Recitative
by A. E. Stallings
Every night, we couldn’t sleep.
Our upstairs neighbors had to keep
Dropping something down the hall.
A barbell or a bowling ball,And from the window by the bed,
Echoing inside my head,
Alley cats expended breath
In arias of love and death.Dawn again, across the street,
Jackhammers began to beat
Like hangovers, and you would frown.
That well built house, why tear it down?Noon, the radiator grill
Groaned, gave off a lesser chill
So that we could take off our coats.
The pipes coughed to clear their throats.Our nerves were frayed like raveled sleeves;
We cherished each of our minor griefs
To keep them warm until the night.
When it was time again to fight.But we were young, did not need much
To make us laugh instead, and touch,
And could not hear ourselves above
The arias of death and love.
Exploring “Recitative”: A Deep Dive into A.E. Stallings’ Poetic Masterpiece
Welcome to an insightful exploration of A.E. Stallings’ “Recitative,” a poem that masterfully captures the intricate dance of everyday life and enduring connection. This article offers a comprehensive Recitative summary, a detailed Recitative analysis, and an examination of the rich literary devices in Recitative and poetic devices in Recitative. Prepare to uncover the layers of meaning within this remarkable work, understanding how Stallings transforms the mundane into a profound reflection on human relationships.
The title itself, “Recitative,” provides a crucial key to unlocking the poem’s essence. In opera, a recitative is a speech-like passage that advances the plot, often bridging the more melodic and emotionally charged arias. Similarly, Stallings’ poem presents a series of ordinary moments, the “recitative” of daily existence, punctuated by the “arias” of emotion, both external and internal. It is a nuanced portrayal of shared life, where small irritations, shared laughter, and underlying affections intertwine to form a complete, resonant narrative.
Recitative Summary and Central Idea
The poem “Recitative” vividly portrays the shared life of a couple residing in a city apartment, their days and nights filled with a symphony of urban sounds and the subtle dynamics of cohabitation. From the incessant dropping sounds of upstairs neighbors to the nocturnal serenades of alley cats and the relentless clamor of street construction, external disturbances form a constant backdrop. These noises are not merely environmental; they subtly mirror the internal friction and quiet tensions within the relationship.
The couple experiences moments of weariness and irritation, symbolized by “frayed nerves,” yet they also find profound solace in shared laughter and physical touch. Despite their occasional conflicts and the pervasive noise of their surroundings, their youth and resilience allow them to navigate these challenges, consistently finding comfort and connection in each other’s presence. The central idea of “Recitative” is that love and conflict are often inseparable threads in the tapestry of a long-term relationship. It celebrates the messy, imperfect, yet enduring reality of human connection, suggesting that affection can thrive even amidst life’s inherent chaos and daily disturbances.
In-Depth Recitative Analysis
The Symphony of Sounds and Relationship Dynamics
Stallings masterfully employs sound imagery to create an atmosphere that is both disruptive and deeply intimate. The poem opens by immediately establishing a pattern of external intrusion that mirrors internal strain:
Every night, we couldn’t sleep.
Our upstairs neighbors had to keep
Dropping something down the hall.
A barbell or a bowling ball,
This isn’t just about noise; it symbolizes the inevitable intrusions and minor annoyances that test patience within any close relationship. The sounds are not confined to the external world; they resonate internally, as the alley cats’ cries are “Echoing inside my head.” The description of these cat sounds as “arias of love and death” is particularly significant. It elevates these raw, primal sounds to the level of operatic performance, suggesting that even in moments of apparent discord or passion, there is an underlying drama of profound emotion. These “arias” represent the emotional peaks and valleys, the intense feelings that punctuate the everyday “recitative” of their lives, highlighting the intertwined nature of affection and vulnerability.
Urban Decay and Enduring Resilience
The imagery of the city further reinforces the poem’s exploration of change and resilience. The “jackhammers began to beat / Like hangovers” evokes a sense of weariness and disruption, while the demolition of a “well built house” raises questions about permanence and loss. The speaker’s poignant observation, “That well built house, why tear it down?” can be interpreted as a metaphor for the inherent fragility of relationships and the transformations they undergo over time. However, this imagery is not solely negative. The emphasis on the house being “well built” suggests that foundations can be strong, even if they are eventually altered or challenged. This parallels the couple’s relationship, which, despite its strains, possesses a fundamental resilience allowing it to withstand external pressures and internal conflicts.
