Original Poem：
Up in the billboard, over old South Station,
the Captain, all wide grin and ruddy cheek,
held up a golden shot of Cutty Sark
high as the skyline where the sunset spread
a gold fan from the twig-like spars and rigging
of a departing clipper ship. Above
the picture the dull haze of a real sun rose,
dragging the day up with it. Seven o’clock.
The agitated horns, brakes, fingers, and catcalls
down below me were already merging
and channeling everybody on to warehouse,
factory, department store and office.
My father and uncle talking over all the goods
to be received that day, the goods delivered,
their two reflections in the window floating
like blurry ghosts within the Captain’s grin,
their voices raised a little above the soft
erratic humming of the big machines,
the riveters and pressers, warming, rousing:
The Century order, did it get out last night?
And had the buckles come from Personal?
Who’d go do Jaffey? Who’d diddle Abramowitz
and Saperstein? Those cocksucking sons of bitches,
cut their balls off if they fuck with us . . .
How automatically at any provocation
I can aim the words at anybody now,
woman or man, the reverberating
angry this, not that, in ‘pussy’, ‘cocksucker’,
‘fuckhead’, hammered down so far inside me
it’s almost too securely there to feel.
But I was thirteen then, and for the first
time old enough to have my father say
these things in front of me, which must have meant
I was a man now too, I listened (blushing,
ashamed of blushing) for clues of what it was
I had become, or was supposed to be:
It did and didn’t have to do with bodies,
being a man, it wasn’t fixed in bodies,
but somehow passed between them, going to
by being taken from, ever departing,
ever arriving, unstoppable as money,
and moving in a limited supply
it seemed to follow where the money went.
Being a man was something that you did
to other men, which meant a woman
was what other men became when you would do them.
Either you gave a fucking, or you took one,
did or were done to, it was simple as that.
Somebody shouted from beyond the office
that Tony had passed out in the can again.
‘The lush, the no good lush,’ my uncle said,
‘get him the fuck out of here for good, will ya.’
The stall door swung back, scrawled with giant cocks,
tits, asses and cunts, beyond which in the shadows
my father was gently wrestling with the man,
trying to hold him steady while his free hand
shimmied the tangled shorts and trousers up
over the knees and hips, and even got
the shirt tucked in, the pants zipped deftly enough
for Tony not to notice, though he did.
Even then I knew they’d fire him,
and that it wasn’t gratitude at all
that made the man weep inconsolably,
his head bowed, nodding, as my father led him
to the elevator, still with his arm around him,
patting his shoulder, easing him through the door.
I knew the tenderness that somewhere else
could possibly have been a lover’s or a father’s
could here be only an efficient way
to minimize the trouble. And yet it seemed
somehow my father was too adept at it,
too skillful, not to feel it in some way.
And feeling it not to need to pull back,
to separate himself from what the rest
of him was doing, which was why, I think,
his face throughout was blank, expressionless
like the faces of the presidents on the bills
he handed Tony as the door slid shut.
The men fast at the riveters and pressers
and the long row of women at the Singers
were oil now even more than men or women,
mute oil in the loud revving of the place,
a blur of hands on automatic pilot,
slipping leather through the pumping needles,
under the thrusting rods, the furious hammers,
the nearly invisible whirring of the blades.
‘Come on now, Al, it’s time,’ my father said,
and the Captain seemed to grin a little wider,
as if his pleasure there at the end of his
unending day grew freer, more disencumbered,
because he saw me at the start of mine,
under my father’s arm, his soft voice broken
against the noise into an unfollowable tune
of favors and petty cash, and how much ass
he had to kiss to get me this, and I
should be a man now and not disappoint him.
Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
This poem presents a vivid, raw snapshot of a working-class environment, capturing the complex emotions and social dynamics experienced by a young boy on the cusp of manhood. The setting is a bustling industrial area near an old South Station, where the narrator observes his father and uncle engaged in their daily business surrounded by the noise and activity of factories and warehouses. The imagery of the "Captain" holding a golden shot of Cutty Sark whiskey against the sunset skyline symbolizes a moment of pride and tradition, contrasting with the gritty reality of the working world.
