outside the prickling air burned hot
against what we’d left behind
and all that we scraped and cupped
ourselves for while trying to catch
the last vestiges of someone’s history
their life here and back and somewhere
in that hummed and whistled journey
across the plains and valleys and state lines
invisible to hunger and thirst
and the pursuit of want and need
tomorrow the railroad tracks
will shimmer in the heat
of the summer that arrived
as we were heading out of town
because as in those things past
we too have someplace we need to go
what does it matter
that there are no words
to compensate for the longing
and emptiness of the evening’s solitude
brought in by the winds
of our own stormy reluctance
unwilling to settle for anything less
than what we give in our taking
our own words muted by a laughter-less language
rattling bucket-empty like a windmill
spinning against a prairie horizon
that does not distinguish between
yesterday or tomorrow
them or us
his or hers
yours or mine
it was what you didn’t say
that caught my attention
and how you pressed your lips to the wind
your eyes blazing in the moonless night
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This poem reflects a poignant journey through landscapes both physical and emotional. It captures themes of departure, nostalgia, and the quiet yet powerful feelings we leave unspoken.
Let’s go through some of the lines to explore its meaning more deeply:
Lines 1–4
"Outside the prickling air burned hot
against what we’d left behind"
The heat here isn’t just physical; it also symbolizes the intensity of emotions and memories left in the past. The phrase “what we’d left behind” could refer to a place, a person, or an entire way of life that was once familiar but has now become part of history.
"and all that we scraped and cupped
ourselves for while trying to catch"
The words “scraped and cupped” suggest an attempt to hold on to fragments of the past. It’s as if the speaker is trying to capture small pieces of a life or a memory that is slipping away.
Lines 5–10
"the last vestiges of someone’s history
their life here and back and somewhere"
Here, “someone’s history” may refer to personal memories or collective experiences of others who have come before. The journey “across the plains and valleys and state lines” symbolizes movement through both physical space and memory, suggesting that the past is still present but constantly shifting, intangible.
Lines 11–14
"invisible to hunger and thirst
and the pursuit of want and need"
This line highlights the paradox of this journey—although they may have physical needs, the real longing is more profound, an emotional or existential hunger that cannot be sated by tangible things.
Lines 15–18
"tomorrow the railroad tracks
will shimmer in the heat"
The railroad tracks suggest the continuation of a journey, or the idea that life goes on. The “summer that arrived / as we were heading out of town” reflects the passage of time and a sense of inevitability—like the seasons, people must keep moving and changing.
Lines 19–24
"because as in those things past
we too have someplace we need to go"
These lines speak to the universal human need for movement and purpose. The speaker seems to acknowledge that, despite the attachment to what’s been left behind, they, too, must continue forward.
"what does it matter
that there are no words"
The speaker questions the importance of words when it comes to expressing their deepest feelings. There’s a sense of futility, as if language itself fails to fully convey the weight of what they’re feeling.
Lines 25–32
"brought in by the winds
of our own stormy reluctance"
This “stormy reluctance” reflects an inner conflict—the desire to stay or return but also the need to move forward. The phrase “our own stormy reluctance” suggests a self-inflicted struggle, a battle between the longing for the past and the need to keep moving.
"unwilling to settle for anything less
than what we give in our taking"
These lines explore the complexity of desire and ambition. The speaker seems to be reflecting on their own standards, unwilling to compromise on their dreams or purpose.
Lines 33–42
"our own words muted by a laughter-less language
rattling bucket-empty like a windmill"
This “laughter-less language” symbolizes a disconnect, perhaps the inability to find joy in expression or the failure of words to capture the essence of their emotions. The windmill “spinning against a prairie horizon” becomes a metaphor for the endless, silent persistence in a vast, indifferent world.
"that does not distinguish between
yesterday or tomorrow"
This line suggests that, in the grand scheme, time itself blurs—past, present, and future may not matter to the natural world or even to life’s larger narrative.
Lines 43–48
"it was what you didn’t say
that caught my attention"
Here, the poem captures the power of silence and the unspoken. Sometimes, it is in the absence of words that true feelings are most strongly felt.
"and how you pressed your lips to the wind
your eyes blazing in the moonless night"
In this haunting ending, the image of someone pressing their lips to the wind conveys vulnerability, longing, and defiance all at once. The “blazing eyes” in the dark signify inner fire or determination. This final image leaves us with a sense of resilience—a resolve to face whatever lies ahead, even if it’s shrouded in uncertainty.
Overall Interpretation
The poem portrays a journey of loss, introspection, and resilience. The speaker grapples with the weight of what’s been left behind, acknowledging the need to move forward but also feeling the pull of the past. It’s about accepting life’s transience, the imperfection of language to capture true longing, and the power of silent understanding. Through vivid, metaphor-rich language, the poet expresses how some emotions and experiences defy words, residing instead in silence and shared glances that carry unspoken depth.
