Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov’s poem "Late Summer" captures a moment of transition, observing the natural world as it quietly prepares for the future. The poem juxtaposes the serene, gradual processes of nature with the tumultuous, immediate noise of human activity. Through vivid imagery and contemplative reflection, Nemerov explores themes of growth, potential, and the unnoticed continuity of life.

The poem opens with an invitation to “Look up now at what's going on aloft,” directing the reader’s attention away from the everyday distractions and towards the canopy above. This shift in perspective sets the tone for the poem, highlighting the contrast between the elevated, unaffected processes of nature and the noise of human life, encapsulated in the phrase “the noise of history and the newsboy's cry.” The latter represents the constant clamor of human events and information, which seem insignificant in comparison to the steady, silent work of nature.

Nemerov emphasizes that this natural activity is not taking place in some distant, unattainable realm (“Not in high heaven, only overhead”), but right above us, within reach yet often unnoticed. The fruits and seeds forming in the trees symbolize the beginning of future possibilities: “There grow the globes of things to come, / There fruits and futures have begun to form.” This imagery conveys the idea that the potential for the future is always developing, quietly and steadily, even if we are not immediately aware of it.

The specific images of “Acorns in neat berets” and “horse chestnuts huge / And shiny as shoes inside their spiny husks” bring a tactile and visual richness to the poem. These metaphors link the natural elements to familiar objects, making the growth process more relatable and vivid. The “Prickly planets among the sweetgum's starry leaves” further enriches the imagery, suggesting a miniature universe within the branches, where each element plays a part in the grand cycle of life.

Nemerov then introduces a deeper reflection on the nature of time and growth: “So secretly next year secretes itself / Within this one.” This line captures the hidden, ongoing process of development that is intrinsic to nature. The use of “secretes” suggests both the gradual, almost hidden nature of this process and the organic, inevitable way it unfolds. The phrase “as far on forested slopes / The trees continue quietly making news” extends this idea, presenting the trees as silent recorders and creators of future events. Unlike the ephemeral noise of human history, the trees’ “news” is encoded in their very being, in the “potencies of pulp.”

The poem concludes with the powerful image of the trees “Enciphering in their potencies of pulp / The matrix of much that hasn't happened yet.” This metaphor of trees as living archives, containing the potential for future developments within their very structure, suggests a profound connection between the present and the future. The “matrix” implies a complex, interconnected system where every element plays a role in shaping what is to come.

In "Late Summer," Nemerov uses the natural world as a lens through which to view the continuity and potential inherent in life. The poem’s imagery and reflective tone invite readers to consider the quiet, persistent processes that underpin growth and change, contrasting them with the transient noise of human activity. Through this contemplation, Nemerov highlights the importance of paying attention to the natural world and recognizing the profound, often unnoticed ways it shapes our future. The poem serves as a reminder of the enduring power and beauty of nature’s cycles, urging us to look beyond the immediate and appreciate the steady, silent work that ensures life’s continuity.

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