Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Stanley Jasspon Kunitz’s poem “Tutored-Child” delves into the complexities of a child's life shaped by parental influences and innate sensitivities. Through vivid imagery and a poignant tone, Kunitz explores themes of inherited traits, parental conflict, and the inevitable vulnerability that accompanies a gifted yet troubled existence.

The poem opens with a stark portrayal of the mother: “Your mother, whom the mirror-world has claimed, / Plucks at the tell-tale hairs with violent hand.” The “mirror-world” suggests a preoccupation with appearance and the passage of time, a realm where vanity and self-scrutiny reign. The mother’s violent plucking of hairs signifies a desperate attempt to reverse or halt the aging process, hinting at a deeper hysteria: “And thinks time backward to a brassy song, / Rolling the grape of hysteria under her tongue.” This vivid metaphor captures her nostalgia and emotional instability, as she tries to relive a more youthful, perhaps happier, period of her life.

In contrast, the father is described as being torn by internal conflict: “Your father, in whom two ambitions rave, / Like stations wrangling on the foreign-wave.” The image of “stations wrangling” on a “foreign-wave” evokes a sense of dissonance and instability, as if his ambitions are constantly clashing and unable to find harmony. This internal struggle affects his ability to love purely, as “he loathes the heart that blends / His guilty love; but the quarrel never ends.” The father’s conflicted emotions and guilt further complicate the familial dynamics, contributing to an environment of continuous strife.

The child, described as “of nature's bright unlucky brood,” inherits a mix of talent and curse. The phrase “Born of the drop of talent in your blood / Wherewith the gates of mystery are oiled” suggests that the child possesses a rare gift, a talent that opens doors to deeper understanding and mystery. However, this gift comes with a heavy burden: “Mortals will touch you and your taste be spoiled, / Witches in metals test you.” The child is depicted as being tested and tainted by external influences, unable to maintain purity in a world that seeks to exploit and manipulate.

Kunitz’s depiction of the child’s vulnerability is both empathetic and sorrowful: “I observe / Defeat, taking short cuts from nerve to nerve, / Climb through the narrow transom of your will.” The imagery of defeat climbing through the child’s will underscores the pervasive and invasive nature of the struggles they face. The poet’s personal lament, “And I weep, for having made you vulnerable,” conveys a deep sense of responsibility and regret, as if acknowledging a role in the child’s suffering.

The poem concludes with a tender, almost resigned gesture: “My poor poor child whose terrors never cease, / Here is my pity penny. Buy you peace.” The repetition of “poor” emphasizes the poet’s compassion and sorrow for the child’s plight. The “pity penny” symbolizes a small, perhaps futile, offering of solace in the face of overwhelming challenges. It is an acknowledgment of the child’s enduring terrors and an attempt to provide some form of comfort, however inadequate it might be.

In summary, Stanley Jasspon Kunitz’s “Tutored-Child” is a deeply evocative poem that explores the intricate dynamics of a family marked by parental conflict and the inherent vulnerabilities of a gifted child. Through rich imagery and a tone of empathetic sorrow, Kunitz delves into the complexities of inherited traits and the burden of sensitivity. The poem’s vivid portrayal of the mother’s hysteria, the father’s internal conflict, and the child’s struggles paints a poignant picture of a family grappling with its own demons, ultimately highlighting the delicate and often painful nature of human existence.

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