Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Hugo's poem "History of the Sketch" explores themes of memory, art, and the passage of time, reflecting on the ways in which the act of creation—whether through drawing, music, or memory—intersects with the natural world and personal history. Through vivid imagery and introspective reflection, Hugo delves into the complexities of nostalgia, the impermanence of life, and the search for meaning in the quiet moments of solitude.

The poem opens with a reflection on the sensory memories that have shaped the speaker's understanding of life: "I learned this from the old: odor of lake and crayola, odor of grave." This juxtaposition of the "odor of lake and crayola" with the "odor of grave" encapsulates the cycle of life and death, creativity and decay. The mention of "crayola" evokes childhood, innocence, and the beginnings of artistic expression, while the "odor of grave" serves as a reminder of mortality and the inevitable end of that cycle. The phrase "Cycle completed and locked" suggests that these experiences are firmly embedded in the speaker's past, shaping the way they perceive the world.

The poem then shifts to a more nostalgic tone, as the speaker recalls a time when "glittering kites" and "glittering music from the dancehall rode across the lake." These images evoke a sense of vibrancy and joy, a time when life was filled with movement, color, and sound. The "glittering" quality of both the kites and the music suggests a world that was once bright and full of possibility, contrasting with the more subdued present that the speaker inhabits.

The speaker questions whether it is "time again for the band to assemble," invoking the idea of a return to those joyful, communal experiences. The "trumpet to sparkle, drum to knock like a heart" symbolizes the rhythmic pulse of life, the excitement and energy that once animated the world. The "dark women" who "jitter through evening like bats" add an element of mystery and allure, their movements delicate and almost otherworldly, as they "barely missing, barely nicking the lake." This imagery suggests a time of youthful passion and excitement, moments that were fleeting and perhaps never fully grasped.

However, the speaker also considers whether "the first kiss [should] be the last," hinting at the possibility that these moments of joy and connection might be better left in the past, as "lonely promise in the reeds where water tries to lap but soft moss muffles the wash." The reeds and moss represent a place of quietude and reflection, where the echoes of past experiences are softened and obscured, leaving only a faint impression.

The poem then turns to a darker, more solitary image: "The blackbird offers no red wing of friendship under the chilling cloud." The blackbird, often a symbol of mystery or foreboding, refuses to extend a gesture of connection, leaving the speaker isolated under a "chilling cloud." This line suggests a shift from the warm, communal memories of the past to a present marked by loneliness and the absence of companionship.

The speaker reflects on the act of sketching, noting that "Now, when I sketch a perch and get the wrong green on his rib no preacher hounds me to correct the color." This line implies a sense of freedom in the speaker's current state, a liberation from the judgments and expectations of others. The wrong color on the perch's rib is no longer a mistake to be corrected, but rather an acceptable part of the artistic process. The absence of external criticism allows the speaker to engage more deeply with the act of creation, even if the result is imperfect.

In the poem's final lines, the speaker describes the perch "slip[ping] off the sketchpad into the lake and dart[ing] for sedge." This moment blurs the line between the art and the natural world, as the sketch comes to life and returns to its watery origin. The "bubbles of his going" that "bloom along the surface" evoke a sense of gentle release, a return to the cycle of life that began with the "odor of lake." The bubbles "give off definite odors hermits remember well," suggesting that these small, fleeting moments of connection with nature are deeply ingrained in the memory of those who live in solitude.

"History of the Sketch" is a meditation on the ways in which memory, art, and the natural world intersect in the formation of identity and understanding. Richard Hugo uses rich, sensory imagery to explore the themes of nostalgia, impermanence, and the quiet beauty of solitary reflection. The poem captures the tension between the longing for past joys and the acceptance of the present's quietude, ultimately suggesting that both are necessary components of a life fully lived. Through the act of creation—whether through sketching, remembering, or simply observing the natural world—the speaker finds a sense of continuity and connection that transcends the passage of time.

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