Touch and Go

“No, there is no one to help him

Let him get on with it

Cry the ancient enemies of man

As they cough and spit.

The enemies of man are like trees

They stand with the sun in their branches

Is there no one to help my creature?

Where he languishes?

Ah, the delicate creature

He lies with his head in the rubble

Pray that the moment pass

And the trouble.

Look he moves, that is more than a prayer,

But he is so slow
Will he come out of the mountains?

It is touch and go.”

Poet’s Background

s in 1966 and the Queen’s Gold Medal for

Poetry in 1969. She died of a brain tumor in 1971.

Meanings of “Touch and Go”

The phrase “touch and go” means a risky or precarious situation. It especially refers to a

delicate happening, or circumstance where the slightest change can bring

disastrous conclusions such as death.

Commentary

This is a poem about how mankind, represented by the

"Man" of the poem, tries to free himself
from a wasteful, unfulfilling life, a life led in pursuit of
money, and a life characterized by conflicts
and bigotry. Stevie Smith, of course, lived through both
world wars and so would
understandably have become disillusioned with the
plight of mankind. Stevie Smith herself
indicated that this was what the poem was about in one
of her novels, The Holiday, which you
can read a little bit about in the article linked below.

This unfulfilling, wasteful life from which "Man" tries to

escape is represented by the mountains
in the poem, perhaps because mountains symbolize the
barriers mankind has, metaphorically,
built for itself.

The speaker in the poem has a sympathetic attitude

toward "Man," almost as if the speaker is
God: "Is there no one to help my creature / Where he
languishes?" The possessive pronoun
here ("my") implies that the speaker feels also a sense of
responsibility toward "Man."

The last two stanzas suggest how difficult it will be for

mankind to free itself from the old way of
living and move into another. The "Man" in the poem
stumbles and falls and "lies with his head
in the rubble." And the speaker concludes with the
question, "Will he come out of the
mountains?" and the answer, "It's touch and go." The
phrase "touch and go" means that it is
uncertain and that the chances change from moment to
moment. The poem finishes with this
uncertainty, but Smith's sympathetic portrayal of "Man"
encourages us, as readers, to hope that
"Man" does indeed manage to free himself from the
mountains and from a life which has made
him "bowed by sorrow and fret."

In these stanzas, the speaker narrates how man tries to

liberate himself from the clutches of an
unfulfilling life. This unfulfilling life is compared with a
mountain in the poem – a mountain that is
the barrier man himself created. Now, despite the hard
struggle, he seems unable to cross the
limits he has set for himself. The poet also says that
these limits are the man’s enemies that
never allow him to understand life’s purpose. He seems
sympathetic toward the man who
cannot free himself from the old ways of living and get
into another. He concludes this piece
with a sensitive question about man’s chance of coming
out of this dilemma. However, the
answer to the issue shows that it is hard because it is
uncertain for a man to bring change to
life. The phrase has been used in its literal sense.
This is a poem about how mankind, represented by the
"Man" of the poem, tries to free himself
from a wasteful, unfulfilling life, a life led in pursuit of
money, and a life characterized by conflicts
and bigotry. Stevie Smith, of course, lived through both
world wars and so would understandably
have become disillusioned with the plight of mankind.
Stevie Smith herself indicated that this
was what the poem was about in one of her novels, The
Holiday, which you can read a little bit
about in the article linked below.

3
This unfulfilling, wasteful life from which "Man" tries to
escape is represented by the mountains
in the poem, perhaps because mountains symbolize the
barriers mankind has, metaphorically,
built for itself.

The speaker in the poem has a sympathetic attitude

toward "Man," almost as if the speaker is
God: "Is there no one to help my creature / Where he
languishes?" The possessive pronoun
here ("my") implies that the speaker feels also a sense of
responsibility toward "Man."

The last two stanzas suggest how difficult it will be for

mankind to free itself from the old way of
living and move into another. The "Man" in the poem
stumbles and falls and "lies with his head
in the rubble." And the speaker concludes with the
question, "Will he come out of the
mountains?" and the answer, "It's touch and go." The
phrase "touch and go" means that it is
uncertain and that the chances change from moment to
moment. The poem finishes with this
uncertainty, but Smith's sympathetic portrayal of "Man"
encourages us, as readers, to hope that
"Man" does indeed manage to free himself from the
mountains and from a life which has made
him "bowed by sorrow and fret."

Explanation of Stanzas:

The poem you've provided is evocative and rich with

imagery that can be interpreted in various
ways. Let's break it down.
Stanza 1:
"No, there is no one to help him
Let him get on with it
Cry the ancient enemies of man
As they cough and spit."
Here, the speaker sets the tone of the poem, suggesting
a sense of abandonment or neglect.
There's a feeling of resignation as the "ancient enemies
of man" appear indifferent to the plight
of someone in need. The imagery of coughing and
spitting evokes a sense of disdain or
contempt.

