'I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone' by Stephen Dunn
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Stephen Dunn -- New and Selected Poems 1974 - 1994The dogs greet me, I descend
into their world of fur and tongues
and then my wife and I embrace
as if we'd just closed the door
in a motel, our two girls slip in
between us and we're all saying
each other's names and the dogs
Buster and Sundown are on their hind legs,
people-style, seeking more love.
I've come home wanting to touch
everyone, everything; usually I turn
the key and they're all lost
in food or homework, even the dogs
are preoccupied with themselves,
I desire only to ease
back in, the mail, a drink,
but tonight the body-hungers have sent out
their long-range signals
or love itself has risen
from its squalor of neglect.
Everytime the kids turn their backs
I touch my wife's breasts
and when she checks the dinner
the unfriendly cat on the dishwasher
wants to rub heads, starts to speak
with his little motor and violin--
everything, everyone is intelligible
in the language of touch,
and we sit down to dinner inarticulate
as blood, all difficulties postponed
because the weather is so good.
Editor 1 Interpretation
I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone by Stephen Dunn: A Deconstruction and Interpretation
Poetry has the power to touch our emotions, and in Stephen Dunn’s “I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone,” we find a collection of poems that delve into the complexities of human relationships, desires, and vulnerabilities. The title itself is enough to pique one's curiosity, to make one wonder what the poems hold within. As we turn the pages, Dunn's words take us on a journey that is both intimate and universal.
Background of the Author
Stephen Dunn is an American poet who was born in New York City in 1939. He has published over twenty books of poetry and prose, including "Different Hours," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2001. Dunn's work is known for its accessibility, as he deals with the everyday experiences of ordinary people in a way that is both profound and relatable. His style is often characterized by his use of simple language and his ability to capture the essence of a moment in a few lines. These qualities are evident in "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone," a collection of poems that explores the nuances of human relationships.
The Poems
The collection is divided into three sections: "Touch," "The Inevitable Changes," and "Extreme Notions." Each section contains poems that deal with different aspects of human relationships, from romantic love to familial bonds, to the complexities of human desire. Dunn's language is simple yet poignant, and his ability to capture the essence of a moment in a few lines is what makes these poems so powerful.
Touch
The first section, "Touch," deals with the physical and emotional connections between people. The title poem, "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone," sets the tone for the section. In this poem, Dunn describes the desire to connect with others, to touch them in a way that goes beyond the physical. He writes,
“I come home wanting to touch everyone,
to move them from their separate worlds
into one world, the world of lovers.
To feel them against me, all of them,
those I know and those I don't,
a great mass of souls, a single being
who moves with desire and with tenderness,
who knows me, and who loves me,
and whose hands pass through me
in a way I find strangely erotic."
In these few lines, Dunn captures the desire for human connection that we all feel. He describes the desire to be part of something greater than ourselves, to be part of a community of lovers who move with tenderness and desire. The language is simple yet powerful, and it is easy to see why this poem has become one of Dunn's most popular works.
Another notable poem in this section is "The Routine Things Around the House." In this poem, Dunn describes the small moments that make up a relationship, the things that we often take for granted. He writes,
“I like to watch you walk
out of the room,
the way your shoulders rise
and fall, the way your hands
move, as if they're not
quite sure what to do
with themselves.”
In these lines, Dunn captures the beauty of the small moments, the things that make up a relationship. He shows us that love is not just about grand gestures but about the everyday things that we do for each other.
The Inevitable Changes
The second section, "The Inevitable Changes," deals with the changes that occur in relationships over time. In these poems, Dunn captures the complexities of human desire and the challenges that arise when two people grow apart. One of the standout poems in this section is "Saying Goodbye to Very Young Children." In this poem, Dunn describes the pain of leaving one's children behind, the fear that they will forget us. He writes,
“I'm not sure what I'm supposed
to say when I'm told I have to go.
Everything I think sounds wrong.
I don't want to alarm them
or disappoint them, and saying goodbye
just reminds us that we're part of a sequence,
that what we love will soon be taken away.”
