Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "May Day Dancing" captures the timeless and cyclical nature of tradition through the lens of a May Day celebration at a school. The poem's vivid imagery and rhythmic structure echo the patterns of the dance, while its reflections on time, memory, and continuity underscore the deeper significance of these rituals.

The poem opens with a charming image: "The kindergarten children first come forth / In couples dressed as little brides and grooms." This scene sets a joyful and innocent tone, as young children participate in a ritual that has been passed down through generations. The children "braid the Maypole with a double thread," a symbolic act that weaves together the past and present, emphasizing the interconnectedness of time.

The phrase "Keep time, keep faith, is what the music says" introduces a central theme of the poem. The music, guiding the dancers, represents the rhythm of life and the importance of maintaining tradition and belief. As the poem progresses, older children join in, "Grade after grade, all for the dancing paired, / All dressed in the fashion of forgotten folk." This progression through age groups mirrors the passage of time and the continuity of tradition, with each new generation taking its place in the dance.

Nemerov then shifts focus to the observers: "And all the parents standing in a ring, / With cameras some, and some with only eyes." The parents, both physically present and metaphorically on the periphery, watch their children with a mix of pride and nostalgia. They see "Not seven classes of children, but only one, / One class of children seven times again," suggesting that despite the passing years, the essence of the celebration remains unchanged. This blending of individual moments into a single, continuous experience highlights the cyclical nature of life and tradition.

The poem also acknowledges the different perspectives and interpretations of May Day: "Some here relate the May with wanton rites, / Some with the Haymarket Riots, some with nothing / Beyond the present scene and circumstance." These varied associations reflect the complex history and significance of the day, which can be seen as a celebration of spring, a commemoration of labor rights, or simply a joyous occasion in the present moment.

The parents' desire to capture these moments is poignantly described: "They hope to take a frozen section through, / Keeping their child with one foot on the ground / And one foot off, and with a solemn face / Or one bewildered between grin and tears." This image of a child caught in mid-dance, both grounded and in motion, symbolizes the tension between holding on to the past and moving forward into the future. The parents' efforts to preserve these fleeting moments reflect a universal longing to capture and hold on to the innocence and joy of childhood.

The poem concludes with a return to the dance itself: "The dance that leads him out to bring him home, / The May Day dance that tramples down the grass / And raises dust, that braids a double thread / Around the pole, in the great room of the sun." This final image encapsulates the essence of the celebration—its ability to connect individuals to each other and to the natural world, its cyclical nature, and its enduring beauty.

In "May Day Dancing," Nemerov beautifully captures the interplay of time, tradition, and memory. Through the ritual of the May Day dance, the poem explores how communal activities bind generations together, creating a continuous thread that weaves through the fabric of life. The celebration serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining traditions while also embracing the inevitable passage of time and the growth it brings.

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