Sharon Olds is an author who is known for changing the direction and voice of her poems quickly and without warning. Her poem “I Go back to May 1937” is a perfect example of this. Olds’ direct style allows her to clearly communicate her message, while her creative and sometimes surprising use imagery keep her delivery interesting and engaging. “I Go Back to May 37” is about a young girl who imagines her parents as they were when she was born. She can see how they have changed over the years. Although the reader could have warned them about the pain they would face in the future, and urged them to end their marriage before it began, she can’t do that as it would mean her life being ended. Acceptance is the only way to reverse what has already occurred. Olds uses powerful language and striking imagery to demonstrate the truth of the past. Olds opens her poem with an impartial reminiscence. She describes her father “strolling out/under the ochre-sandstone arch” in front of the college’s gates (line 2-3). Her father is shown confidently, stepping out to face his future without fear or reservation. This is the kind of start one would expect in an optimistic coming-of-age story. Olds’ description of the red tiles glowing like plates of blood/bent behind her head takes an unexpected turn (lines 4-5). Olds’ bold use and diction in describing something so simple as campus architecture is an indication of how the speaker intends to portray her father. Her mother isn’t confidently walking towards her future, in stark contrast to her father. She stands stationary in front a gate. She can see both her past as well as her future. But she isn’t sure if it is possible to move between them. She’s not standing beside a “sandstone arch”, as the speaker said, but a delicately constructed column made of small bricks. It could be a symbol of her complicated emotions about this moment in her life. The paper’s most crucial point is the next few lines. The speaker expresses her emotions about her parents’ future union. I want to approach them and tell them “Stop!” (lines 10-15). It is easier for a child to be independent if they grow up without a mother figure or father. “I want you to stop talking to me” (Olds) This short story explains that children who grow up without a father or mother figure will have trouble having fun in the future. This is due to the fact that one’s identity may be distorted and detached from the rest of the family. This poem is about the speaker. She has a special role. She can see the past of her parents and make judgments about them. This marriage, and this graduation, she sees as being at the edge of the cliff. This decision is the start of a long descent through misery and pain. Olds has capitalized the word “Stop” at line 13 to emphasize its importance. This signifies an absolute stop that is necessary to prevent injury and harm, similar to the stop sign at the street (Galens). After emphasizing her innocence and warning them about their grim future, the speaker continues to speak unabatedly to them. I want to speak to them in the late spring sunlight. (lines 16-20). She is extremely clear in her assessment of the marriage. She described it as a place of sorrow and despair. The speaker is furious at both the couple and herself for allowing their relationship to become a monster. The speaker has no choice but to accept the problems that come with it. The speaker’s anger fades when she realizes that the situation is hopeless. I want life” (Olds 20). Olds’ use diction is crucial to understand the message she wants to convey. The faces of lovers are described by Olds with renewed sense and resolve. The woman’s face displays a “hunger” and a desire for new opportunities. The man’s “arrogant”, a smug expression of his ignorance, emphasizes the fact that they don’t know all the consequences of their choices and whether they have the right reasons (Metzger). Olds uses syntax to show the reader that the couple is lacking passion and love. Olds repeats “pitiful and beautiful untouched bodies”, but separates them with a description of the man’s features. Olds wants readers to understand that, even though they are getting married (Galens), they are still apart and far away from one another. At the end of the video, Olds shows her anger and helplessness. It’s not until the last few words that the speaker admits she is in despair and deals with her situation. “I take their hands like the paper dolls. They are like little children trying to imagine a happy ending. She has control over the dolls’ future. She recognizes that her parents cannot change their past. She accepts that her current situation is the result of that. But she ultimately decides to take control of the future. She is aware that she can’t create that fire, passion, or love by “banging their hips together” (line 27). She admits she cannot control her parents’ affairs, even though it affects her life greatly. She is not able to make them change or stop future pain. The speaker is free to look at her unsolved problems in a new way and not fix them all. Works Cited Metzger Sheri. “Critical Essay On ‘I Go back to May 1937’.” Poetry For Students. Ed. David A. Galens. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Information on authors and literary works can be found in the Literature Resource Center. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. Olds, Sharon. Poetry Foundation. N.p.. Web. October 29th, 2012.
