Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Daniel Rifenburgh’s "Donald Justice Before a Soft-Drink Vending Machine" captures a poignant moment of frustration and resignation in the life of the poet Donald Justice. At first glance, the poem may seem to depict a trivial scene—an encounter with a malfunctioning vending machine—but through its carefully observed details and reflective tone, it becomes a meditation on human frailty, perseverance, and the quiet dignity of the creative spirit. Rifenburgh weaves themes of futility and resilience, connecting the poet’s struggle with the machine to the broader challenges of artistic and existential endeavors.

The opening lines establish the mundanity of the situation. Justice, a renowned poet, engages in an everyday act: inserting quarters into a vending machine. However, the machine’s refusal to dispense a drink transforms the scene into an emblem of thwarted intention. The poet’s mounting frustration, conveyed through the physicality of his “muttering” and the “muscle / Behind the heel of his hand,” mirrors the universal human experience of encountering resistance in the simplest of tasks. Yet, this minor ordeal also becomes a metaphor for the creative process, where effort does not always yield reward.

The poem’s language and rhythm reflect the slow build of tension, followed by its eventual dissipation. The repetition of “Again he presses them” and the description of Justice’s actions—“The ire rising in him, finding // Its level, faltering”—evoke the cyclical nature of frustration. The poet’s attempts to conquer the machine ultimately end in “a last muted jab and last muted curse,” emphasizing his acceptance of defeat. This subdued reaction contrasts with the more dramatic responses the situation might provoke, such as kicking the machine or seeking a refund. Instead, Justice embodies a quiet stoicism, choosing to move on without further confrontation. His restraint hints at a deeper understanding of life’s inherent unpredictability and the limits of control.

The setting of the poem—a dark passageway illuminated by the “red-blue lights” of the vending machine—adds a sense of isolation and introspection. The machine, described as “looming” and a “mechanical cheat,” becomes an antagonist of sorts, a symbol of modernity’s impersonal indifference. In this confrontation, Justice stands alone, his figure juxtaposed against the machine’s unyielding presence. The “red-blue lights” could also be seen as a faint echo of the poetic and creative worlds Justice inhabits, contrasting the stark, unfeeling mechanics of the machine with the vibrancy of artistic endeavor.

The transition from this scene to the mention of the workshop upstairs introduces a striking juxtaposition. The vending machine’s failure to deliver contrasts with the act of creation and intellectual labor taking place above. The students, “reconvening / To their workshop,” are engaged with “sheaves of sestinas,” both their own and those of “past masters.” This shift in focus subtly links Justice’s moment of personal frustration to the broader challenges of the poetic craft. Just as the vending machine refuses to yield its drink, the act of writing can be fraught with obstacles, where inspiration and effort do not always align. Yet the reference to “past masters” suggests continuity and perseverance, the idea that art endures despite individual struggles.

The closing lines of the poem are particularly resonant. Justice stands “speechless” before the vending machine, a moment of pause and reflection. The image of the “two vertical masses”—the poet and the machine—facing each other underscores the tension between humanity and technology, creativity and automation, resilience and futility. Ultimately, Justice “turns and heads off / Toward what he can hope to know.” This final act of walking away signifies a refusal to dwell on the trivial defeat, an acknowledgment of the unknowable, and a commitment to continue seeking meaning and understanding in the face of life’s challenges.

Rifenburgh’s poem pays tribute to Donald Justice not only as a poet but also as a human being navigating the complexities of existence. The vending machine episode, rendered with such meticulous attention to detail, becomes a metaphor for the larger struggles of creation, persistence, and acceptance. Justice’s quiet dignity in this moment reflects the grace and humility that are hallmarks of his poetry, as well as his recognition of life’s imperfections and the beauty that can still be found within them.

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