'Dire Cure' by William Matthews
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"First, do no harm," the Hippocratic
Oath begins, but before she might enjoy
such balm, the docs had to harm her tumor.
It was large, rare, and so anomalous
in its behavior that at first they mis-
diagnosed it. "Your wife will die of it
within a year." But in ten days or so
I sat beside her bed with hot-and-sour
soup and heard an intern congratulate
her on her new diagnosis: a children's
cancer (doesn't that possessive break
your heart?) had possessed her. I couldn't stop
personifying it. Devious, dour,
it had a clouded heart, like Iago's.
It loved disguise. It was a garrison
in a captured city, a bad horror film
(The Blob), a stowaway, an inside job.
If I could make it be like something else,
I wouldn't have to think of it as what,
in fact, it was: part of my lovely wife.
Next, then, chemotherapy. Her hair fell
out in tufts, her color dulled, she sat laced
to bags of poison she endured somewhat
better than her cancer cells could, though not
by much. And indeed, the cancer cells waned
more slowly than the chemical "cocktails"
(one the bright color of Campari), as the chemo
nurses called them, dripped into her. There were
three hundred days of this: a week inside
the hospital and two weeks out, the fierce
elixirs percolating all the while.
She did five weeks of radiation, too,
Monday to Friday like a stupid job.
She wouldn't eat the food the hospital
wheeled in. "Pureed fish" and "minced fish" were worth,
I thought, a sharp surge of food snobbery,
but she'd grown averse to it all -- the nurses'
crepe soles' muffled squeaks along the hall,
the filtered air, the smothered urge to read,
the fear, the perky visitors, flowers
she'd not been sent when she was well, the room-
mate (what do "semiprivate" and "extra
virgin" have in common?) who died, the nights
she wept and sweated faster than the tubes
could moisten her with lurid poison.
One chemotherapy veteran, six
years in remission, chanced on her former
chemo nurse at a bus stop and threw up.
My wife's tumor has not come back.
I like to think of it in Tumor Hell
strapped to a dray, flat as a deflated
football, bleak and nubbled like a poorly
ironed truffle. There's one tense in Tumor Hell:
forever, or what we call the present.
For that long the flaccid tumor marinates
in lurid toxins. Tumor Hell Clinic
is, it turns out, a teaching hospital.
Every century or so, the way
we'd measure it, a chief doc brings a pack
of students round. They run some simple tests:
surge current through the tumor, batter it
with mallets, push a wood-plane across its
pebbled hide and watch a scurf of tumor-
pelt kink loose from it, impale it, strafe it
with lye and napalm. There might be nothing
left in there but a still space surrounded
by a carapace. "This one is nearly
dead," the chief doc says. "What's the cure for that?"
The students know: "Kill it slower, of course."
They sprinkle it with rock salt and move on.
Here on the aging earth the tumor's gone:
My wife is hale, though wary, and why not?
Once you've had cancer, you don't get headaches
anymore, you get brain tumors, at least
until the aspirin kicks in. Her hair's back,
her weight, her appetite. "And what about you?"
friends ask me. First the fear felt like sudden
weightlessness: I couldn't steer and couldn't stay.
I couldn't concentrate: surely my spit would
dry before I could slather a stamp.
I made a list of things to do next day
before I went to bed, slept like a cork,
woke to no more memory of last night's
list than smoke has of fire, made a new list,
began to do the things on it, wept, paced,
berated myself, drove to the hospital,
and brought my wife food from the takeout joints
that ring a hospital as surely as
brothels surround a gold strike. I drove home
rancid with anger at her luck and mine --
anger that filled me the same way nature
hates a vacuum. "This must be hell for you,"
some said. Hell's not other people: Sartre
was wrong about that, too. L'enfer, c'est moi?
I've not got the ego for it. There'd be
no hell if Dante hadn't built a model
of his rage so well, and he contrived to
get exiled from it, for it was Florence.
Why would I live in hell? I love New York.
Some even said the tumor and fierce cure
were harder on the care giver -- yes, they
said "care giver" -- than on the "sick person."
They were wrong who said those things. Of course
I hated it, but some of "it" was me --
the self-pity I allowed myself,
the brave poses I struck. The rest was dire
threat my wife met with moral stubbornness,
terror, rude jokes, nausea, you name it.
No, let her think of its name and never
say it, as if it were the name of God.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dire Cure: A Critical Analysis
William Matthews’ poem “Dire Cure” is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature that explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The 12-line poem is deceptively simple, yet it packs a punch with its vivid imagery and powerful language. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning of “Dire Cure” and examine its literary techniques, themes, and imagery.
Summary of Dire Cure
“Dire Cure” is a poem that speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak. The speaker of the poem is addressing someone who has suffered a great loss or disappointment. The poem begins with the speaker describing a “dire cure” for the pain of heartbreak. This cure involves taking a knife and cutting out the heart of the person who has caused the pain, in order to rid oneself of the sorrow.
But as the poem progresses, the speaker realizes the futility of this cure. The pain of heartbreak cannot be cured by violence or revenge. Instead, the speaker suggests that the only way to heal from heartbreak is to “let the wound scab over, / and cover it with a shirt.” In other words, the speaker suggests that time and distance are the only true cures for heartbreak.
Literary Techniques
“Dire Cure” is a poem that employs several literary techniques to convey its message. One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of vivid imagery. The opening lines of the poem describe the “dire cure” for heartbreak in graphic detail: “Cut out the heart; pare off the fat; / leave the lean meat for curing.” This gruesome imagery effectively communicates the intensity of the pain of heartbreak, and the desire for a quick and violent solution to the problem.
