Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Cleopatra Mathis's "Angels" is an emotionally charged poem that explores the tension between impulse and restraint, chaos and grace, and the transformative power of a guiding presence. Through vivid imagery and a nuanced portrayal of internal conflict, Mathis creates a meditation on the moral and spiritual forces that shape human actions and identity. The poem’s title suggests divine intervention, yet its treatment of angels is deeply human, presenting them as metaphors for the inner struggles and revelations that accompany growth.

The poem opens with a visceral and dramatic image: "They bring in the knife, they show you his sleeping body and the spot to strike." This scene immediately establishes a conflict between destructive impulse and potential restraint. The ambiguous "they" suggests external or internal forces urging an act of violence, while the "knife" becomes a potent symbol of decision-making power, finality, and consequence. The sleeping body, vulnerable and unaware, evokes a sense of innocence or trust, heightening the moral weight of the contemplated act.

Mathis uses the metaphor of angels to represent conflicting impulses within the self. The angels, described as "quick as shadows crossing, a knot of confusion," reflect the chaos and uncertainty of moral decision-making. Their initial presentation is dark and tumultuous, aligned more with temptation than protection. However, one angel steps apart, embodying a guiding force: "She creates another step, another purpose." This figure intervenes, countering the destructive urges born of anger and frustration, and introduces the possibility of restraint and reflection.

The speaker's "teen-age body, made purely of anger," represents a phase of life characterized by raw emotion and impulsivity. Mathis’s choice of adolescence as the emotional landscape underscores the universality of the poem’s themes, as this stage is often marked by intense conflict between instinct and emerging self-awareness. The angel’s role as a maternal figure who "turns you away" introduces a tension between immediate desires and the longer path toward growth and understanding. Her influence is described as frustrating in the moment, yet it sows the seeds of transformation.

Mathis employs a shift in tone and imagery as the angel’s intervention opens the speaker’s awareness to the natural world: "you hear the night birds, the small clamor of their appeal / more lovely because they remain unseen." The birds, unseen yet present, symbolize the unseen forces—grace, conscience, or intuition—that can guide us toward righteousness. This moment of sensory and emotional clarity offers the speaker a glimpse of a broader, more harmonious universe, one that exists beyond the immediate chaos.

The angel’s maternal role deepens as the poem progresses. She is described as "the secret that bears your life forward," suggesting her influence is both subtle and profound. Mathis portrays her as a source of charity and patience, allowing the speaker to move beyond the "truculent voices of fear" that dominate their adolescence. This contrast between the angel's quiet strength and the noise of chaos reflects the gradual process of maturity and the eventual integration of conflicting inner forces.

The concluding lines are especially poignant: "Years will pass before you can live with their noise, / before their presence grows quiet, and you find her again." The poem acknowledges the enduring presence of internal conflict, but it also offers hope for resolution. The speaker’s rediscovery of the angel—now recognized as a maternal figure—is a moment of reconciliation and gratitude. Her guidance, once a source of frustration, is understood in retrospect as essential to the speaker's growth and survival.

Structurally, Mathis employs enjambment and fluid transitions to mirror the inner turbulence and eventual calm of the speaker’s journey. The lack of rigid stanza breaks reflects the continuous interplay of chaos and clarity, as well as the ongoing nature of the speaker’s struggle. The language is rich with sensory details, from the tactile ("tears fall with frustration") to the auditory ("the small clamor of their appeal"), immersing the reader in the speaker’s emotional and spiritual transformation.

"Angels" is ultimately a poem about redemption through restraint, the discovery of moral clarity, and the recognition of unseen forces that shape our lives. Mathis crafts a narrative of internal conflict that resonates universally, portraying the angel as both an external figure of grace and an internal voice of conscience. By weaving themes of forgiveness, patience, and self-awareness into a moment of crisis, the poem offers a meditation on the complexities of human morality and the quiet forces that guide us toward our better selves.

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