Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Randall Jarrell's "Nestus Gurley" is a contemplative and evocative poem that seamlessly blends mundane daily activities with profound reflections on time, existence, and the cyclical nature of life. Through the recurring figure of Nestus Gurley, the poem explores themes of routine, memory, and the passage of time, while imbuing the ordinary with a sense of the extraordinary.

The poem opens with a serene depiction of the speaker's sporadic awareness of Nestus Gurley's presence: "Sometimes waking, sometimes sleeping, / Late in the afternoon, or early / In the morning." The repetition of Nestus's "soft quick step" and the "sound half song, half breath" creates an ethereal quality, suggesting that Nestus's movements and actions are both part of the natural order and imbued with a musical, almost magical quality.

Nestus Gurley is associated with an "old / Catch or snatch or tune / In the Dorian mode," a musical reference that evokes a timeless and ancient feeling. The Dorian mode, traditionally associated with a somber yet resilient character, parallels the poem's exploration of the daily grind and the persistence of life. The mention of horses standing "all night in the fields asleep / Or awake" and Orion, the hunter constellation, reinforces the connection between Nestus's actions and the larger, cosmic rhythms of nature.

As Nestus delivers the daily news, the poem shifts to the interactions between Nestus and the speaker's daughter, emphasizing the practical aspects of his work: "He has four routes and makes a hundred dollars." This mundane detail grounds the poem in everyday reality, contrasting with the more abstract reflections on time and existence. Nestus's collections and deliveries are routine, yet they are described with a certain reverence, highlighting the significance of his role in the daily lives of the community.

The poem further explores the concept of judgment and accountability, as the news delivered by Nestus becomes a metaphor for the recording of one's actions: "the Morning News, the Evening Record / Of what I have done and what I have not done." The imagery of the "Book of Death" and the yellowing paper suggests the inevitable passage of time and the cumulative weight of one's actions and inactions.

Nestus also appears in the speaker's dreams, bringing news of a different kind of judgment, one "not of men." This dream-like sequence introduces a cosmic dimension to the poem, where the ordinary intersects with the extraordinary. The bombers turning back over the Pole, having met a star, symbolizes a moment of profound revelation or divine intervention, contrasting with the routine nature of Nestus's deliveries.

The poem concludes with a tranquil morning scene, as Nestus approaches with the morning paper, and the speaker's cat, Elfie, responds with calm indifference: "Looks at the paper boy without alarm / But yawns, and stretches, and walks placidly." This peaceful interaction between Elfie and Nestus encapsulates the harmonious coexistence of the everyday and the eternal.

The final image of the "paper hat Nestus has folded: this tricorne fit for a Napoleon" humorously elevates Nestus's mundane task to a heroic level, blending the grandeur of historical figures with the simplicity of daily life. This juxtaposition underscores the poem's theme of finding significance and meaning in the ordinary, routine aspects of life.

"Nestus Gurley" is a richly layered poem that intertwines the mundane with the profound, exploring themes of routine, memory, and the passage of time through the recurring figure of a paperboy. Jarrell's vivid imagery and lyrical language invite readers to reflect on the cyclical nature of existence and the ways in which ordinary moments are imbued with deeper significance.

Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...