Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Blue Suburban" evokes a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the passage of time and the hidden sorrows beneath the surface of suburban life. The poem’s imagery and tone capture the idyllic yet transient nature of summer evenings in a suburban setting, juxtaposing moments of beauty and camaraderie with the underlying bitterness and inevitable decline.

The poem begins by situating the reader "out in the elegy country," a place symbolically associated with lamentation and reflection on loss. This sets a contemplative tone, suggesting that the scene to follow will be tinged with melancholy. The reference to "summer evenings" establishes a specific temporal setting, evoking a sense of warmth, leisure, and a slower pace of life.

Nemerov describes this time as if it were perpetually "always six o'clock, or seven," an hour when the day begins to wind down, but the evening’s darkness has not yet fully settled in. This suspended moment in time emphasizes the fleeting nature of these peaceful, idyllic evenings. The "fountain of the willow" that "always wept / Over the lawn" adds to the serene yet sorrowful atmosphere, personifying the willow as a figure of constant mourning.

The poem paints a picture of an idealized past where "the talk was brilliant, / The laughter friendly," capturing the essence of youthful, carefree interactions. However, this ideal is tempered by the realization that these moments are ephemeral, as indicated by the phrase "taken by the darkness in surprise / That night should come." The inevitability of nightfall serves as a metaphor for the encroachment of reality and the end of innocence.

Nemerov then shifts the focus to a "lonely house down in the elegy country," where the setting becomes more introspective and personal. This house, illuminated by "small lights," stands as a symbol of isolation amid the broader suburban landscape. Within this setting, "the bitter things were said," and the veneer of suburban bliss is stripped away to reveal underlying tensions and unspoken resentments.

The poem continues with the image of "drunken friends / Steadied themselves away in their courses / For industrious ruin or casual disaster." This line poignantly captures the dual paths of self-destruction and aimlessness that often lie beneath the surface of suburban life. The notion of "industrious ruin" suggests a deliberate, albeit misguided, pursuit of self-destruction, while "casual disaster" implies a more passive, unintended slide into decline.

The concluding lines, "Under a handful of pale, permanent stars," provide a stark contrast to the fleeting, mutable nature of human life. The stars, described as "pale" and "permanent," serve as a reminder of the constancy and indifference of the natural world in contrast to the transient and often tumultuous human experience.

In "Blue Suburban," Howard Nemerov masterfully juxtaposes the serene beauty of suburban summer evenings with the underlying currents of sorrow and decline. Through rich, evocative imagery and a tone of reflective melancholy, the poem captures the bittersweet nature of memory and the inevitable passage of time. It invites readers to consider the complex layers of suburban life, where moments of joy and brilliance are intertwined with bitterness and the inexorable approach of night.

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