Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

David Wagoner’s Last Words of the Human Fly is a compact, poignant exploration of identity, ambition, and self-reliance, all framed through the metaphor of a daredevil scaling great heights. The speaker, adopting the persona of the titular "Human Fly," narrates their ascent with a tone that mingles defiance, reflection, and acceptance of their ultimate fate.

The poem begins with a paradoxical statement: “I swear by the bottomless pit of my stomach, / I had no head for heights.” This line immediately juxtaposes fear with boldness, as the speaker, despite their aversion to heights, has chosen to confront them directly. The “bottomless pit” metaphor evokes both the vertiginous fear of falling and the insatiable drive that compels them to climb. This sets the stage for a narrative of defiance against both personal limitations and societal conventions.

Wagoner critiques the mundanity of conventional paths with the lines: “Stairways and elevators / Were meant for sinking fingernail-filing clerks / And rising janitors.” Here, the speaker dismisses the ordinary means of ascent—tools that are predictable and structured—as symbols of routine lives and hierarchical systems. By labeling themselves as “a rank outsider,” the speaker positions their ascent as an act of rebellion, a rejection of societal norms in favor of an individualistic, self-determined path.

As the speaker climbs higher, they note the disappearance of “gargoyles” and “caryatids with their lofty bosoms.” These architectural elements, rich in historical and cultural symbolism, suggest the grandeur and tradition of the structures being scaled. Their disappearance marks a transition from the physical to the abstract, as the speaker moves beyond tangible supports and external ornamentation to rely solely on their inner resolve. The absence of such symbols reinforces the isolation and existential nature of their ascent.

The speaker?s refusal to cling to conventional supports—“Not the snouts of air-conditioners / Or the ankles of swash-buckling window-washers”—emphasizes their commitment to self-reliance. These images highlight alternatives that could provide stability or camaraderie, but the speaker eschews them in favor of “myself: I stick to what I am.” This declaration is both empowering and tragic, encapsulating a philosophy of radical self-assertion even in the face of imminent collapse.

The poem concludes with the acknowledgment of an inevitable fall: “When I let go, / I’ll break to thousands of eyes.” The act of letting go is portrayed as a moment of transformation rather than defeat. The speaker’s impending fragmentation into “thousands of eyes” suggests a kind of legacy or dispersion of their essence—an enduring presence in the collective consciousness of those who witness their fall. This image evokes both the spectacle of their daring and the deeper resonance of their individuality.

Structurally, the poem?s short, declarative lines mimic the brevity and finality of the speaker’s thoughts during their ascent. The conversational tone lends immediacy to the narrative, while the vivid imagery—“air-conditioners,” “swash-buckling window-washers,” “lofty bosoms”—grounds the poem in a physical and relatable reality, even as it delves into existential themes.

At its core, Last Words of the Human Fly is a meditation on the tension between ambition and mortality, individuality and societal expectation. The speaker?s ascent becomes a metaphor for the human struggle to transcend limitations, even at great personal risk. Their refusal to conform, reliance on self, and acceptance of the inevitable highlight both the triumph and the tragedy of the human condition. Wagoner’s poem resonates as a celebration of individuality and a somber acknowledgment of its costs, leaving readers with a haunting image of both flight and fall.

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