Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Western Approaches" delves into the themes of fate, memory, and the cyclical nature of life. Through reflective and introspective language, Nemerov explores the tension between the perception of free will in the present and the deterministic view of life when looked upon from the past.

The poem begins with an optimistic view of the future: "As long as we look forward, all seems free, / Uncertain, subject to the Laws of Chance." This opening line suggests that while we are living in the present, life appears to be governed by randomness and possibility. However, the poet quickly introduces a paradox, questioning the very nature of chance being subject to laws, hinting at an underlying order or predestination.

As the poem shifts to retrospection, it presents a contrasting perspective: "But looking back on life it is as if / Our Book of Changes never let us change." Here, Nemerov suggests that the narrative of our lives, once written, seems fixed and immutable, as though predetermined events unfold inevitably. This reflection implies a sense of fatalism, where the freedom perceived in the future is constrained by the inevitability of the past.

Nemerov continues to explore this deterministic view by suggesting that "Stories already told a time ago / Were waiting for us down the road, our lives / But filled them out." This imagery conveys the idea that our lives are merely iterations of ancient narratives, pre-scripted and awaiting our participation. The dreams about the past, which show the world as "post meridian / With little future left to dream about," reinforce the notion that our creative potential diminishes as we age, leaving us with well-trodden paths rather than uncharted territories.

The poem laments the loss of traditional storytelling: "Old stories none but scholars seem to tell / Among us any more, they hide the ways." These stories, though less comprehensible than life itself, still inform our actions and beliefs, suggesting that the wisdom of the past continues to shape our present, even if it is not overtly acknowledged. Nemerov implies that the ancient tales carry intrinsic truths that guide our behavior, much like the cyclical grind of the Nine Maidens at Skerryvore, which he only came to understand after many years.

Reflecting on his own life, Nemerov acknowledges, "My chances past their changes now, I know / How a long life grows ghostly towards the close." This line conveys a sense of the ephemeral nature of existence and the way individual identity merges into the collective experience of humanity, represented by "Everyman." The universal story, beginning in a far country with the archetypal "certain man and he had three sons," emphasizes the repetitive and universal nature of human life.

"Western Approaches" by Howard Nemerov is a contemplative exploration of life's perceived randomness versus its underlying order when viewed in hindsight. Through the interplay of chance and destiny, the poem invites readers to reflect on the narratives that shape our lives and the ancient wisdom that continues to inform our present actions. Nemerov's rich imagery and philosophical musings create a poignant meditation on the nature of existence and the human condition.

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