Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Donald Justice’s poem “Nostalgia of the Lakefronts” delves into the theme of memory, the passage of time, and the intersection of past and present through the lens of a lakefront scene. The poem captures a rich tapestry of images and emotions, drawing readers into a reflective and wistful meditation on childhood, change, and the enduring impact of the past.

The poem opens with a vivid image: “Cities burn behind us; the lake glitters.” This stark contrast sets the stage for a retreat from the chaos and destruction of the city to the tranquil, reflective surface of the lake. The “tall loudspeaker announcing prizes” and the “times of cruises” add a sense of liveliness and public festivity, juxtaposed with the personal and introspective tone that follows.

Justice reflects on childhood as a time “vast with terrors and surprises,” now receding into a “landscape deep with distance.” This distance suggests both a physical and emotional separation from the innocence and intensity of youth. The recurring motif of “the sad piano in the distance” and “a ghostly tinkling” of harmonies evokes a sense of melancholy and longing, symbolizing the fading echoes of past experiences.

The poet captures moments of wakefulness and dreams, where the child “will dream the world, / And this is the world we run to from the world.” This idea of escaping into dreams or memories to find solace from the present world is a recurring theme in the poem. Justice masterfully blends the worlds of reality and memory, suggesting that they often merge and become indistinguishable on “dark, sweet afternoons of storm and of rain.”

The poem vividly recalls specific nostalgic images: “stereopticons brought out and dusted, / Stacks of old Geographics,” and the “mad wet dash to the local movie palace.” These details anchor the reader in a specific time and place, likely reflective of the poet’s own experiences. The mention of “Kane's white cockatoo” references the famous film “Citizen Kane,” grounding the poem in a historical and cultural context.

By June, the city is described as “neurotic,” a place of heightened tension and restlessness. In contrast, lakes offer a space for reflection, both literally and metaphorically. The lake, “famed among painters for its blues,” serves as a mirror for introspection. Justice ponders why lakes might evoke sadness, suggesting that the desire to “anthropomorphize the inanimate / With a love that masquerades as pure technique” could be at play. This reflection on art and emotion highlights the complexity of human interactions with nature and memory.

The poet nostalgically recalls the innocence of childhood, where “O art and the child were innocent together!” However, as time passes, landscapes “grow abstract, like aging parents,” signifying the inevitable changes and abstractions that come with age. The impending war that will “shutter the grand hotels” hints at broader historical shifts, adding a layer of somber reality to the personal recollections.

The poem concludes with a powerful image of the lakefront disappearing “into the stubborn verses of its exiles / Or a few gifted sketches of old piers.” This suggests that the memory of the lakefront is preserved in art and poetry, even as it physically fades. The final lines, “Nostalgia comes with the smell of rain, you know,” tie the sensory experience of rain to the emotional experience of nostalgia, encapsulating the poem’s exploration of memory and longing.

“Nostalgia of the Lakefronts” by Donald Justice is a beautifully crafted reflection on the interplay between past and present, memory and reality. Through rich imagery and contemplative language, Justice evokes a deep sense of longing and introspection, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of nostalgia and the passage of time.

Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...