I Go Back to May 1937

“I Go Back to May 1937” is a poem which discusses co-dependency, which is an emotional and behavioral condition in which people form or maintain emotionally or physically destructive relationships. The dysfunctional parents in the poem are, according to the speaker, initially “untouched” (Lines 22, 24) and “innocent” (Line 12). Despite being ill-suited for each other, they marry, even though they are just “kids” (Line 11) and “dumb” (Line 11). However, the speaker hints at the deeper psychological problems of each parent which leads to their co-dependent relationship. The speaker calls the father “arrogant” (Line 23), which suggests that he is dependent on others to foster his image of self-importance. The mother is “hungry” (Line 21) which shows she needs someone to satiate her needs, whether they be physical, economic, or psychological. Their dependency on each other to fulfill these needs explains their attraction and marriage, perhaps also alluding to why the marriage could not succeed. Further, this dysfunctional behavior causes the parents to do “bad things to children” (Line 17). As their child, the speaker is dependent on the parents for their very existence. Literally, in order “to live,” (Line 25), the speaker must rely on a union that is inherently destructive.