Sharon Olds Poetry Analysis

Olds expresses extreme boldness throughout her poetry, her directness stems from the lack of censorship found in her poems. In an interview, Olds explained that she worries less about censorship yet and realizes there is a need to edit her first drafts (Olds, “Advice to Young Poets”). When it comes to finalizing a poem, multiple drafts are required. Refining and creating the ideal way to deliver the topic of choice. In Olds case, the lack of worrying shows in her topics, she expresses necessities and fixes the mechanics later on. Many critics even called Olds’ poetry pornographic due to the rawness and unique topics. Olds addresses the concept in an interview, “I have never felt that, but then I heard ‘slick and whole’, it sounded too bold

to me so I think my writing probably had a flaw excessive boldness, counter phobic boldness” (Olds, “Online Interviews with Sharon Olds”). Many people become uncomfortable when it comes to specific topics that Olds writes about. Here she even identifies that maybe her poetry can be shocking and bold, thinking that it was a flaw. On the contrary, Olds’ boldness sets her apart from other poets it creates a medium that delivers a stronger and more direct message. She believes that poetry should be true to what the poet knows well. For example, in an interview Olds expanded on this idea, “I’m not asking a poem to carry a lot of rocks in its pockets, but just being an ordinary observer and liver and feeler and letting the experience get through you onto the notebook with the pen, through the arm, out of the body, onto the page, without distortion” (Olds, “Online Interviews with Sharon Olds”). This shows that in Olds opinion the poets are merely an instrument to record the truth behind their experiences. The poem provides an opportunity for the reader to take on a different perspective and experience other issues and worldly problems that they would not usually encounter.

Getting the message on the page without distortion is the vital part. Even Olds finds herself at times trying to create fictional topics, “And very often there will be a long period of hours or days maybe even weeks. When I say, ‘Sharon this is not your subject. You weren’t there you don’t know this’” (“Sharon”). This shows that Olds is very perceptive when it comes to her poetry. She does not make up or write poems in which she does not directly experience or know about. The perceptiveness shows that Olds is able to step back and see when she strays from her views. These poems would be impossible without the many experiences and influences from Olds growing up in 1960’s.

Olds developed into the person she is today through her many influences of being a young adult in the 1960’s. The 1960’s was an extremely important time for America and the people living there. The generation growing up in this time period denounced all ideas of materialism and conformity (“The Sixties”). Sharon Olds rejection of conformity can be seen throughout her poetry and values. Many of her poems go against the stereotypical topics, they confront harsh ideas and realities that people purposefully overlooked in generations to follow. This influence also led to many

