Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Vacuum" is a poem by Howard Nemerov, first published in 1967 in his collection "The Salt Garden." The poem is known for its use of extended metaphor and its exploration of the theme of loss and absence.

Explanation:

The poem is written in first person and begins with the speaker describing a room in a house that has been emptied of all its furniture and personal belongings. The speaker compares the empty room to a space that is inhabited by a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is described as a "strange insect" that is consuming everything in its path.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reveals that the empty room once belonged to someone who has died, and that the room was cleared out in preparation for the next tenant. The speaker reflects on the absence of the person who once lived in the room, and the feeling of emptiness that remains in their absence. The vacuum cleaner serves as a symbol of this emptiness, as it takes on the role of removing any traces of the previous occupant.

The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the inevitable passing of time and the loss that it brings. The vacuum cleaner is described as a "time machine" that is constantly consuming and erasing the past.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of five stanzas, each containing four lines. The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme (ABCB) and has a consistent meter.
• Metaphor: The vacuum cleaner serves as an extended metaphor throughout the poem, representing both the emptiness of the room and the passing of time.
• Personification: The vacuum cleaner is personified as a "strange insect" that is consuming everything in its path.
• Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid imagery, such as the description of the vacuum cleaner as a "strange insect" and a "time machine," and the depiction of the empty room as a "white cave."

Conclusion:

"The Vacuum" is a powerful meditation on loss and absence. Nemerov uses the extended metaphor of the vacuum cleaner to explore the feeling of emptiness that remains after someone has passed away, and the sense of time constantly erasing the past. The poem's use of vivid imagery and carefully crafted metaphors make it a haunting and memorable work.

Poem Snippet:

"Something has been taken

From the room, from the room;

And everything's permitted,

In the room, in the room."

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