Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marcia Pelletiere's poem "I Visited the King" is a poignant meditation on mortality, the passage of time, and the inevitable decline of even the most powerful figures. The poem captures the intimate moments between the speaker and the "king of kings" as he lies on his deathbed, reflecting on his life, his regrets, and his creations. Through vivid imagery and delicate language, Pelletiere explores themes of loss, memory, and the quiet dignity of death.

The poem begins with the speaker visiting the elderly and ailing king. The setting is marked by a recent snowfall, "so much snow so near the end of winter," which mirrors the king's own nearing end. The snow, with its connotations of coldness and finality, sets the tone for the somber encounter. The roads are "slick," suggesting the treacherous and uncertain journey the speaker has taken to reach the king, as well as the slippery nature of life itself as it approaches its conclusion.

The king is described as lying in bed, "paler than the sheets that held him and twice as damp." This image of the king, whose physicality has diminished to the point where he almost merges with his surroundings, emphasizes his frailty and the close proximity of death. The speaker’s gesture of stroking him "like a horse" is both tender and powerful, conveying a sense of care and respect for the king in his weakened state. The act of pressing hands against his ribs is intimate, suggesting an effort to connect with the essence of the king, to feel the life that still lingers within him.

The moment of kissing is described as "long kisses," during which the king shares "his every longing and regret." This exchange is deeply personal, as the king unburdens himself of his inner thoughts and emotions, perhaps for the last time. The kiss, a symbol of love, respect, and farewell, underscores the deep connection between the speaker and the king, even as the king confronts the end of his life. The king’s recollections of "each of his creatures," which "recalled itself to him one by one," suggest a life spent in creation and care for the beings under his rule. This act of remembering, of bringing each creature back into his consciousness, serves as a final acknowledgment of his responsibilities and the world he has shaped.

When the speaker returns, the king is described as lying "alone, tranquil as a letter in a holy text soon to be shut away inside a dark tabernacle." This simile likens the king to a sacred text, something revered and preserved, yet ultimately closed off from the world. The image of being "shut away" suggests the finality of death, where the king's life, like a holy text, is now complete and ready to be sealed away. The reference to a "dark tabernacle" evokes the religious connotations of death as a passage into another realm, where the body is laid to rest and the soul moves on.

The poem reaches its emotional climax with the description of the nurse "who shut the lids, pressed them together so tightly that upper and lower lashes, dark and thick, intertwined like brambles." This detailed and careful closing of the eyes symbolizes the end of the king's earthly journey. The lashes, "intertwined like brambles," create an image of natural entanglement and final closure, as if the king is being gently but irrevocably separated from the living world. The description of his face as "empty, windswept, a silent place where I went in" conveys a deep sense of loss and desolation. The king’s face, once expressive and full of life, is now a "silent place," devoid of the animation and authority that once defined him.

The speaker’s final action, "going in" to this "silent place," suggests an act of communion with the king, a final attempt to connect with what remains of him. This entry into the king's stillness can be seen as an exploration of the void left by his passing, a contemplation of the profound silence that death brings.

In "I Visited the King," Marcia Pelletiere captures the delicate and intimate moments surrounding death, portraying it not as a grand or dramatic event, but as a quiet, inevitable transition. The poem emphasizes the tender care given to the dying, the importance of memory and reflection in one’s final moments, and the solemn beauty of a life coming to an end. Through her use of evocative imagery and careful attention to detail, Pelletiere invites readers to reflect on the dignity of death and the enduring impact of the lives we lead.

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