Another notable feature of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase “dire cure” is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker’s desperation for a solution to the pain of heartbreak. The repetition of the phrase also creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, propelling the poem forward and building to its final conclusion.
Additionally, the poem employs a metaphor to convey its message. The heart, in this poem, is a symbol for love and emotion. By suggesting that the heart be cut out in order to cure heartbreak, the speaker is conveying the idea that love itself is the cause of the pain, and that removing it is the only solution. However, the metaphor is ultimately subverted, as the speaker realizes that love cannot be cut out, and that time and distance are the only true remedies for heartbreak.
Themes
“Dire Cure” explores several universal themes, including love, loss, and the human condition. One of the primary themes of the poem is the futility of violence and revenge as a solution to emotional pain. The speaker suggests that cutting out the heart of the person who has caused the pain would only create more pain and suffering, and that true healing can only come from within.
Another theme of the poem is the idea that time heals all wounds. The speaker suggests that the only true cure for heartbreak is to let time pass and to distance oneself from the source of the pain. This theme is conveyed through the metaphor of the wound that scabs over and heals, just as the heart can heal with time and distance.
Finally, the poem explores the idea that love itself can be a source of pain and suffering. The image of the heart being cut out implies that love is a physical presence in the body, and that it can be removed like a tumor. However, the poem ultimately suggests that love is not something that can be cut out or removed, but rather something that must be endured and overcome.
Imagery
“Dire Cure” is a poem that makes use of vivid and striking imagery to convey its message. The opening lines of the poem describe the “dire cure” for heartbreak in graphic detail: “Cut out the heart; pare off the fat; / leave the lean meat for curing.” This gruesome imagery effectively communicates the intensity of the pain of heartbreak, and the desire for a quick and violent solution to the problem.
The poem also makes use of the metaphor of the heart as a symbol for love and emotion. The image of the heart being cut out implies that love is a physical presence in the body, and that it can be removed like a tumor. However, the metaphor is ultimately subverted, as the speaker realizes that love cannot be cut out, and that time and distance are the only true remedies for heartbreak.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Dire Cure” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The poem employs several literary techniques, including vivid imagery, repetition, and metaphor, to convey its message. Through its use of metaphor and imagery, the poem suggests that violence and revenge are not viable solutions to emotional pain, and that time and distance are the only true remedies for heartbreak. Ultimately, “Dire Cure” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and a reminder that even the deepest wounds can be healed with time and patience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dire Cure: A Poem of Love and Loss
William Matthews’ poem, Dire Cure, is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Written in 1976, the poem has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with readers today. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of the poem, exploring its themes, structure, and language.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line: “I have been in love more times than one”. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker reflects on their experiences of love and loss. The use of the word “more” suggests that the speaker has loved and lost multiple times, and this is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker’s experience of falling in love. They describe the feeling as “a tightrope walk above the heads / Of interested parties”. This metaphor suggests that falling in love is a risky and dangerous act, as it requires the individual to put themselves out there and risk rejection. The use of the word “interested” suggests that there are others who are watching and waiting to see what will happen, adding to the pressure and tension of the situation.
The second stanza of the poem explores the theme of loss. The speaker describes the pain of losing someone they love, saying “I have lost love like a jewel / Went to the swimming hole and came back empty”. The use of the metaphor of a jewel suggests that love is precious and valuable, and losing it is a great loss. The image of going to the swimming hole and coming back empty suggests that the speaker has searched for love but has been unable to find it.
The third stanza of the poem explores the theme of the human condition. The speaker reflects on the fact that everyone experiences love and loss, saying “Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew”. This reference to the Greek myth of Icarus suggests that everyone has the potential to soar to great heights, but also has the potential to fall. The use of the word “also” suggests that the speaker sees themselves as part of a larger human experience, and that their experiences of love and loss are not unique.
The fourth stanza of the poem explores the theme of the passage of time. The speaker reflects on the fact that time heals all wounds, saying “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind”. The use of the metaphor of time flying suggests that life is fleeting and that time passes quickly. The image of time leaving its shadow behind suggests that even though time passes, the memories and experiences of the past remain with us.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem explores the theme of hope. The speaker reflects on the fact that even though they have loved and lost multiple times, they still have hope for the future. They say “I have been in love more times than one, / Thank the Lord. / Haven’t we all?”. The use of the phrase “thank the Lord” suggests that the speaker is grateful for their experiences of love, even though they have also experienced loss. The final line of the poem, “Haven’t we all?”, suggests that the speaker sees their experiences of love and loss as part of a larger human experience.
The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The use of short, simple lines adds to the emotional impact of the poem, as it creates a sense of urgency and immediacy. The use of enjambment, where a line of poetry continues onto the next line without punctuation, creates a sense of flow and continuity, linking the stanzas together.
The language of the poem is simple and direct, with no complex or obscure words. This simplicity adds to the emotional impact of the poem, as it allows the reader to focus on the themes and emotions being expressed. The use of metaphors and allusions, such as the reference to the myth of Icarus, adds depth and complexity to the poem, allowing the reader to explore the themes in greater detail.
In conclusion, William Matthews’ poem, Dire Cure, is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Through its simple structure and direct language, the poem conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy, allowing the reader to connect with the emotions being expressed. The use of metaphors and allusions adds depth and complexity to the poem, allowing the reader to explore the themes in greater detail. Overall, Dire Cure is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the power and pain of love and loss.
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