Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Cleopatra Mathis's "Seven Months" captures the intimate, physical, and emotional complexities of motherhood through the act of breastfeeding. The poem delves into themes of connection, rejection, and eventual acceptance of change, portraying the bond between mother and child as both tender and fraught with struggle.

The poem begins with the disruption of a natural rhythm—a "slight infection of the ear" that sets the stage for the baby's refusal to nurse. This physical ailment becomes a catalyst for a deeper conflict: the baby’s rejection of the mother’s breast, a rejection that feels both primal and personal. The mother’s efforts to restore this bond, depicted through her "pumped milk and tears," underline the vulnerability inherent in caregiving. The child’s visceral "no," expressed through screams and physical resistance, creates a tension that ripples through the poem, encapsulating the fraught dynamics of dependence and independence.

Mathis juxtaposes the mother's longing for connection with the baby's resolute autonomy. The imagery of the "great white bra" and the unbuttoned blouse underscores the mother’s physical exposure and emotional openness, which are met with the baby’s steadfast rejection. This contrast magnifies the emotional weight of the situation, where an act that once symbolized nurturing and unity now becomes a source of division.

The turning point arrives at midnight, a symbolic hour of transition. In the quiet of the night, the mother resorts to trickery—"the gradual transfer from bottle to body"—in a final attempt to bridge the gap. The baby’s reluctant acceptance, described with tactile precision, transforms the act of breastfeeding into a moment of both pain and relief. The "hard, veined breast swollen as big as his head" becomes a symbol of the mother’s enduring love and sacrifice, as well as the physical toll of caregiving. The duality of this moment—painful yet cathartic—reflects the complexities of maternal devotion.

The imagery in the poem’s closing lines evokes a serene yet poignant atmosphere. The "dim pinpoints of stars" and "moths tapping the screen" situate the scene in the quiet mundanity of an "ordinary September," grounding the universal emotions of the poem in a specific, relatable setting. As the baby nurses one last time, the rhythm of his suck becomes a metronome of finality: "last time, last time." The repetition underscores the inevitability of change, as the mother recognizes the fleeting nature of this intimate bond.

The final line, "What could I do but give him up," encapsulates the central tension of the poem. The act of letting go is both an acceptance of the child’s growing independence and a surrender to the natural progression of time. This resignation is not without grief, as the mother mourns the loss of a connection that defined their relationship. Yet, it is also a testament to her resilience and her ability to prioritize the child’s needs over her own desires.

Seven Months is a deeply personal meditation on motherhood, capturing the delicate interplay between physical intimacy and emotional complexity. Mathis uses rich, sensory language to convey the raw vulnerability of caregiving, while also exploring the broader themes of separation and growth. Through its honest and tender portrayal of a mother’s experience, the poem resonates as a universal reflection on love, loss, and the enduring power of connection.

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