Stanza 2:
"The enemies of man are like trees
They stand with the sun in their branches
Is there no one to help my creature?
Where he languishes?"

Comparing the enemies of man to trees suggests their

rootedness, their unwavering stance in
the face of human suffering. The question posed about
helping "my creature" implies a sense of
ownership or responsibility, perhaps from a higher power
or a compassionate observer.
4
Stanza 3:
"Ah, the delicate creature
He lies with his head in the rubble
Pray that the moment pass
And the trouble."

This stanza conveys a sense of vulnerability and fragility.

The "delicate creature" is portrayed as
being amidst destruction ("head in the rubble"). The
speaker expresses a hope that the moment
of distress will pass and that the trouble will be resolved.

Stanza 4:
"Look he moves, that is more than a prayer,
But he is so slow
Will he come out of the mountains?
It is touch and go."
The movement of the creature is seen as a sign of hope
or progress, transcending mere
prayers. However, there's still a sense of doubt or
uncertainty about whether the creature will
overcome the obstacles ("Will he come out of the
mountains?"). The phrase "touch and go"
suggests a precarious situation, where success or failure
hangs in the balance.

Interpretation:
Overall, the poem seems to depict a struggle or crisis
faced by an individual (the "delicate
creature") in the face of indifference or opposition from
others ("the ancient enemies of man").
Despite the challenges and the lack of assistance, there's
a flicker of hope as the creature
shows signs of movement. The poem captures themes of
vulnerability, resilience, and the
uncertainty of human existence. It leaves room for
interpretation regarding the nature of the
creature's struggle and the identity of the "ancient
enemies," inviting readers to reflect on
broader existential themes.

Let's delve into the imagery and sound devices

employed in this poem:

Imagery:

Ancient Enemies of Man: These enemies are depicted as

coughing and spitting, suggesting
their disdain and disregard for human suffering. The
imagery evokes a sense of hostility and
indifference towards human plight. This imagery evokes
a sense of timeless antagonism towards
humanity. The use of "ancient" suggests that these
enemies have existed since time immemorial,
reinforcing the idea of an enduring struggle faced by
humanity. The imagery of them coughing
and spitting adds a visceral and repulsive quality,
depicting their contempt and disdain for human
suffering.

Trees with the Sun in their Branches: This imagery

symbolizes the steadfast and unmoving
nature of these enemies, likening them to natural
elements that are indifferent to human
suffering. Baxter employs a striking visual image here,
likening the enemies of man to trees
basking in sunlight. This image suggests their rootedness
and immovability, as well as their

5
dominance over the natural world. The juxtaposition of
the serene image of trees with the hostile
context implies a sense of irony and contradiction.

Head in the Rubble: This image suggests the helplessness

and vulnerability of the human
creature, lying amidst destruction and despair. This
image conveys a powerful sense of
desolation and despair. The creature's head buried in
rubble symbolizes the overwhelming
weight of adversity and hardship. It evokes images of
destruction and ruin, emphasizing the dire
circumstances faced by the protagonist.

Mountains: The mention of mountains implies a

formidable obstacle or challenge that the
creature must overcome. It adds to the sense of struggle
and difficulty faced by the protagonist.
Mountains are often used metaphorically to represent
challenges or obstacles that seem
insurmountable. In this context, the mention of
mountains highlights the daunting nature of the
creature's struggle. It suggests a formidable barrier that
must be overcome, adding to the sense
of tension and uncertainty in the poem.

Cough and Spit: The imagery of the enemies of man

coughing and spitting is not only visceral
but also symbolic. It suggests a sense of disgust and
contempt directed towards humanity. The
act of coughing and spitting can be seen as a rejection or
expulsion, highlighting the hostility and
indifference of these enemies towards the plight of the
creature.

Sun in their Branches: The image of trees with the sun in

their branches carries multiple layers
of meaning. On one level, it evokes a sense of natural
beauty and tranquility, contrasting sharply
with the chaos and suffering experienced by the
creature. However, it also symbolizes the
indifference of nature to human suffering. The sun
continues to shine, oblivious to the struggles
of the individual, emphasizing the insignificance of
human existence in the grand scheme of
things.

Delicate Creature: The description of the creature as

delicate emphasizes its vulnerability and
fragility. This image invites empathy from the reader,
evoking a sense of sympathy for the
creature's plight. It also serves to heighten the contrast
between the harshness of its
surroundings and its own delicate nature, highlighting
the injustice and cruelty of its predicament.

Movement in the Rubble: The imagery of the creature

moving amidst the rubble is fraught with
significance. It suggests a glimmer of hope amidst
despair, as the creature demonstrates
resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
However, the slow and laborious movement
also underscores the difficulty of its journey, emphasizing
the arduousness of the struggle it
faces.

