Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Stanley Jasspon Kunitz's poem “Quinnapoxet” explores themes of memory, loss, and unresolved familial relationships through the vivid imagery of a fishing trip. The poem's setting in the abandoned reservoir of Quinnapoxet serves as a metaphorical landscape where past and present converge, revealing the speaker's inner turmoil and longing for connection.

The poem opens with a serene yet eerie scene: "I was fishing in the abandoned reservoir back in Quinnapoxet, / where the snapping turtles cruised and the bullheads swayed in their bower of tree-stumps, / sleek as eels and pigeon-fat." The abandoned reservoir suggests a place left behind, filled with remnants of life both natural and personal. The snapping turtles and bullheads, with their almost predatory elegance, mirror the lurking memories and emotions the speaker is about to confront. The description of the bullheads as "sleek as eels and pigeon-fat" adds a tactile, almost grotesque quality to the scene, emphasizing the visceral nature of these recollections.

The incident with the fish highlights the harshness of this environment: "One of them gashed my thumb with a flick of his razor fin when I yanked the barb out of his gullet." The physical pain and the struggle with the fish symbolize deeper emotional wounds and the difficulty of extracting oneself from painful memories. The speaker's interaction with the fish is a prelude to the more profound encounter that follows.

Kunitz then shifts the scene to a more oppressive atmosphere: "The sun hung its terrible coals over Buteau's farm: I saw the treetops seething." The imagery of the sun as "terrible coals" and the treetops "seething" conveys an intense, almost apocalyptic heat, suggesting a moment of emotional climax or revelation. This oppressive setting serves as the backdrop for the appearance of ghostly figures from the speaker's past.

"They came suddenly into view on the Indian road, evenly stepping / past the apple orchard, commingling with the dust they raised, / their cloud of being, against the dripping light looming larger and bolder." The sudden appearance of these figures, stepping evenly on the Indian road, evokes a sense of inevitability and otherworldliness. Their "cloud of being" suggests both their ethereal nature and the emotional weight they carry. The "dripping light" further emphasizes the oppressive, almost surreal atmosphere.

The figures are described in detail, focusing on the woman: "She was wearing a mourning bonnet and a wrap of shining taffeta. / 'Why don't you write?' she cried from the folds of her veil. / 'We never hear from you.'" The mourning bonnet and taffeta wrap indicate grief and a connection to the past, possibly hinting at the death of a loved one. Her question, "Why don't you write?" reflects a longing for communication and connection that has been lost or neglected. The speaker's silence in response, "I had nothing to say to her," signifies a profound disconnection or unresolved guilt.

The man who follows her, "in his dark worsted suit, with his face averted as if to hide a scald, / deep in his other life," represents a figure of authority or paternal presence. His averted face and the mention of a "scald" suggest shame, pain, or a past conflict. The speaker's gesture towards him, "I touched my forehead with my swollen thumb and splayed my fingers out — in deaf-mute country the sign for father," is a poignant attempt at communication and recognition. This gesture, a sign for "father," encapsulates the speaker's complex feelings of longing, respect, and perhaps unresolved issues with the paternal figure.

In summary, Stanley Jasspon Kunitz's “Quinnapoxet” is a deeply evocative poem that delves into themes of memory, loss, and familial relationships. Through rich, sensory imagery and a reflective tone, Kunitz captures the speaker's confrontation with their past and the lingering pain of unresolved connections. The poem's setting and the ghostly figures that emerge serve as powerful metaphors for the internal landscape of the speaker, highlighting the enduring impact of family and memory on one's sense of self.

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