Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Afterwards" by Randall Jarrell is a deeply evocative adaptation of Tristan Corbière's "Rondels pour après," exploring themes of death, the passage of time, and the persistent, haunting presence of memory. Through a series of contemplative and lyrical vignettes, the poem paints a nuanced picture of life and its eventual end, interweaving motifs of sleep, darkness, and eternal rest with a poignant sense of loss and the surreal nature of the afterlife.

The poem opens with a gentle but foreboding address to sleep: "Sleep: here's your bed... You'll not come, any more, to ours." This line immediately sets a tone of finality, suggesting that sleep, a metaphor for death, is now the permanent state. The phrase "the hungry sleep, and are fed" hints at the all-consuming nature of death, where earthly desires and needs are rendered irrelevant. The imagery of grass evokes the idea of returning to nature, a common theme in poetry about death and burial.

As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on the transition from life to death: "Sleep: oh, they love you, now— the loved one is always / The Other." Here, the idea that the dead are now "The Other" underscores the separation between the living and the deceased. The line "Dream: the last fields are all flowers" evokes a serene, almost idyllic vision of the afterlife, where the final resting place is a field of flowers, symbolizing peace and beauty.

The poem then introduces a more unsettling imagery: "they'll call you star-snatcher, bareback-rider / Of the rays! ... though it will be dark there, very dark." This juxtaposition of celestial imagery with darkness highlights the unknown and mysterious nature of death. The mention of "the angel of attics, at dusk— lean spider, / Hope— comes to spin, for your vacant brow, its webs" adds a gothic element, suggesting that even hope becomes a fragile, web-like thing in the face of death.

In the second section, the speaker addresses the deceased directly: "It's getting dark, little thief of starlight! / There're no nights any longer, there're no days." The repetition of "little thief of starlight" is both affectionate and haunting, suggesting a tender but mournful farewell. The blending of day and night into a singular, eternal darkness underscores the finality of death.

The poem continues with a poignant meditation on the silence and solitude of the afterlife: "Sleep... till they come for you, child, some morning- / Those who said: Never! Those who said: Always!" This line captures the anticipation of judgment or retrieval by those who once made promises of eternity. The soft footsteps of "Love" with "wings" contrasts sharply with the idea of eternal rest, suggesting that love and memory persist even after death.

The subsequent lines reflect on the deceptive tranquility of death: "You're not afraid of being alone, though- / Poor little thing, are you? It's light as day." This reassurance highlights the loneliness of the afterlife, but also suggests a form of peace in solitude. The repeated refrain, "Go to sleep: your candle-end," symbolizes the extinguishing of life, a delicate image of finality.

In the final section, the poem takes on a more playful yet morbid tone: "Run away, little comet's-hair-comber! / The wild grass, in the wind, will be your hair." The reference to a "comet's-hair-comber" is whimsical, but the subsequent lines about the body becoming one with the earth and the emergence of grave-flowers like "Love-in-Idleness" and "forget-me-nots" bring the focus back to the inevitable decay and the memory that remains. The phrase "They think you're dead — they're so dumb, these grown-ups" injects a childlike innocence into the contemplation of death, highlighting the surreal and misunderstood nature of the afterlife.

"Afterwards" by Randall Jarrell is a masterful adaptation that captures the ethereal and contemplative spirit of Corbière's original work. Through its rich imagery and evocative language, the poem explores the profound and often surreal experience of death, weaving together themes of memory, loss, and the delicate balance between life and the eternal rest that follows.

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