Metaphor: "The enemies of man are like trees" compares

the adversaries to an unyielding and
powerful force.

Personification: The sun is depicted as having "branches,"

implying a sense of dominance.

Rhetorical Question: "Is there no one to help my

creature?" emphasizes the urgency of the
situation.

6
Visual: The poem paints a picture of a struggling
"creature" amidst destruction. Words like
"rubble," "mountains," and "sun in their branches"
create a desolate scene.

Tactile: "Head in the rubble" evokes a sense of physical

hardship.

Sound Devices:

Repetition: The repeated refrain of "No, there is no one

to help him" emphasizes the lack of
assistance and serves as a powerful rhetorical device,
emphasizing the creature's isolation and
abandonment. The insistent repetition creates a sense of
bleakness and despair, underscoring
the futility of seeking assistance in a hostile world.

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds, such as in

"creature," "languishes," and "trouble,"
adds a lyrical quality to the poem. It creates a sense of
harmony and cohesion within the text,
enhancing its emotional resonance. The use of
assonance also contributes to the overall tone of
melancholy and introspection, reinforcing the poem's
themes of struggle and despair. The long
"a" sound in "man," "stand," "branches," and
"languishes" creates a feeling of vastness and
isolation.

Onomatopoeia: While not explicitly used in the poem,

the imagery of coughing and spitting
evokes a sense of onomatopoeia, where the sound of
the words ("cough" and "spit") mimics the
action itself. This adds a visceral quality to the poem,
immersing the reader in the harsh reality
of the creature's surroundings.

Rhyme: Though the poem is not structured with a

consistent rhyme scheme, occasional
rhyming couplets can be found ("rubble" and "trouble").
These instances of rhyme contribute to
the musicality of the poem, enhancing its lyrical quality
and reinforcing key ideas or themes.

Consonance: Harsh sounds like "cr," "t," and "sp" in lines

2 and 3 ("cry," "ancient," "enemies")
convey a sense of hostility.

This poem is a brief yet poignant exploration of human

struggle and the indifference or
helplessness often encountered in facing challenges.
Through the use of vivid imagery and
sound devices, the poet presents a scene where the
"ancient enemies of man" observe a
solitary figure in distress, seemingly incapable of offering
assistance.
7
The poem is a poignant exploration of human suffering
and the indifference of the world
to it. Let's break it down stanza by stanza:

1. "No, there is no one to help him Let him get on with it

Cry the ancient enemies of man As
they cough and spit."

In these lines, the speaker introduces the idea that there

is no one to aid the suffering individual.
The phrase "ancient enemies of man" could symbolize
various forces or entities that oppose
humanity, such as nature's indifference, societal
structures, or even existential threats. The
imagery of coughing and spitting adds a sense of disdain
or disregard for the plight of the
individual.

2. "The enemies of man are like trees They stand with

the sun in their branches Is there no one
 to help my creature? Where he languishes?"

Here, the poem compares the enemies of humanity to

trees, which are often seen as symbols
of strength, stability, and longevity. The juxtaposition of
these powerful entities with the helpless
"creature" emphasizes the individual's vulnerability and
isolation. The speaker questions
whether anyone will come to aid this suffering individual.

3. "Ah, the delicate creature He lies with his head in the

rubble Pray that the moment pass And
the trouble."

This stanza highlights the fragility of the suffering

individual, referred to as a "delicate creature."
The imagery of lying with the head in the rubble suggests
a sense of defeat or despair. The
speaker expresses a hope that the current moment of
suffering will pass, indicating a desire for
relief from the trouble.

4. "Look he moves, that is more than a prayer, But he is

so slow Will he come out of the
mountains? It is touch and go."

In these final lines, there's a glimmer of hope as the

suffering individual shows signs of
movement, suggesting resilience or determination.
However, the speaker acknowledges the
slow progress and uncertainty of the individual's fate.
The metaphorical reference to "coming
out of the mountains" implies overcoming obstacles or
challenges, but the outcome remains
uncertain ("it is touch and go").

Overall, the poem captures the theme of human

suffering, the indifference of the world to it, and
the struggle for survival and resilience in the face of
adversity. The imagery and metaphors
used evoke a sense of isolation, vulnerability, and the
precariousness of human existence.

Theme:

The poem explores the concept of abandonment and

struggle in the face of adversity.

8
Structure:

 The poem is divided into three stanzas with varying

lengths, reflecting the speaker's shifting
emotions.
 The short first stanza emphasizes the harsh reality of
the situation.
 The second stanza introduces a contrasting image of
the "enemies" and their seemingly
privileged position.
 The final stanza focuses on the creature's struggle and
a glimmer of hope.