Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s "How Things Change" encapsulates a vivid and fragmented exploration of memory, space, and shifting realities. The poem is imbued with an atmosphere of dislocation, as Olson juxtaposes the tangible familiarity of home with a surreal transformation of its structure, echoing themes of impermanence and the interplay between the external world and internal perception.

The poem opens with an intimate, almost mundane premise: the speaker returns home to his wife with the intention of taking her out for drinks and oysters. Yet, from the outset, there is a sense of detachment, as he recalls his recent sojourn in Ireland and the decision to leave friends behind to return to his old house in Worcester. This return is marked by a “swift” movement, signaling urgency or desire, yet it quickly becomes apparent that what he is returning to is no longer as he left it. The shift from one place to another introduces the theme of change—geographical, emotional, and structural.

The house itself becomes a symbol of transformation and estrangement. Olson describes the “three-decker” as having been “Norman Bel Geddesized,” invoking the famed designer’s futuristic visions of modernity. The house, once a stable and familiar entity, is now distorted, with one corner “sliced off,” the roof altered, and the stairways reimagined as sterile, impersonal passageways reminiscent of buses, airplanes, or ships. These alterations suggest not only physical modernization but also a loss of intimacy and warmth, as the house shifts from a lived-in home to something coldly utilitarian. The speaker’s disorientation reflects a broader anxiety about change, as the familiar becomes alien and the personal is subsumed by the impersonal.

As the speaker ascends the transformed stairs, he briefly reflects on the house’s past and his wife’s role within it. The thought that she hasn’t swept the stairs suggests a momentary lapse into routine expectations, but this is immediately undercut by a justification: the Olsons have paid rent for years, and the house has “earned its way.” This rationale underscores a pragmatic acceptance of decay and neglect, mirroring the poem’s larger meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The act of climbing the stairs becomes symbolic of navigating a liminal space—between past and present, intimacy and estrangement.

The moment of arrival at the top of the stairs brings a new kind of transformation, as the door to the apartment is likened to a “chute for baggage” or a “mail chute.” This compressed and impersonal threshold evokes a feeling of claustrophobia, as the speaker momentarily fears being unable to pass through. The description emphasizes the narrowing of physical and emotional spaces, reflecting a broader sense of confinement or displacement. Yet, this suffocating moment is also a gateway to intimacy, as the speaker becomes aware of his wife’s presence through the sight of her coat in the hallway.

The final lines of the poem shift into a more intimate and hopeful register. The speaker anticipates reuniting with his wife, imagining that they will make love before heading out for whiskey and oysters. This turn introduces a tender contrast to the earlier descriptions of estrangement and transformation. Despite the disorienting changes in the house, the act of reconnecting with his wife represents a grounding force, a return to human connection and sensual pleasure. The mention of whiskey and oysters, both indulgent and elemental, evokes a sense of renewal and vitality, suggesting that amidst the flux of time and space, there remain constants that anchor the speaker’s existence.

Olson’s language throughout the poem is direct yet layered with metaphorical weight, reflecting his characteristic attention to the interplay between the physical and the abstract. The fragmented structure mirrors the speaker’s experience of dislocation, as the narrative unfolds in a series of shifting perceptions and realizations. The tension between past and present, intimacy and alienation, is conveyed not only through the imagery but also through the rhythm and flow of the poem, which moves fluidly between external observations and internal reflections.

"How Things Change" captures the complex interplay between memory, space, and identity, as the speaker navigates a world in flux while seeking moments of connection and meaning. Olson’s portrayal of the house as both a physical and psychological space highlights the inevitability of change and the ways in which it reshapes our relationships to the places and people we hold dear. Yet, the poem’s conclusion offers a quiet affirmation of the enduring power of love and desire, suggesting that even amidst the disorienting transformations of life, there are moments of intimacy and joy that provide solace and continuity.

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