its “cold silver / close around the finger on his new-made hand,” symbolizes the enduring connection between the speaker and the deceased, a bond that transcends death and time.

“Ring” is a deeply evocative poem that uses the metaphor of a lost and found ring to explore themes of love, loss, and the persistence of memory. Gallagher’s use of rich, symbolic imagery and reflective narrative invites readers to contemplate the ways in which objects and memories carry the weight of our emotions and the enduring presence of those we have lost. Through its intimate and poignant exploration, the poem captures the delicate balance between holding on and letting go, the sacred and the mundane, and the living and the dead.

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