Summary Of Summer Solstice New York City By Sharon Olds

In the poem “Summer Solstice, New York City” by Sharon Olds, a man struggles with a difficult decision: to live or end his life. The police come while he is sitting literally on the edge trying to decide what to do. Olds’ poem is very vague, not really giving any clear information about the issue or what is going on. By chronicling the day of a man who wants life to end, Olds alludes to the precariousness of existence to those who do not ponder the end of life. As the reader can see, this man remains nameless during the entirety of the poem and there really is no actual description of him. No description of the man is needed, the image is vague enough to allow the reader to understand the character and his situation enough to get the point …show more content…
All of actions by the police and bystanders described in these lines creates an overshadowing of mystery and of death. The policemen fearing for their own lives and preparing for the worst, as the crowd in the streets anxiously await for the conclusion, watching in hushed silence as a life hangs on the edge of life and death. It is not clear what this man’s intentions are at this point but even if he actually does want to live he could have just as easily slipped. The reader is left in the dark about the ultimate reason why he chose not to jump.
It is once again the lack of information that gives the reader the hint as to why he chose life. As stated previously, while reading literature one relates themselves to what is significant to the plot and once again one is left to guess at what it is that convinces this man to not go over the edge. The only explanation we are given is that “Everything stopped… He stepped down from the parapet and went towards them” (27-29). Though some readers may give credit to the policeman who talked to him, the author never tells the reader if the policemen were even a factor in his decision. At this point, the reader can tell the story could have gone …show more content…
The policemen are taking the time on the longest day of the year to relax with this man who was almost lost. The fact that the end talks about “back at the beginning of the world” gives the reader a sense of darkness. In biblical beliefs, the beginning of the world had no light. Yet, in the same line, “tiny campfires” were mentioned which give light and a sense of connection to the reader. This poem plays with the balance between light and dark, life and death, and the frailty and uncertainty of it