![]() |
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Fortune Teller" by Howard Nemerov is a reflective and somewhat sardonic poem that explores the dynamic between a fortune teller and her clients. Through the lens of a seemingly fraudulent fortune teller, Nemerov delves into themes of fate, human gullibility, and the existential futility of seeking certainty in an uncertain world. The poem begins by establishing the fortune teller as "certainly a fake," immediately casting doubt on her legitimacy. Despite this, the fortune teller holds her clients "in contempt," which suggests a level of self-awareness and perhaps even a moral high ground. She "take[s] your hand before she speak[s]," which is a gesture meant to create a sense of intimacy and sincerity, yet the poem suggests that this is part of her performance. Nemerov describes the fortune teller's skepticism towards the client's belief in a "lucky break." She "suspects the wisdom" of such beliefs, knowing that the dark omens she predicts—represented by "the dark man and the ocean passage"—are ambiguous and can signify both good and evil. This ambiguity reflects the inherent uncertainty of life and fate. The fortune teller understands that the fate her clients seek must align with the fate already given or yet to come. This understanding leads her to view her clients with "an intimate despair / That chuckles mournfully, but cannot grieve." This line captures the fortune teller's resigned amusement at the clients' futile search for certainty, paired with a deeper, unspoken sorrow for their plight. She prophesizes "portals to fortune that can swing both ways," indicating that fortune is fickle and unpredictable, independent of the clients' efforts. After the clients leave, she might "remotely, weep / At vague ambitions quartered on her sleep," suggesting that the fortune teller is haunted by the dreams and aspirations of those she counsels, though she remains emotionally detached. The fortune teller does not weep for her clients, whom she sends away with ambiguous fortunes, leaving them "sentenced to wait, / Piously turning corners every day, / Computing and interpreting [their] fate." This imagery of clients obsessively interpreting their fortunes reflects the human tendency to seek meaning and control over the uncontrollable. In the closing lines, the fortune teller cries "quietly in her mind, for reason / Unwise as that you cry for, under question / In constant session of another's lust." This suggests that the fortune teller, too, is subject to the whims and desires of others, trapped in her role and burdened by the expectations placed upon her. The phrase "which she may bear some after you are dust" implies that the fortune teller's role and the existential questions she faces will continue long after her clients are gone. Overall, "Fortune Teller" by Howard Nemerov is a thought-provoking poem that critiques the human desire for certainty and the often deceptive nature of those who claim to provide it. Through the character of the fortune teller, Nemerov explores the complexities of fate, the futility of seeking definitive answers, and the shared, universal struggles of both the seeker and the guide. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own desires for control and the ambiguous nature of destiny.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
|