Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Suburban Prophecy" offers a vivid, almost apocalyptic vision of a typical suburban Saturday morning, marked by the incessant noise of power mowers. Through its rich imagery and underlying metaphorical depth, the poem critiques the suburban obsession with manicured lawns and suggests a larger, more profound struggle between nature and human machinery.

The poem opens with the familiar sound of "power-mowers' whine," a noise that characterizes suburban life. This sound is described as a "keening, petulant voice," imbuing the mowers with a sense of persistent irritation and dissatisfaction. The use of "whine" and "keening" sets a tone of complaint and restlessness, capturing the monotonous and mechanical nature of suburban routines.

Nemerov anthropomorphizes the mowers with "green oily teeth" that "chatter and munch the cud," transforming them into monstrous entities that devour the natural world. This vivid personification of mowers as "monsters" emphasizes the destructive power of these machines as they crawl over the "carpets of the world," a metaphor for the meticulously maintained lawns that define suburban landscapes.

The poem then shifts to a depiction of nature's response to this mechanical invasion. The "roots of things" are portrayed as battalions, "green and curled and tender," emerging from underground to resist the blades of the mowers. This battle between the natural world and human machinery is framed in militaristic terms, highlighting the resilience and tenacity of nature in the face of human attempts to control and dominate it.

Nemerov envisions a turning point in this struggle, where the mowers' "revolted throats shall strangle on / The tickle of their dead." This striking image suggests a scenario where the very grass they cut overwhelms and chokes the mowers, symbolizing nature's ultimate triumph over human interference. The phrase "till straws shall break / Crankshafts like camels" further intensifies this image of natural retribution, with the smallest and most delicate elements of nature causing the downfall of the powerful machines.

The poem reaches its climax with a night attack, and by the "Sabbath dawns," all "armored beasts" (the mowers) are defeated, consumed by the very lawns they sought to control. The reference to the Sabbath, a day of rest, contrasts sharply with the chaotic battle that precedes it, underscoring a return to peace and balance once the machines are vanquished.

Nemerov's use of language and imagery in "Suburban Prophecy" is both evocative and layered with meaning. The poem's structure, with its rhythmic yet free-flowing lines, mirrors the chaotic and relentless nature of the suburban struggle it depicts. The transformation of mundane suburban scenes into a dramatic narrative of conflict and resolution elevates the poem, turning a simple weekend chore into a profound commentary on the tension between human technology and the natural world.

In essence, "Suburban Prophecy" critiques the suburban obsession with controlling and perfecting nature through mechanical means, suggesting that this battle is ultimately futile. Nemerov's prophetic vision serves as a reminder of nature's enduring power and the eventual downfall of human attempts to dominate it, encapsulating a timeless message about the need for harmony between humanity and the natural world.

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