Okay so after reading the poem, I was a little confused about the characters in the text. I wasn't sure if Fergus was the son or the husband. Correct me if I'm wrong but after reading it numerous times, I assumed that Fergus was the husband because at the beginning the wife was describing how her mate is when it comes to noise. "that heavy breathing" and that "come-cry" symbolized how the husband is alert when it comes to his child's safety and care. "Wrenching himself awake" and "make for it on the run" is an action word to support the husband's speed to getting to his toddler.
The entire beginning of the poem is to introduce the significance and beauty of reproduction. Then she goes on to mention how they lay next to each other after making love. Notice the terms "making love" and not "sex." Sex has a more derogatory sound to it, an interpretation that simply means casual sex. While in contrast, "making love" has more of an intimate sound and meaning. Something shared by not just any two people but by two people that really love and care for each other.
Then eventually, she brings in her son (assuming its a boy because she said his "baseball pj's). He then flops between his parents and drifts his way to sleep. He too is very happy and satisfied with the fact that he has two loving parents that created the person he is ("his face gleaming with satisfaction at being this very child"). Them making love made a beautiful thing and that's the blessing of a child. The love they have for each other caused them to now be able to bestow it upon their seed. Thus, they are joyful at such accomplishments.
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I must agree with Chante on several points… I think Fergus is a man, the father of the child described and the speaker's husband (15). I think Kinnell speaks to us through the speaker who is meant to a woman – obviously the mother of the same child. The speaker amusingly compares the depth of the way the man sleeps to a bullhorn, loud music or sitting up talking with any reasonably sober Irishman (1-4) saying such noise will not disturb him but he will sink into an even deeper sleep. Ah, but just heavy breathing or a soft cry from the child will not only wake him but send him running to the child comparing the sudden jump to quiet touching after making love. I like to think that we know that the child is a boy because he is referred to as "he, his" (18 & 22) I just don't like the idea that just because the child is wearing baseball pajamas that we can assume it's a boy (see my blog on Barbie Doll). And finally "yes" I agree that there is great wonderment and joy from the fact that through the act of making love, has blessed them with the little person snuggling himself to sleep, (21) who gleams with satisfaction at being this very child (22-23)
ReplyDeleteOk, folks, look again: the first line is "For I can snore like a bullhorn." The speaker is a male, the husband; Fergus is the son who, ironically, can sleep through all the snoring, but as soon as he hears the sounds of love making, he dashes to be with the parents,as if those sounds of what originally conceived him draw him back to his source, the "ground of his being," leading to the gentle irony of the last image--the love,and love making, that bring him back into their arms. Gentle humor of course through the whole poem. Other observations you've both made of course good.
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