The poem explores themes of masculinity, identity, and social roles. The narrator is thirteen years old, beginning to understand the harsh language and attitudes of the men around him. The coarse, aggressive language reflects the tough, sometimes violent culture of the workplace and the way "being a man" is defined by power, dominance, and often conflict with others. The poem delves into the idea that masculinity is not just a physical state but a social performance, passed between men through actions and attitudes rather than biology alone.
The scene with Tony, the drunken worker being gently helped out by the narrator’s father, reveals a softer, more complicated side of this world. The tenderness shown is not sentimental but practical, a way to manage trouble while maintaining authority. This moment highlights the emotional undercurrents beneath the tough exterior of the working-class life.
Background and Author Introduction
This poem is reflective of post-industrial urban life, likely written by a poet with intimate knowledge of working-class struggles and family dynamics. The author’s style combines vivid imagery with candid, sometimes uncomfortable language to portray the realities of growing up in a tough environment. The poem’s tone is both observational and introspective, capturing the narrator’s internal conflict as he tries to reconcile the harshness around him with his emerging sense of self.
The poet’s background might include experiences in or close to industrial communities, and a deep understanding of the social and economic forces shaping identity and relationships in such settings. This work fits within a tradition of literature that gives voice to marginalized or overlooked perspectives, especially those of young people navigating complex adult worlds.
Educational Value and Learning Points
Students and children studying this poem can learn about:
- Imagery and Symbolism: How the poet uses vivid visual elements like the sunset, the Captain’s grin, and the busy factory to create atmosphere and meaning.
- Themes of Masculinity and Identity: Understanding how social roles and language shape personal identity.
- Social and Economic Context: Insight into working-class life, labor, and family dynamics.
- Tone and Mood: How language choices affect the emotional impact of a poem.
- Narrative Perspective: The importance of point of view in storytelling.
In practical terms, this poem encourages learners to think critically about the language they hear and use, the social expectations placed on them, and how they interpret adult behavior and social norms. It also offers a platform to discuss respect, empathy, and the complexity of human relationships in challenging environments.
Applications in Life and Learning
- Literature and Language Arts: Analyzing tone, diction, and imagery to enhance comprehension and appreciation of poetry.
- Social Studies: Exploring themes of work, family, and social class.
- Personal Development: Reflecting on concepts of masculinity, maturity, and interpersonal communication.
- Creative Writing: Inspiring students to write from personal experience or observation with honesty and vivid detail.
This poem can be used in classroom discussions about growing up, the influence of family and community, and the power of language in shaping identity. It also provides a basis for exploring how literature reflects social realities and personal struggles.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What is the significance of the Captain holding up a golden shot of Cutty Sark in the poem?
- How does the poem portray the idea of masculinity?
- Describe the relationship between the narrator and his father as depicted in the poem.
- What role does the setting play in the overall mood of the poem?
- How does the narrator feel about the language and attitudes he hears from the men around him?
- What does the scene with Tony reveal about the working environment and the people in it?
- How does the poem use imagery to contrast different aspects of life?
- What can we learn about the narrator’s coming of age from this poem?
Answers to the Comprehension Questions
- The Captain holding up the golden shot of Cutty Sark symbolizes pride, tradition, and a moment of celebration amidst the industrial setting. It also serves as a visual anchor against the sunset, highlighting the contrast between beauty and harsh reality.
- Masculinity in the poem is portrayed as a social construct defined by power, dominance, and sometimes aggression. It is something performed and passed between men, rather than simply a biological fact.
- The narrator’s relationship with his father is complex; he admires him and is learning from him, but also feels the weight of expectations and the harsh realities his father faces.
- The setting—a busy industrial area near South Station—creates a noisy, chaotic, and gritty mood that reflects the tough working-class life and the pressures on the narrator.
- The narrator feels conflicted about the coarse language and aggressive attitudes; he is both absorbing them as part of becoming a man and feeling embarrassed or unsure about them.
- The scene with Tony shows the harshness of the work environment but also reveals moments of care and tenderness, suggesting complexity in the relationships among workers.
- The poem uses imagery like the golden sunset and the bustling factory to contrast beauty and hardship, tradition and modernity, tenderness and toughness.
- The poem shows the narrator’s coming of age through his awareness of adult language, social roles, and the expectations placed on him to become a man.
This detailed exploration of the poem offers students a rich opportunity to engage with language, social themes, and personal growth through poetry.
