Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Donald Hall's "Flies" is a deeply reflective and vivid meditation on the cycles of life, death, and continuity within a family. Through detailed imagery and personal recollections, Hall captures the essence of his grandmother's final days and the pervasive presence of flies as a metaphor for persistence and the ongoing march of generations.

The poem opens with a quiet, intimate scene: a fly resting on a green curtain while the speaker sits by his grandmother’s side, trying to offer comfort. The image of the ninety-seven-year-old woman, her breath labored and her face oscillating between white and pink, sets a somber and tender tone. The meticulous attention to her appearance—her blue nightgown washed a thousand times, the strands of spittle in her mouth—conveys both the dignity and the harsh reality of her condition.

Hall contrasts these personal moments with memories of suburban life and the meticulous cleanliness of the homes he grew up in, where everything appeared pristine, yet the ubiquitous housefly still managed to intrude. This serves as a reminder that, regardless of outward appearances, life’s messiness and unpredictability persist.

The narrative returns to the present, describing the vigil held by his grandmother’s side in the Peabody Home. The presence of her daughters, standing solemnly, emphasizes the continuity of familial care and the shared burden of witnessing a loved one’s decline. The grandmother’s final breaths are described in a hauntingly beautiful manner, her face twitching as if to speak a final, inaudible word.

In death, she is described lying in a casket, looking as she used to but with an artificial tint. The stillness of the funeral parlor is so profound that Hall imagines the intrusion of a fly, underscoring the contrast between life and death, movement and stasis. The burial scene at the Andover graveyard features a poignant prayer from Mr. Jones, whose voice falters as if abandoned by the sky, adding a layer of existential contemplation to the ceremony.

The poem then shifts to Hall’s personal reflections in the barn, where he spent summers with his grandfather. The memories of his grandfather milking cows, reciting poems, and the ever-present flies and spiders create a rich, textured backdrop of continuity and change. The barn, much like the house, becomes a symbol of generational passage and the persistence of life’s cycles.

Hall fondly recalls his grandmother’s daily routines, her struggles with flies, and her attempts to maintain order in the kitchen. The flies, despite her best efforts, always returned, symbolizing the relentless and uncontainable nature of life. The poet’s childhood task of killing flies for a penny each becomes a metaphor for the futile attempts to control the uncontrollable.

The concluding stanzas reflect on the legacy left behind. Hall and his family live in the house once inhabited by his grandparents, carrying forward the traditions and memories. The presence of a fly buzzing in the kitchen, one of countless generations, underscores the poem’s theme of persistence and continuity. The poet's acknowledgment that he planned to live there as somebody’s grandfather signifies acceptance and the embracing of his role in the ongoing cycle.

"Flies" by Donald Hall is a rich tapestry of memory, observation, and reflection. It captures the intimate details of familial love and the inevitable passage of time, framed by the persistent presence of flies as a symbol of life's relentless continuity. The poem invites readers to contemplate the intersections of life and death, the endurance of family traditions, and the small yet profound moments that define our existence.

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