Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Nausea" by William Meredith explores the visceral reaction of the character Hazard to a seemingly mundane but ultimately unsettling event—a sparrow catching a butterfly in the courtyard of the Brera, a renowned art gallery in Milan. The poem delves into themes of vulnerability, the brutality of nature, and the human tendency to associate past traumas with present experiences. Meredith's narrative interweaves the physical act of the chase with Hazard's inner turmoil, evoking a sense of discomfort and existential reflection.

The poem begins by setting the scene: "In the courtyard of the Brera, the great gallery in Milan," situating the reader in a specific and culturally significant location. The mention of this place is not for mere name-dropping but to provide context for the incident. The narrative quickly shifts focus to the central action: "a sparrow chased a butterfly around the sunny oblong." The choice of a butterfly—a delicate and graceful creature—contrasted with a sparrow—a more robust and predatory bird—sets up a tension between fragility and aggression.

Meredith describes the chase as lasting "for what must have seemed forever to an insect or a bird— / it was long enough for Hazard." This temporal perspective emphasizes the intensity of the moment, suggesting a subjective experience of time stretched by anxiety. Hazard, the observer, is affected deeply by this natural occurrence, which evokes memories of his own fearful experiences.

The description of the chase evokes imagery of aerial combat: "Above an enormous statue of Napoleon buck-naked they turned and wove like pilots in a dogfight." This comparison to a dogfight—a high-stakes aerial battle—heightens the drama and underlines the life-and-death stakes, even in the small scale of a courtyard. Hazard's own history as a Navy pilot is alluded to, revealing his deep-seated fear: "he was always scared shitless in the Navy when they had to practice dogfights— / once he threw up in the cockpit." This detail not only establishes Hazard's personal connection to the imagery but also introduces the theme of nausea, both physical and emotional.

The butterfly's attempts to evade capture are described with admiration: "This butterfly was agile, he could really wrap it up, / turning in half the circle of the fat city bird." The butterfly's maneuvers, "fishtails and chandelles," showcase its desperation and skill, akin to a skilled pilot's evasive maneuvers. The comparison to "David with Goliath" further underscores the dramatic imbalance of power between the butterfly and the sparrow, casting the butterfly in the role of the underdog.

However, the poem starkly concludes the chase: "But that's not how it was. / Chomp, and the greedy sparrow was off behind a column on the balcony above them with the emblem of the soul." The sudden, brutal end to the butterfly's flight captures the harsh reality of nature, where the delicate and beautiful can be abruptly extinguished. The "emblem of the soul" refers to the butterfly, often symbolizing transformation and the human soul, now consumed.

The poem then transitions back to Hazard's reaction, "Before his wife could lure him inside to see the Piero and the unique Mantegnas," highlighting how this violent spectacle in nature overshadows the art within the gallery. Hazard experiences a "fearful vision, a memory it was, really," linking the present event to his past trauma as a pilot. The visceral reaction—"a cockpit full of chili with cold terror in his gut"—conveys his physical nausea and emotional distress, as he recalls circling "a blue oblong in Texas, trying to escape his friend." This memory connects the past and present, showing how Hazard's earlier fears and experiences continue to haunt him.

"Nausea" captures the unsettling convergence of a natural, violent act and personal trauma. The poem suggests that moments of beauty and brutality in nature can trigger deep emotional responses and reflections on mortality and vulnerability. Meredith's work eloquently portrays the fragility of life, the inevitability of predation, and the lingering impact of past fears on the human psyche. The poem leaves the reader with a sense of unease and contemplation, mirroring Hazard's own unsettled state.

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