The Partial Explanation

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1999

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Symbols & Motifs

The Luncheonette

In “The Partial Explanation,” the “luncheonette” (Line 3) provides an apt vessel for a poem about alienation and loneliness. Lunch counters were a business model in the 1920s as a staple of five and ten stores like Woolworth’s and Newberry’s. Designed not so much as a place to socialize as a marketing convenience, they were places for hungry shoppers to grab a sandwich and continue shopping. Menu offerings were intended to be quickly prepared, simple, and cheap. In this context, the “[g]rimy little luncheonette” (Line 3) in Simic’s poem diverges from the image of the lunch counter as a bustling place to take a break from running errands and spending money. This “luncheonette” (Line 3) is neglected and virtually deserted—a relic, perhaps, of better times, and of a cheerier American dream.

The lunch counter played a significant role in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, when African Americans organized sit-in protests in the Southern states, demanding to be served at lunch counters designated “whites only.” The “luncheonette” (Line 3) in “The Partial Explanation,” however, is the site of neither a booming economy nor political engagement. While it may serve as a refuge from the cold, it serves little in the way of human interaction.

Snow & Ice

While there is only a single mention each of “snow falling” (Line 4) and “ice-water” (Line 10) in “The Partial Explanation,” both instances significantly contribute to the inherent chill in the poem. The “snow” (Line 4) is seen coming down from inside the diner, presumably through a glass window. The “ice-water” (Line 10) is contained within its own “glass” (Line 10). In both cases, there is a transparent barrier keeping the cold from direct contact with the speaker, though the cold is keenly observed.

One can understand that the “snow” (Line 4) implies a dampening of sound, a muffling of the noises that might otherwise emanate from the “street” (Line 9). The world “outside” (Line 4) assumes an uneasy quiet, while inside the ice in the “glass” (Line 10) might crack at any moment, breaking and also underscoring the silence. As to the possibility of “[a] glass of ice-water” (Line 10) providing any measure of comfort, the reader can consider—if the setting is a cold winter’s afternoon—what type of solace that might bring.

The Passage of Time

In his poem, “The Partial Explanation,” Simic chooses words that indicate the perception of passing time for the speaker is blurred. It “[s]eems like a long time” (Line 1) since the speaker last spoke to the waiter. It “[s]eems like it has grown darker” (Line 5). If the speaker has a watch or there is a clock on the wall, the reader is not aware of it (nor, arguably, is the speaker). No one passes “in the street” (Line 9). Only time passes, but it is unmeasurable. This gives the poem much of its surreal quality.

The speaker says, “[s]ince I last heard the kitchen door” (Line 6). The use of the word “last” (Line 6) suggests that there is the possibility, even the expectation, of a next time they will hear the door—though there is no telling when that might be. The waiting is all there is. The passage of time is marked only by the “longing / To eavesdrop” (Lines 15-16), or for the waiting and the silence to be punctuated by human speech.