of Olds poems focusing on feelings and inanimate objects, a lack of the materialistic theme. The 1960’s left many people feeling anger and disillusioned (“The Sixties”). In Sharon Olds case, she channeled the anger into her poems. She wrote about the reality of many portrayals that no one questioned, and were extremely wrong. Through her poems, Olds clearly addresses issues that had many misconceptions, by doing this she helped with the disillusionment of others. Other influences from the 1960’s aided in the feeling of disillusionment. Music was the biggest influence in the 1960’s (“The Sixties”). With the movement of the hippies, music was at a peak. Individuals listened to music constantly and in a way it united them. People who listened to the music became accustomed to ideas and morals found throughout the songs. Many influences in the 1960’s stem largely from music; music of that time openly sang about drugs and sex (Ember). By growing up with the commonality of these ideas, it is only expected that Olds would consider the extremely casual. These topics are common in Olds poetry as well, she addresses them clearly and fearlessly. Many critics even consider some of Olds poems vulgar and pornographic, only due to the fact that after the 1960’s it became less common to be so open about sex and drugs. Olds does not proclaim herself a hardcore feminist but she definitely has subtly underlays in most of her poetry. In an interview she reminisces on the first time she realized the divide between men and women, “I wasn’t radical at all. But I do remember understanding that I had never questioned that men had all the important jobs (Olds, “Advice to Young Poets”). This is important due to the fact that Olds brought on a new way of feminism, which tends to be more of a subtle version yet prominent. Her feminism develops more throughout her work when she addresses feminine issues regarding not only life but their bodies as well. She expands further in the interview by stating, “I’d never thought, ‘Oh where’s the woman bus driver’ so there’s another subject- which was what it felt like to be a woman in the world” (Olds, “Advice to Young Poets”). This shows the development in the subtler approach. Identifying the smaller jobs instead of attacking the large and powerful ones, further broadcasts the character of Olds, laidback yet perceptive. Olds uses the many influences from her past to create poetry that is not only honest but occasionally blunt. These fantastic poems call out many normal ideas and portrayals of society and women that were openly recognized later in Olds life.
Following the 1960’s many social perspectives changed, many of the issues remained but now were cloaked and hidden. Television was a large form of influence for people in the 80’s it not only created common views but failed to address the reality of life. For example, “Historically, television has promoted a traditional ideal family model” (“Television”). When it comes to the family, many people think of the perfect and picturesque family with the white picket fence. This is exactly what TV portrayed; the “traditional family” alluded to the marriage of a man and woman with children. Within these families, there was little to no conflict between the parents and between the children (“Television”). This expands the lies of the “perfect” family. This hints at the idea that the mother and father would never fight with each other or the children whatsoever. One of the most popular shows, The Cosby Show emphasized these false facts. For example, “The Cosby Show dominated public perceptions of family portrayals with an enviable family” (“Television”). The biggest shift in the 80’s was introducing African American’s onto the television. The enviable family perspective continued to fill minds of false portrayals of modern families. Once again the Cosby Show contained wise parents, with no conflict and conforming behavior (“Television”). Television continued to manipulate and influence the young and the old through this idea of a perfect family. Although majority of people believed the common portrayals on TV, few knew the reality and what society ignored.
Sharon Olds was familiar with the family that contradicted the popular ones found on television. Olds experienced a divorce first hand, “We thought the marriage was permanent, we had our own adjustments to make” (Durrant). Olds and her spouse believed their family and love would last forever, which was the exact thing that everyone else believed due to the television. Unfortunately, they began to realize marriage was not all rainbows and sunshine, they had problems and adjustments to make. Although they tried to fix it Olds admitted, “We were not so well suited to each other anymore. He just realized it long before me. Then I didn’t feel like a victim but more like an equal” (Durrant). They tried yet failed; she had to realize that the reality they grew up in was false. The fact that Olds went through a divorce, created an experience that other people could relate to and needed to hear. In her poem, “The Victims” Olds creates a situation of a girl reminiscing on her parent’s divorce. Through the structure of the actual poem Olds creates a feeling of confusion which can be related to the feelings that swarm in a divorce. Throughout the poem the tone changes from angry to possible sympathy, it emphasizes not only the large counter effects of a divorce but the feelings as well. Throughout the poem Olds gives all the power in regards to the divorce to the mother, a woman figure, it begins with, “When mother kicked you out” (“The Victims”). Beginning the poem with a strong statement involving the mother shows that she did the work and was considered the head of the household. Later in the poem there is a shift, the speaker begins to mature and question who the real victim is in the divorce. The fathers live was ruined after the divorce. Olds gives many metaphors to represents the loss like, for example in lines 17 and 18 she writes, “I pass the bums in the doorways” (“The Victims”). Representing that there is a loss to both sides of the family. This poem contradicts with the popular views of the 80’s due to the fact that divorce was a real issue. The emphasis on confusion through the whole poem and on the topic of divorce mirrors the need for truth in her time. Divorce shatters and shakes many people’s realities and the fact that it is not clearly addresses or publicized only increases the drama and terror of the situation. The portrayal of families is not the only issue from the80’s, there were many other misconceived ideas of other social aspects.
In the 80’s many men perceived women as simple household workers, that go to church, and have children. Not many believed women could hold a job or manage stress-inducing activities. For example, “In the 80’s parents taught their children middle class values, (hard-working, service and belief in God)” (Ember). They taught their children the ideas and morals and assumed the kids would continue to live a healthy live and make wise decisions. These morals that would hopefully sustain them throughout their life and keep their kids out of trouble. However, “Many young Americans rejected their parent’s ideals” (Ember). This occurred because growing up in the 80’s the anger and disillusion from the 1960’s still lingered. Unfortunately, on a wide-scale society still believed everyone to be moral and ‘Christian-like”. Not only were there false perception on the values and morality of many women, people had misconceived ideas about the cognitive ability of them as well. Many views isolated women as perfect domestic housewives with children (Cordova). These views were publicized on TV the idea that all women wanted children and main purpose was to start a family. The extreme manipulation from family idea on TV created a common perception that centered around women. The 80’s failed to acknowledge the other possibilities available to women including higher level occupations (Cordova). The idea of the perfect housewife disregarded any hope of occupational success for the woman of that time period. Having a child and a family would interrupt any goals regarding jobs and a life outside of the family. Olds singlehandedly went against these perspectives and wrote about one experience that contradicts them her poem, “The Unborn”.
In Sharon Olds’ poem, “The Unborn” she addresses a topic and issue that many people of the 80’s refused to acknowledge and indorse. Throughout the poem Olds creates an indecisive feeling through switching between meters and rhyme. The lack of consistence parallels with the feelings many women experience when deciding on an abortion. She incorporates a feeling of being “in-between” through her diction and syntax. For example, she begins the first three stanzas with the word “Sometimes”, and the last stanza with “and sometimes” (“The Unborn”). The notion of “almost children” circles throughout the poem not only expressing guilt but hope as well. In the second stanza, line five, the feeling of uncertainty continues, “sometimes I feel them waiting, dozing” (“The Unborn”). This continues to show guilt but also creates a feeling of limbo. The unborn children linger in the minds of those who experienced the procedure, yet all they want is to be remembered, loved, or even mourned. Which is the exact opposite of what most women did, all they wanted to do was forget. This contradicts the popular beliefs from the 80’s because if women truly grew and lived a Christian life then they would not have premarital sex and would certainly not kill a precious life. In a way the fact that these procedures were so common contradicted the belief that society portrayed. Also this goes against the idea of the perfect housewife. In the blatant way that the woman is killing and damaging her child and chance to have children, but also the purpose behind it. Many women received this procedure due to the fat that they had jobs and wanted to be successful in life. These women put their careers before their opportunities for a family. Olds saw this and identified the reality of the issue; she clearly exposed the truth through this poem. A feminist hint is seen in this poem because ultimately this is the woman’s choice. Another example of Olds giving power to the woman figure in her poetry. These women put their careers before their opportunities for a family. Olds saw this and identified the reality of the issue; she clearly exposed the truth through this poem.
Overall through Olds unique form of poetry she identified many world issues. She was extremely perceptive in not only seeing the issue but delivering the truth behind it. Olds uses small hints of feminism through her poetry, in which she creates a new way to deliver and support feminist issues. She would not be the unique poet she is today without her influences and her original views of poetry and writing poetry. Her strict experience policy results in strong and relatable poetry. The lack of censorship adds to the realness and directness of each poem and the topic found in it. Through her poems she subtly exposed truth behind misconceptions in the 80’s regarding women and the idea of a “perfect family”. Sharon Olds identifies real world issues along with inserting subtly feministic ideas and support through her real-life experiences found in her poetry.