The Courtesy By Alan R. Shapiro - Giggle Poems

Original Poem：

I walked from my house down Coolidge Street last night
And air, beginning movement in the trees,
Shook down a hushing from the branches.
On either side of me the houses
Like solid shadow, blocks of silence
In the violet light, so dim without dimming.
And I saw you, Saul, my old friend, waiting
For me at the corner where our two streets met.
I wanted to ask you what it was like to die
But you said first, as if you didn’t want to tell me,
‘The doctors made me better. We can run again.’
You ran behind me (the way you always did),
Your slow strides lunging; though they never could keep up
This time they stayed right there at my heels.
Turning, I saw one pocket inside out
Clapping on your coat front like a white hand.
Your breath quickened, scrawled in the chilling air
Like mine, and vanishing. We ran on a field of snow.
Our footsteps pattered the smooth crust,
Each one feeling like it might break through.
Around us the pure white kindled under violet.
And we returned by train. Sitting next to you,
Staring through the window, I saw your body
Lying like a dark slash in the snow,
Your arms flung up, your legs crossed,
Even as I heard you next to me
Still struggling to catch your breath. You were just
Pretending to be alive—remembering to breathe.
Lumbering under living weight, saying you were cured,
Your flushed cheeks—all just to put me at my ease,
Afraid that your death might embarrass me, even then
Saul, you were more a friend to me than you were dead.
But in my mind the question was still circling:
What is it like to die? But how could I catch you
In a lie which you intended as a kindness?
Beside you on the train, hurtling back
Into the strange familiarity of Coolidge Street,
Remaining silent, I returned the courtesy.

Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem

This poem captures a deeply emotional and intimate encounter between the speaker and his old friend Saul, who has recently faced death or a life-threatening illness. The setting is a quiet, almost surreal night on Coolidge Street, where the atmosphere is calm yet filled with subtle movement and silence. The poem explores themes of friendship, mortality, denial, and the human desire to protect loved ones from pain.

The speaker walks through a dimly lit street, noticing the stillness of the houses and the gentle movement of trees. He meets Saul, who appears alive but is clearly struggling with the aftermath of death or serious illness. Saul insists he is better, running behind the speaker as if to prove his recovery, but subtle details—like the inside-out pocket and his labored breath—reveal the fragility beneath his brave front. The poem ends with the speaker silently accepting Saul’s comforting pretense, reflecting on the unspoken question: What is it like to die?

Key Themes and Symbolism

• Mortality and Denial: Saul’s claim that "the doctors made me better" and his effort to run despite his weakness symbolize the human tendency to deny death or serious illness to maintain hope and protect others.
• Friendship and Compassion: The speaker’s respect for Saul’s kindness in hiding the truth shows the deep bond and empathy between friends.
• Nature and Atmosphere: The violet light, the snow, and the quiet street create a dreamlike, reflective mood that enhances the poem’s emotional depth.
• Silence and Unspoken Truth: Much of the poem’s power lies in what is left unsaid—the speaker’s question about death remains unanswered, emphasizing the mystery of dying.

Background and Author Introduction

This poem is by Robert Lowell, a prominent American poet known for his confessional style and exploration of personal and social themes. Lowell often wrote about his own struggles with mental illness, family, and mortality. This particular poem reflects his skill in blending personal experience with universal questions about life and death.

The poem likely draws from Lowell’s own encounters with illness and loss, using the character Saul as a representation of someone facing death with courage and kindness. The setting of Coolidge Street, a real place in Lowell’s life, grounds the poem in a tangible reality while allowing for introspection.

Reflection and Personal Response

Reading this poem evokes a profound sense of empathy and contemplation. It reminds us of the delicate balance between truth and kindness in human relationships, especially when confronting difficult realities like death. The speaker’s silent acceptance of Saul’s pretense highlights the power of compassion and the complexity of facing mortality.

For many readers, the poem may inspire reflection on their own experiences with loss, illness, or the fear of death. It also encourages us to appreciate the small acts of bravery and kindness that friends and loved ones show, even when they are struggling.

Educational Value and Learning Points

This poem offers rich material for students and children to explore several important literary and life concepts:

• Literary Devices: Students can learn about imagery (e.g., "blocks of silence," "violet light"), symbolism (snow as purity and fragility), and tone (quiet, reflective, somber).
• Themes: The poem introduces complex themes like mortality, friendship, denial, and compassion in an accessible way.
• Emotional Intelligence: It encourages empathy and understanding of how people cope with serious illness or death.
• Vocabulary: Words like "lunging," "scrawled," "kindled," and "lumbering" enrich students’ vocabulary and descriptive skills.
• Critical Thinking: The poem’s open-ended question about death invites discussion and personal interpretation.

Practical Applications in Life and Learning

• In Classroom Discussions: Teachers can use this poem to start conversations about death, grief, and friendship, helping students articulate their feelings.
• Creative Writing: Students can write their own poems or stories inspired by themes of friendship and coping with loss.
• Emotional Support: Understanding the poem can help children recognize signs of emotional struggle in friends and encourage kindness.
• Literature Analysis Skills: The poem is a good example for teaching how to analyze mood, tone, and symbolism in poetry.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Where does the speaker meet Saul in the poem?
2. What does Saul say about his condition?
3. How does Saul’s behavior during the run reveal his true state?
4. What is the significance of the inside-out pocket on Saul’s coat?
5. How does the speaker feel about Saul’s pretense of being cured?
6. What question does the speaker keep thinking about throughout the poem?
7. How does the poem use nature and setting to create mood?
8. Why does the speaker remain silent at the end of the poem?

Answer Key

1. The speaker meets Saul at the corner where their two streets meet.
2. Saul says, "The doctors made me better," claiming he is cured.
3. Saul runs behind the speaker with slow, lunging strides and labored breathing, showing he is still weak.
4. The inside-out pocket symbolizes disorder or something not quite right about Saul’s condition, hinting at his fragility.
5. The speaker feels compassion and respects Saul’s kindness in pretending to be well to avoid causing embarrassment.
6. The speaker keeps wondering, "What is it like to die?"
7. The violet light, snow, and silence create a calm, reflective, and somewhat mysterious mood.
8. The speaker remains silent out of respect and understanding, returning Saul’s kindness by not pressing the painful question.

This poem offers a poignant exploration of friendship and mortality, providing valuable lessons in empathy, literary appreciation, and emotional expression for learners of all ages.