Hard to Understand:
“For My Niblings in Anticipation of Their Birth” by Sam Sax
This poem was shockingly hard to understand. A majority of the poem is Sax describing different places where semen is seen, alongside meaningful events at each place. For example, Sax said, “semen in the meadows where we buried and bled.” which, among the other lines, was extremely confusing. As I gave this poem a few more reads, I did begin to understand that Sam Sax is telling a story, and semen, AKA life, follows where the story does. The story progresses from a presumably Jewish family on a boat, where they experience death on the water, to the meadows where they bury their dead, to the light of a synagogue. In this synagogue, Sax makes a connection between Noah’s Ark and this family’s travels before breaking the repetition of “semen” with a slightly disturbing reaction to the beauty of life. (140 words)
Easy to Understand:
“James Dean with Pig” by Sam Sax
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/160250/james-dean-with-pig
This poem is easily the most straightforward poem by Sam Sax, whose work is overwhelmingly shocking and complex, supplemented by lewd language and topics. It begins with an introduction of a famous actor, James Dean, who shot to stardom during the first half of the 1950’s. They speak about how Dean is iconic, how they haven’t seen any of his films yet they still know of him and his appearance. After this, Sax questions the reality if Dean never chased the spotlight, wondering what would happen if he returned to his family farm in Indianapolis. From this, Sax introduces another famous actor, Marlon Brando, who was assumed to have an affair with James Dean. He compares their relationship to “sub & dominus . god and pig,” which is certainly straightforward but also uses very charged language, showing Sax’s lack of restraint in reference to sensitive topics. He explains that Dean loved Brando, idolizing him and allowing him free reign over his body, referencing photos of Brando burning cigarettes on Dean’s skin in 1955. Admittedly, the end confuses me slightly. I question what Sax meant by saying the reader possibly consumed Brando’s children. Possibly his influence? (193 words)
Just Right:
“Worry” by Sam Sax
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/89330/worry
Worry is a poem that challenges me, but not to the point where I need to reread sections or the entirety of the poem. I can connect the dots as I go and appreciate the complexities of each event. Despite this, the more I re-read, the more nuances I catch, making this poem the gift that keeps on giving. The title acts as the poem’s first word, which I see as a very nice segue into the rest of the work. Sax then describes multiple events that get increasingly grotesque and uncomfortable, describing their mother’s potential affair, and their experiences with selling their body, eventually replacing the word “worry” with “panic.” As the poem concludes, Sax becomes bolder and more aggressive, questioning “why not eat the hand that feeds you?” and “why don’t we just eat the whole damned body alive?” in an almost reckless fashion, as if they’re so panicked and worried that they throw all morals away in an attempt of self-preservation. (164 words)
Background Information: Sam Sax is a queer, Jewish writer and educator. They seem to have struggled with substance abuse and self-doubt, as well as other mental troubles. This is evident in “Worry,” with much of the poem reflecting desperation and anxiety. They seem to have a troubled past, with it being inferred that they, at one point in their life, turned to prostitution, either for validation or money.
(66 words)
Sources:
Total: 563 words