Personification and the Shared Internal Landscape
Stallings skillfully uses personification to imbue the urban environment with a sense of life and shared experience. The “radiator grill / Groaned” and “The pipes coughed to clear their throats” are not merely mechanical sounds; they are given human qualities of weariness and effort. This personification reflects the couple’s own emotional states, suggesting a shared struggle to find comfort and warmth amidst the chill of their surroundings and the tensions of their relationship. The radiator’s eventual warmth, allowing them to “take off our coats,” symbolizes a fleeting moment of shared relief and intimacy, a temporary reprieve from the discomfort that often lingers beneath the surface of daily life.
The Profound Power of Small Gestures
The poem’s concluding stanza offers a powerful message of hope and the enduring strength of connection. Despite their “frayed nerves” and occasional arguments, the couple finds solace in simple, profound gestures:
But we were young, did not need much
To make us laugh instead, and touch,
This highlights that love does not always require grand declarations or dramatic displays of affection. Often, it is the small, unassuming moments of connection—a shared laugh, a gentle touch—that truly matter and sustain a relationship. The final lines, “And could not hear ourselves above / The arias of death and love,” are particularly poignant. They suggest that amidst the constant “arias” of life’s drama—its passions, conflicts, and inevitable losses—the couple is able to create a quiet space of connection, where their bond transcends the surrounding noise and allows them to simply be together.
Literary Devices in Recitative and Poetic Devices in Recitative
A.E. Stallings employs a range of literary and poetic devices to craft the rich texture and emotional depth of “Recitative.”
Quatrains and Rhyme Scheme
“Recitative” is structured in six quatrains, or four-line stanzas, each adhering to a consistent AABB rhyme scheme. This regular and predictable structure creates a sense of order and musicality, mirroring the cyclical nature of everyday routines. The simple, accessible rhyme scheme contributes to the poem’s natural, conversational tone without drawing undue attention to itself.
Meter and Rhythm
The poem primarily utilizes a trochaic meter, characterized by a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (DA-dum). This creates a subtle but noticeable rhythm that mimics the ebb and flow of natural speech and conversation. While predominantly trochaic, variations in the meter prevent monotony, adding to the poem’s organic and engaging quality, making it feel like a spoken narrative.
Alliteration and Assonance
Stallings skillfully incorporates alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, and assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, to enhance the poem’s musicality and sensory experience. For instance, the repetition of the “d” sound in “dropping, down the hall” creates a sense of percussive impact and momentum. Similarly, the recurring “a” sound in “arias of love and death” creates a resonant, echoing quality, emphasizing the dramatic weight of these phrases.
Repetition
The repetition of the phrase “arias of death and love” at both the beginning and the end of the poem is a powerful device. This refrain underscores the poem’s central theme: the inseparable nature of passion, conflict, and loss within human experience. The repetition also reinforces the operatic metaphor, suggesting that life itself is a dramatic performance filled with intense emotional highs and lows, a constant backdrop against which the couple’s story unfolds.
Imagery
Vivid imagery is crucial to the poem’s ability to transport the reader into the couple’s world. From the concrete “barbell or a bowling ball” to the evocative “jackhammers began to beat / Like hangovers,” the imagery appeals to multiple senses, creating a rich and immersive experience. This sensory detail grounds the abstract themes of love and conflict in the tangible reality of urban living.
The Enduring Message of “Recitative”: The Harmony of Imperfection
A.E. Stallings’ “Recitative” stands as a profound exploration of love and partnership, acknowledging the inevitable tensions and frustrations that arise in any long-term relationship, yet ultimately celebrating the profound power of connection and resilience. It reminds us that the most authentic bonds are often forged not in grand romantic gestures, but in the shared navigation of daily life’s cacophony and quiet moments.
The poem’s enduring message is beautifully encapsulated in its final stanza:
But we were young, did not need much
To make us laugh instead, and touch,
And could not hear ourselves above
The arias of death and love.
This powerful excerpt speaks to the profound importance of small gestures, shared joy, and the ability to find solace and intimacy amidst life’s constant noise and drama. “Recitative” teaches that love does not always demand dramatic declarations; often, it is the simple, consistent moments of connection that truly matter, allowing individuals to find their own harmony within the beautiful imperfection of shared existence. This poem offers a timeless reflection on the quiet strength found in enduring companionship.