In these lines, Dunn captures the pain of separation and the fear that we will be forgotten. He shows us that love is not just about the present moment but about the memories that we create with those we love.
Extreme Notions
The third section, "Extreme Notions," deals with the darker aspects of human desire. In these poems, Dunn explores the ways in which our desires can lead us astray, how they can consume us and lead us down paths that we never imagined. One of the standout poems in this section is "A Dog's Story." In this poem, Dunn tells the story of a dog who becomes obsessed with a woman. He writes,
“I was never good
at being a dog, but still
I would have died for her
without a moment's hesitation.”
In these lines, Dunn captures the dangerous nature of desire, how it can consume us and lead us down paths that we never imagined. He shows us that even the purest of emotions can become corrupted by our own desires.
Interpretation
At its core, "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone" is a collection of poems about human relationships. Dunn captures the complexities of these relationships, from the joy of human connection to the pain of separation and the dangers of desire. His language is simple yet powerful, and his ability to capture the essence of a moment in a few lines is what makes these poems so profound.
What makes these poems so relatable is their universality. We have all experienced the desire for human connection, the pain of separation, and the dangers of desire. Dunn's poems speak to us on a fundamental level, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles.
In the end, "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone" is a collection of poems that explores the human experience in all its complexities. It is a testament to the power of poetry, to its ability to touch our emotions and speak to us on a fundamental level. Dunn's words will stay with us long after we have turned the final page, a reminder of the beauty, complexity, and fragility of human relationships.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has the power to move us in ways that nothing else can. It can make us feel things we never thought possible and take us on journeys we never imagined. Stephen Dunn's classic poem "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone" is a perfect example of this. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this beautiful poem.
Firstly, let's take a look at the title. "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone" is a powerful statement in itself. It suggests a deep desire to connect with others, to reach out and touch them in some way. This desire is a fundamental human need, and the title immediately draws us in, making us curious about what the poem has to say.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct theme. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the speaker's arrival home after a long day. The language is simple and straightforward, with short, declarative sentences that create a sense of immediacy and urgency. The speaker is tired, but there is a sense of anticipation in the air, as if something important is about to happen.
In the second stanza, the poem takes a more introspective turn. The speaker reflects on his own desires and fears, admitting that he is "afraid of loneliness" and "afraid of not being afraid." This vulnerability is a stark contrast to the confident tone of the first stanza, and it creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader. We feel as if we are being let in on a secret, as if we are being trusted with something precious.
The third stanza is the most powerful of all. Here, the speaker reaches out to others, expressing his desire to touch them and be touched in return. The language is sensual and evocative, with images of "the soft flesh of the arm" and "the curve of the hip." There is a sense of longing in these lines, a yearning for connection that is both physical and emotional.
One of the most striking things about this poem is its use of language. Dunn's words are simple and direct, but they are also incredibly powerful. He uses concrete images to create a sense of intimacy and connection, describing the "warmth of the body" and the "smell of the hair." These details make the poem feel real and immediate, as if we are experiencing these sensations ourselves.
Another important aspect of the poem is its structure. The three stanzas are each six lines long, and each line is roughly the same length. This creates a sense of balance and symmetry, as if the poem is carefully crafted and thoughtfully arranged. The repetition of the phrase "I come home" at the beginning of each stanza also creates a sense of continuity, linking the three sections together and reinforcing the idea of the speaker's desire for connection.
The themes of the poem are universal and timeless. We all have a deep need for connection and intimacy, and this poem speaks to that need in a powerful way. The speaker's vulnerability and honesty make us feel as if we are not alone in our own desires and fears, and the language and structure of the poem create a sense of intimacy and connection that is both comforting and inspiring.
In conclusion, Stephen Dunn's "I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone" is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the universal human need for connection and intimacy. The language is simple and direct, but it is also incredibly evocative, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in. The structure of the poem is carefully crafted, creating a sense of balance and continuity that reinforces the themes of the poem. This is a classic poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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