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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Howard Nemerov's poem "Autumnal" reflects on the themes of decay, beauty, and the passage of time, using the imagery of autumn as a metaphor for the human condition. Through rich and evocative language, the poem contemplates the paradoxes of mortality and the possibility of creating lasting beauty and meaning through love and art. The poem begins with a vivid description of October, a time when "the falling leaves resume the earth," symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and death. The leaves returning to the earth represent the completion of a cycle, recording the passage of time on the "sodden floor." This imagery sets the tone for the poem's exploration of decay and renewal. Nemerov describes how "all energies and foreign heats retract" as the world prepares for winter. This withdrawal of life forces leads to a state where "luminous at night, in rain, the mold / Decays." The mention of mold glowing in the rain highlights the paradox of decay: even in its dissolution, there is a certain beauty and illumination. This paradox is something to be considered "by who works in stone," suggesting that artists and sculptors, who create lasting monuments, must grapple with the transient nature of life. The poem then shifts to a meditation on human beauty and mortality: "Fading the flesh delineates the bone, / Indicts your face, a precious artifact." Here, the fading flesh revealing the bone underneath serves as a metaphor for the inevitable decline of the physical body, yet it also emphasizes the enduring value of one's visage as an "artifact." The idea that beauty can be legally recognized and preserved in stone suggests a desire to capture and eternalize what is inherently fleeting. Nemerov reflects on the repetitive nature of life and death: "Mortal and inconclusive every fall / By repetition further unredeemed." Each autumn, the cycle of decay continues, tearing "at the rotting fabric of this world." The "false permanence of stone" is called into question, as even stone, a symbol of durability, can only speculate about the eternal in "splendid light." This raises the question of how we can represent ourselves in our tombs, given our ongoing failure to outlast time. Despite the poem's focus on decay, Nemerov offers a hopeful vision through the power of love: "Love might construct a form so true, so tense / As to survive its own antithesis, / Achieving an ironic permanence / With, for a pulse, repetitive despair." Love, as an enduring force, has the potential to create something lasting, even in the face of inevitable decay. This "ironic permanence" acknowledges the continual presence of despair, yet finds strength and resilience within it. The poem revisits the idea that "Fading, the flesh delineates the bone / As surely, certainly, as autumn leaves / Describe a tree when they resume the earth." Just as autumn leaves reveal the structure of the tree, so too does the fading flesh reveal the essence of the human form. This reflection encourages the reader not to fear that beauty will only be known through decay, as love itself is a form of permanence, as enduring as "statue and law." Nemerov concludes with a powerful image: "Love is the form of stone, statue and law / As far locked from corruption of the sun / As Buddha smiling in the seamless rock." Here, love is equated with the timeless and serene image of the Buddha, suggesting that true love transcends time and decay, achieving a state of eternal peace and beauty. "Autumnal" is a meditation on the impermanence of life and the enduring power of love and art. Through his use of autumnal imagery and reflections on decay and beauty, Howard Nemerov explores the tension between the transient and the eternal, ultimately finding solace in the enduring nature of love. The poem, dedicated "for my wife," underscores the personal and universal resonance of these themes, offering a poignant reflection on the human condition.
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