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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Howard Nemerov's poem "Aftermath" contemplates the existential state of a poet after completing his magnum opus, reflecting on the futility and unchanging nature of the world even after the creation of something sacred and significant. Through vivid imagery and allusions to Dante and the Biblical figure Lazarus, the poem delves into themes of purpose, suffering, and the cyclical nature of existence. The poem opens with the image of the poet who has "carried to term the sacred poem," indicating the completion of a long and arduous creative process that has consumed him for years, leaving him "starved lean." This description emphasizes the toll that artistic creation can take on the creator, suggesting a sense of sacrifice and dedication. The rhetorical question, "What in the world was left for him to do / In the world but wait there, in the world?" underscores the poet's existential crisis following the completion of his life's work. Having fulfilled his artistic purpose, he finds himself adrift in the mundane reality of the world. The poet is depicted descending "Can Grande's stair," a reference to Dante Alighieri's patron, Can Grande della Scala. This allusion situates the poet within the context of Dante's journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven in the "Divine Comedy." The poet, like Dante, has "been through Hell and seen what was to see, / And been through Heaven and seen what was to see," implying that he has experienced the extremes of human and divine existence. Now, he waits for "what is to be," resigned to the cyclical nature of life and death, awaiting "the second death although of bliss / Assured with his immortal girl restored." This refers to the poet's ultimate reunion with his beloved in the afterlife, drawing a parallel to Lazarus who was resurrected and saved. Despite the poet's personal transformation and the completion of his sacred poem, the world remains unchanged. The lines "The world is what it always is; the Po / Is still a filthy ditch along whose banks / A populace of hogs, curs, wolves, pursues / Destruction as it did; nothing has changed," depict a world steeped in corruption and decay. The reference to the River Po, described derogatorily, symbolizes the persistence of moral and environmental degradation. This highlights the poet's disillusionment with the world's indifference to artistic and spiritual endeavors. The poem also explores the poet's contemplation of Virgil, who resides in Limbo in Dante's "Divine Comedy." Virgil, representing reason and poetry, is eternally separated from divine grace, much like the poet who, despite achieving a form of artistic immortality, finds himself among "the lost." This suggests a feeling of being out of place or not fully recognized for his spiritual and artistic achievements. The poet, now a figure of folklore and caution, is imagined as the "man that mothers frighten children with: / 'Be good, or he'll haul you back with him to Hell.'" This transformation into a mythic figure underscores his alienation from ordinary life and his embodiment of the consequences of profound artistic pursuit. In "Aftermath," Nemerov uses rich allusions and imagery to explore the existential and philosophical dilemmas faced by a creator who has completed his magnum opus. The poem reflects on the unchanging nature of the world despite individual achievements and the perpetual struggle to find meaning and purpose. Through the lens of Dantean and Biblical references, the poem poignantly captures the poet's sense of isolation and the enduring human condition of waiting and searching for significance amidst a world that remains indifferent.
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