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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

MY SOUTH: 1. ON THE PORCH, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Donald Justice’s poem “My South: 1. On the Porch” evokes a nostalgic and serene image of Southern life, suffused with the warmth of family memories and the gentle passage of time. Through careful, vivid imagery, Justice captures the essence of a peaceful evening spent on the porch, highlighting the small yet significant moments that define the speaker’s recollections of the South.

The poem opens with a scene bathed in sunlight: “There used to be a way the sunlight caught / The cocoons of caterpillars in the pecans.” This imagery sets a tranquil tone, with the sunlight illuminating the natural world in a delicate, almost magical way. The mention of cocoons in pecan trees suggests a sense of growth and transformation, subtly tying the natural cycles to the human experience.

Justice then introduces a boy’s shadow lengthening to a man’s, indicating the passage of time and the growth from childhood to adulthood: “A boy's shadow would lengthen to a man's / Across the yard then, slowly.” This line underscores the slow, steady progression of life, marked by the changing lengths of shadows as the sun sets.

The poem shifts to a more personal focus with the introduction of the speaker’s grandfather: “There was my grandfather, Lincoln-tall and solemn, / Tapping his pipe out on a white-flaked column.” The grandfather’s stature and solemn demeanor are likened to Abraham Lincoln, imbuing him with a sense of gravitas and historical resonance. The act of tapping out his pipe carefully on a column suggests a ritualistic and deliberate approach to life, emphasizing the importance of small, mindful actions.

The imagery of “pipe-stars” falling as the grandfather taps his pipe adds a touch of whimsy and wonder to the scene: “And we would watch the pipe-stars as they fell.” This moment, shared between the speaker and his grandfather, highlights the beauty in everyday actions and the shared experience of observing something as simple as the sparks from a pipe.

The poem then brings in the element of sound with the mention of a train: “As for the quiet, the same train always broke it.” The recurring sound of the train serves as a reminder of the outside world, breaking the stillness of the evening and connecting the isolated moment on the porch to a larger context.

The grandfather’s great silver watch, with its dark fob, becomes a focal point in the shared experience: “Then the great silver watch rose from his pocket / For us to check the hour, the dark fob / Dangling the watch between us like a moon.” The watch, described as rising like a moon, symbolizes the passage of time and the approaching evening. The image of the fob dangling like a moon adds a sense of gravity and importance to the simple act of checking the time.

The poem concludes with a sense of impending evening: “It would be evening soon then, very soon.” This ending reinforces the cyclical nature of time and the predictability of the daily transition from day to night. It also underscores the comfort and familiarity of these shared moments, rooted in the speaker’s memories of the South.

“My South: 1. On the Porch” by Donald Justice is a beautifully crafted reflection on the simplicity and depth of Southern life. Through rich imagery and a gentle, nostalgic tone, the poem captures the essence of family, the passage of time, and the profound significance of everyday moments. Justice’s portrayal of these scenes invites readers to appreciate the quiet beauty of life’s small rituals and the lasting impact of cherished memories.


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