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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
In "Nightmare," Howard Nemerov delves into the haunting realm of dreams, using vivid and unsettling imagery to explore the depths of human fear and the often indistinguishable line between reality and the subconscious. The poem captures the essence of a nightmare, its impact on the psyche, and the profound realization that the true source of fear is not external but internal. The poem opens with a chilling image: a "grey stranger" appearing in a dream, "drawing his silken cord across your throat." This figure embodies the classic nightmare antagonist, an unknown and menacing presence that threatens the dreamer’s life. The "silken cord" suggests a deceptive gentleness, contrasting with the lethal intent of the action, thereby heightening the horror. The act of being strangled and the subsequent realization of the scream "strangled behind you as you flee" encapsulate the paralyzing terror and helplessness often experienced in nightmares. Nemerov then transitions to a reflection on time, describing it as "the other time, continuing yesterday." This phrase suggests the cyclical and relentless nature of time, especially in dreams where past, present, and future can blur together. Time is personified with a "watchful face aglow" and hands that "go on scissoring away / Both worlds at once." This imagery conveys the persistent and inescapable progression of time, which mercilessly cuts through both the dream world and reality. The scissoring motion symbolizes the severing of any clear distinction between the two realms, reinforcing the disorienting and omnipresent nature of the nightmare. The line "I just got out in time" reflects the common relief felt upon waking from a nightmare, a false sense of safety that quickly dissipates. The poem dispels this illusion, asserting "But that's not so," and confronting the reader with the unsettling truth: "As waking from a dark to a dark you know / That if you were for a time in mortal danger, / And are so still, it was not from a stranger." Here, Nemerov reveals the central theme of the poem: the real source of fear lies within the dreamer, not in an external stranger. The "dark to a dark" phrase underscores the continuity of fear from the dream state to waking life, suggesting that the anxieties and dangers faced in nightmares are reflections of one's internal struggles and fears. The poem's structure, with its seamless flow from one vivid image to the next, mirrors the fluid and often chaotic nature of dreams. Nemerov’s language is precise and evocative, capturing the intensity of the nightmare experience and the lingering dread that follows upon waking. The use of enjambment further enhances the sense of urgency and disorientation, propelling the reader through the poem much like the relentless progression of time. In "Nightmare," Howard Nemerov masterfully conveys the terror of dreams and the unsettling realization that our deepest fears are often self-generated. The poem challenges the reader to confront the internal sources of their anxieties, suggesting that the true "mortal danger" lies not in external threats, but within the complexities of the human psyche. Through its evocative imagery and insightful reflections, "Nightmare" offers a profound exploration of fear, time, and the inescapable nature of the human condition.
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