Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lynda Hull?s "Black Mare" is a haunting exploration of memory, loss, and the disintegration of a relationship marked by shared struggles and fleeting passion. The poem moves through a landscape of transient spaces—particularly the metaphorical and literal space of a dilapidated hotel—where love and ruin intertwine, creating an atmosphere of decay and longing. Through her richly textured imagery, Hull evokes the inescapable pull of the past and the emotional scars it leaves behind.

The poem begins with the speaker haunted by a metaphorical "invisible chain gang," a vivid image suggesting the weight of past identities and experiences that follow her. The "aliases" and "many faces" of her companion evoke the fractured and unstable nature of their shared life, set against the backdrop of a "vast hotel" that becomes a central symbol for their transient, unsettled existence. The "hotel" represents both a physical space and an emotional state, where their lives are fragmented and tenuously held together. The peeling walls and "corsages ruined in the air" reinforce the motif of decay and impermanence, underscoring the inevitability of their relationship’s collapse.

Hull’s imagery captures the sensory details of their shared life with striking clarity. The "elevated train" that rattles past every twenty minutes symbolizes the relentless passage of time, a reminder of the forces beyond their control. The "black wig on the chair" becomes a poignant emblem of artifice and identity, suggesting the roles they assume to navigate their harsh reality. The recurring mention of the "black mare"—a racehorse whose leg snaps in the final stretch—becomes a central metaphor for their doomed trajectory, encapsulating the fragility of their dreams and the inevitability of their fall.

The narrative voice alternates between tenderness and resignation, reflecting the complexity of their bond. The speaker recalls moments of intimacy, such as "Your arms circled me when I stood by the window," where the physical closeness contrasts with the emotional and circumstantial distance between them. These moments of connection are shadowed by the inevitability of loss, as the speaker acknowledges, "I never meant to leave you there by the pane, that terminal hotel." The "terminal hotel" becomes both a literal and symbolic space of finality, suggesting the end of their shared journey and the inevitability of departure.

Hull’s language is steeped in the imagery of addiction and despair, with references to "a forest of needles" and "the white mist of morphine" conveying the physical and emotional toll of their lives. These motifs underscore the theme of self-destruction and the ways in which their love is both a refuge and a source of annihilation. The "clerk who read our palms" and proclaimed their bond as fate adds a layer of fatalism, reinforcing the idea that their lives are governed by forces beyond their control.

The poem’s structure mirrors the cyclical nature of memory and regret, as the speaker repeatedly returns to the same images and questions: "How did we live?" and "What did we learn?" These refrains emphasize the speaker’s inability to reconcile the beauty and pain of their past, as well as her lingering attachment to the relationship despite its collapse. The imagery of "a burnt place on my arm" serves as a visceral reminder of the physical and emotional scars left behind, anchoring the speaker’s memories in the tangible evidence of their shared suffering.

In the final stanzas, Hull moves from the intimacy of their shared past to the desolation of its aftermath. The "grid of shadows the El tracks throw over the street" and the "empty lot" evoke a sense of abandonment and loss, as the physical markers of their life together fade into obscurity. The speaker’s acknowledgment that "I was your fate" suggests a profound sense of guilt and responsibility, even as she grapples with the inevitability of their separation. The imagery of "black orchids" falling through the air encapsulates the poem’s central themes of beauty, decay, and transience, offering a poignant visual metaphor for the fleeting nature of love and desire.

"Black Mare" is a powerful meditation on the intersections of love, loss, and memory. Hull’s richly layered imagery and evocative language create a vivid portrait of a relationship shaped by passion and despair, underscoring the ways in which the past lingers and transforms our understanding of ourselves. The poem invites readers to reflect on the fragile beauty of human connection and the enduring scars left by those we leave behind.

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