Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov’s poem "Tapestry" explores the intricate and dual nature of reality and perception through the metaphor of a tapestry. The poem juxtaposes the vivid, organized depiction on one side of the tapestry with the tangled, chaotic underside, drawing a parallel to the ordered narratives we construct in life against the underlying complexity and disorder that often remain hidden.

The poem begins by describing "this side of the tapestry" where a bearded king is depicted, surrounded by the trappings of his court—lords, ladies, hunting dogs, and armed men. This side of the tapestry represents a structured and recognizable world, a depiction of order and authority that is easily understood and visually coherent. The imagery of the king and his court conveys a sense of completeness and stability, evoking the traditional and idealized portrayal of leadership and hierarchy that is often presented in historical and mythical narratives.

However, Nemerov contrasts this orderly and symbolic representation with "that side of the tapestry," which is characterized by its lack of form and clarity. Here, the kingdom is "unknown;" there is no formal court, only "knotted and rooted thread / Spelling a world unsaid." This description of the reverse side of the tapestry reveals the inherent messiness and complexity underlying any creation or narrative. It suggests that what appears coherent and meaningful from one perspective can seem random and indecipherable from another. The reverse side of the tapestry, with its entangled threads, symbolizes the hidden depths and the unspoken, often chaotic, aspects of reality that are integral to but not displayed in the structured front.

Nemerov deepens this exploration by extending the metaphor to the human experience with the lines, "Men do not find their ways / Through a seamless maze," suggesting that life itself is not a smooth, uninterrupted journey but rather a complex labyrinth filled with "loose ends" and "clues" that might not always lead to clear conclusions. The "forest of loose ends" and the notion that "sewing never mends" highlight the perpetual incompleteness and the ongoing efforts to make sense of the world, which, like the back of a tapestry, may never fully resolve into a neat pattern.

By structuring the poem as a comparison between the two sides of the tapestry, Nemerov invites reflection on the nature of truth and the ways in which narratives are constructed. The visible side of the tapestry, with its regal and ordered depiction, serves as a metaphor for the stories societies tell about themselves—stories that often simplify and gloss over the underlying complexities. The hidden side represents the untold, the chaotic, and the real, reminding us that for every story told, there is an untold multitude of threads that complicate the narrative.

"Tapestry" thus serves as a philosophical contemplation on appearance versus reality, order versus disorder, and the seen versus the unseen. Through this rich metaphorical framework, Nemerov encourages a deeper examination of how understanding and meaning are woven from both the visible narratives and the invisible, intricate backgrounds that support and complicate those narratives.

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