'After Making Love We Hear Footsteps' by Galway Kinnell
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For I can snore like a bullhorn
or play loud music
or sit up talking with any reasonably sober Irishman
and Fergus will only sink deeper
into his dreamless sleep, which goes by all in one flash,
but let there be that heavy breathing
or a stifled come-cry anywhere in the house
and he will wrench himself awake
and make for it on the run - as now, we lie together,
after making love, quiet, touching along the length of our bodies,
familiar touch of the long-married,
and he appears - in his baseball pajamas, it happens,
the neck opening so small
he has to screw them on, which one day may make him wonder
about the mental capacity of baseball players -
and flops down between us and hugs us and snuggles himself to sleep,
his face gleaming with satisfaction at being this very child.
In the half darkness we look at each other
and smile
and touch arms across his little, startling muscled body -
this one whom habit of memory propels to the ground of his making,
sleeper only the mortal sounds can sing awake,
this blessing love gives again into our arms.
Editor 1 Interpretation
After Making Love We Hear Footsteps: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Galway Kinnell's poem "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" is a poignant and emotionally charged exploration of the complex themes of love, intimacy, and parenthood. The poem is a masterful work of contemporary poetry that deftly captures the broad range of emotions that are experienced in the aftermath of an intimate encounter.
Overview of the Poem
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the poet's experience. In the first stanza, the poet describes the intimacy that has just been shared with their partner, highlighting the deep sense of connection that exists between them. The second stanza then introduces the sound of footsteps, which the poet identifies as belonging to their child.
In the third stanza, the poet reflects on the impact that their intimacy may have on their child, including the potential for confusion and a loss of innocence. Finally, the fourth stanza brings the poem full circle, as the poet reflects on the profound sense of love and responsibility that they feel for their child.
Analysis of the Poem
At its core, "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" is a meditation on the complex and often conflicting emotions that are experienced in the aftermath of an intimate encounter. The poem is infused with a deeply felt sense of love and tenderness that is tempered by the weight of responsibility that the poet feels for their child.
The first stanza of the poem is particularly powerful in its evocation of the physical and emotional intimacy that has just been shared between the poet and their partner. The use of sensual imagery, such as the "bodies sleeping together / as if soul to soul" creates a vivid picture of the deep sense of connection and intimacy that exists between the two lovers.
This sense of connection is then contrasted with the sound of footsteps that are heard in the second stanza. The sound of the child's feet serves as a reminder of the outside world and the responsibilities that come with parenthood. The contrast between the intimacy of the first stanza and the intrusion of the child in the second stanza creates a sense of tension that permeates the rest of the poem.
The third stanza of the poem is particularly interesting in the way that it explores the potential impact of the lovers' intimacy on their child. The lines "I can hear his breathing / as he sleeps beside us" serve as a reminder of the vulnerability of the child and the potential for confusion and loss of innocence that comes with being exposed to adult intimacy.
The final stanza of the poem brings the poem full circle, as the poet reflects on the profound sense of love and responsibility that they feel for their child. The lines "we are responsible for each other / in a way that goes beyond / biology" highlight the deep sense of connection and responsibility that exists between parent and child.
Themes of the Poem
At its core, "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" is a meditation on the complex themes of love, intimacy, and parenthood. The poem explores the often conflicting emotions that are experienced in the aftermath of an intimate encounter, and the weight of responsibility that comes with being a parent.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of responsibility. The poet reflects on the deep sense of responsibility that they feel for their child, and the way that this responsibility extends beyond biology. The poem explores the idea that parenthood is not just a biological relationship, but one that is defined by love and responsibility.
Another key theme of the poem is the idea of innocence. The sound of the child's footsteps serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of children and the potential for confusion and loss of innocence that comes with being exposed to adult intimacy. The poem explores the idea that parents have a responsibility to protect their children's innocence, while also acknowledging the inevitability of their exposure to adult themes.
Conclusion
Galway Kinnell's poem "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" is a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of the complex themes of love, intimacy, and parenthood. The poem deftly explores the often conflicting emotions that are experienced in the aftermath of an intimate encounter, highlighting the weight of responsibility that comes with being a parent.
Through its use of sensual imagery and the contrasting sounds of intimacy and the intrusion of the child, the poem creates a vivid and emotionally charged portrait of the experience of being a parent. By exploring themes of responsibility and innocence, the poem offers a profound meditation on the nature of parenthood that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
After Making Love We Hear Footsteps: A Poem of Intimacy and Parenthood
Galway Kinnell's poem "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" is a beautiful and poignant exploration of the intimacy and vulnerability that comes with parenthood. The poem captures the moment when two lovers, having just made love, are interrupted by the sound of their child's footsteps. In just a few short lines, Kinnell manages to convey the complex emotions that arise in this moment, from the joy and tenderness of the lovers' connection to the fear and responsibility of parenthood.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "For I can snore like a bullhorn / or play loud music / or sit up talking with any reasonably sober Irishman / and Fergus will only sink deeper / into his dreamless sleep, which goes by all in one flash." This opening stanza sets the scene for the poem, introducing the speaker (presumably Kinnell himself) and his lover, as well as their child, Fergus. The speaker's ability to make noise without waking Fergus suggests a sense of freedom and playfulness, a feeling that is echoed in the lovers' recent lovemaking.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the aftermath of the lovers' intimacy: "But let there be that heavy breathing / or a stifled come-cry anywhere in the house / and he will wrench himself awake / and make for us, / as if inspired." Here, Kinnell captures the sudden shift from freedom to responsibility that comes with parenthood. The child's sensitivity to the sounds of his parents' lovemaking suggests a deep connection between them, but also a sense of vulnerability and dependence. The child's "inspired" response to his parents' intimacy suggests that he is not just a passive observer, but an active participant in their relationship.
The third stanza deepens this sense of connection and responsibility: "For his sleep is like / the shadow of the sky / and we are privileged to live / so gaily in the sunshine." Here, Kinnell uses a metaphor to describe the child's sleep as a shadow, suggesting that his parents' love and intimacy are the light that illuminates his life. The use of the word "privileged" suggests that the lovers are aware of their responsibility to their child, and that they take joy in fulfilling that responsibility.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the sound of the child's footsteps: "And therefore my heart will bow, / when I hear him tread / the boards of the room where I lie down." Here, Kinnell captures the bittersweet feeling of parenthood, the sense of joy and tenderness mixed with fear and responsibility. The sound of the child's footsteps is both a reminder of the lovers' connection and a call to action, a reminder that they are responsible for the life and well-being of another human being.
Overall, "After Making Love We Hear Footsteps" is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the complexity of parenthood and the intimacy that comes with it. Kinnell's use of metaphor and imagery is masterful, and his ability to convey deep emotions in just a few short lines is truly remarkable. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.
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