Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

David Wagoner’s “Keepers” is a vivid and sensuous exploration of human connection, the natural world, and the transformative power of intimacy. Set against the stark and windy backdrop of a marine aquarium, the poem juxtaposes the alien beauty of the killer whale with the human emotions of wonder, daring, and longing. Through its evocative imagery and quiet narrative progression, the poem captures a moment of profound emotional resonance.

The poem opens with an atmospheric description of the setting: “The drizzle and wind had driven the keepers / Indoors at the marine aquarium.” The inhospitable weather isolates the speaker and their companion, creating a sense of intimacy between them while enhancing the tension between the natural world and human presence. The drizzle and wind are not just atmospheric details; they set the tone for a world in flux, where boundaries between the controlled environment of the aquarium and the untamed forces of nature blur.

As the scene unfolds, the speaker describes their companion’s interaction with the young killer whale. The whale, “being heaved / And lapped by its own backwash,” is presented as a powerful yet confined creature, its circular swimming evoking the frustration of captivity. The image of the whale’s “flat circle” and its “pacing a cage” underscores the tension between freedom and restraint, a theme that resonates with the speaker’s own emotional state.

The turning point comes when the woman climbs the catwalk and kneels to interact with the whale. Her actions are described with an almost reverential intensity: “She knelt, held out her hand / Over the gray water, and called / Something I couldn’t hear in the wind.” The mystery of her words mirrors the enigmatic bond she establishes with the whale. When the whale approaches, “lift[ing] its dark head / And open[ing] its mouth a foot below,” the scene takes on an almost mythic quality. The whale’s “thick blunt tongue as pink as a mollusc’s foot” emerges, an image that juxtaposes the creature’s immense power with a surprising vulnerability.

The act of the woman kissing the whale’s tongue is the poem’s most striking moment. The gesture is described with an awe that borders on disbelief: “She kissed it, as God is my witness.” This act transcends the boundaries of human and animal, suggesting a moment of profound connection that defies rational explanation. The kiss is not merely an interaction; it is a symbolic bridge between two worlds, a gesture of trust and recognition that elevates the relationship between human and nature to something sacred.

The speaker’s reaction to this moment is layered with emotional complexity. As the woman approaches him, her lips “offered” to be kissed, he is overwhelmed by “something I hadn’t dared / Believe in, something deep as my salt.” The metaphor of salt evokes the primal and elemental, tying his emotions to the oceanic setting and the biological connection shared by all living beings. The kiss between the two humans becomes an extension of the woman’s earlier kiss with the whale, carrying the same sense of wonder and revelation.

Structurally, the poem flows seamlessly between observation and introspection, mirroring the speaker’s gradual shift from passive witness to active participant. The descriptive language is rich and tactile, grounding the reader in the immediacy of the scene while also evoking a sense of the sublime. The pacing of the poem, with its deliberate build-up to the climactic kiss, reflects the speaker’s own journey of realization and transformation.

“Keepers” is ultimately a meditation on connection—between humans, between humans and nature, and between the self and something greater. The killer whale, a creature both alien and familiar, serves as a catalyst for the speaker’s awakening to the depth of his own emotions. The woman’s fearless interaction with the whale contrasts with the speaker’s initial hesitation, but her eventual offer of intimacy bridges that gap, inviting him to share in the wonder she has experienced.

In conclusion, David Wagoner’s “Keepers” is a masterful exploration of the profound and transformative moments that arise from our interactions with the natural world and with one another. Through its vivid imagery and understated narrative, the poem captures the mystery and beauty of connection, reminding readers of the deep and often unexpected ties that bind us to the world around us. It is a celebration of daring, vulnerability, and the elemental forces that shape our lives.

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