Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Edward Field’s poem "Last Bohemians" captures the wistful nostalgia and existential reflection of an older generation observing the transformation of their cultural landscape. Through a conversation at a diner with an old friend, Field delves into themes of artistic identity, cultural change, and the notion of belonging in a world that has seemingly moved on from the ideals they once cherished.

The poem opens with a scene in a cheap diner, where the speaker and his friend, who once ran a bookshop in the Village, reminisce about the past. This bookshop was once a hub for renowned writers like Jimmy Baldwin and Jimmy Merrill, embodying the vibrant literary culture of the time. The mention of moving the shop and adding commercial items like gifts and art cards due to financial necessity introduces a theme of compromise and the economic realities that challenge artistic purity.

Field expresses a longing for the past when being "shabby was attractive on us once," evoking a time when their poverty was part of an aesthetic that valued creativity over material wealth. He reminisces about a literary culture that was tightly knit and exclusive, mentioning how difficult it was to find certain works, which made them all the more treasured.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the continuity of their struggles with writing and publishing, highlighting how these enduring concerns link them to their younger selves despite the changing world around them. However, there is a sense of alienation from the current generation, whom they perceive as disconnected from the bohemian values they hold dear.

The speaker’s apartment, described as bohemian by a visitor, becomes a symbol of a bygone era. The visitor’s reaction suggests that what was once a lived experience has now become a sort of cultural artifact, interesting because of its rarity rather than its inherent value. This moment emphasizes the gap between the generations and the commercialization of their once-radical lifestyle.

Field captures the melancholy of aging within a cultural identity that feels increasingly irrelevant. He describes encounters with young people who seem to be searching for a ghost of the Village’s bohemian past, sensing both their curiosity and their potential disdain. The older generation feels like "ghosts in a haunted house," out of place and time in the neighborhood they once defined.

The mention of a movie that attracts old Villagers because it is "serious and has a message" highlights their ongoing desire for substance in a world they perceive as increasingly superficial. This gathering at the cinema underscores their lingering connection to radical and intellectual ideals, even as those ideals have become "odd on American faces."

Field’s portrayal of the Village as a place of lost radicalism and artistic poverty reflects a broader lament for the disappearance of cultural enclaves that once nurtured dissent and creativity. The poem closes on a note of sad camaraderie, as the aging bohemians meet "fugitive in coffee shops," clinging to a sense of historical significance and a shared mission that never quite came to fruition.

"Last Bohemians" is a poignant reflection on aging, memory, and the inevitable transformation of cultural landscapes. Field elegantly captures the complexity of looking back on a life intertwined with a specific cultural moment and facing the reality that the world has moved on. The poem’s tone is both celebratory and mournful, a tribute to a disappearing way of life and a critique of the cultural and economic forces that have dismantled it.

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