Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Mark Jarman's poem "Days of '74" nostalgically reflects on a formative period of young love, set against the backdrop of a turbulent era. Through evocative imagery and a contemplative tone, Jarman captures the intensity of early romance, the fleeting nature of time, and the inevitable intrusion of external realities.

The poem opens with a sense of affirmation and new beginnings: "What was the future then but affirmation, / The first yes between us / Followed by the first lingering dawn?" This initial affirmation of love leads to a prolonged moment of dawn, symbolizing the hope and promise of a new relationship. The setting, "below a window shaded by redwoods," evokes a sense of natural beauty and tranquility. The parenthetical "Waking? We hadn’t slept—" emphasizes the restless excitement and sleepless nights of young love.

Jarman then juxtaposes this idyllic scene with a reminder of the cold and shadows within the house: "Still, the house was cold, and there were shadows." The couple in the next room, who "rapped the wall to quiet us," represent a more cynical perspective on love. Their "bitter knowledge / That, young as we all were, / Love didn’t last, but receded into silence," serves as a contrast to the speaker's fervent belief in the endurance of their love.

The poem continues with a defiant intimacy: "Wedging our pillows back of the headboard / That clapped in time with us, / We let them think we agreed." Despite the neighbors' attempts to silence them, the lovers continue to express their passion, symbolically closing "each other’s mouths" to maintain their private world. The slowness of their mornings, described as turning "into the speed with which they fly," underscores the rapid passage of time when immersed in love.

Jarman uses the theme of flight to connect personal and political events of 1974: "Flight was that year’s theme, all around us— / Flight of hunter and hunted, / The President turning inward on one wing." This reference to President Nixon's resignation during the Watergate scandal adds a layer of historical context, highlighting the era's instability. The "emigration / Of termites, a glittering fleet," symbolizes decay and change, subtly foreshadowing the eventual end of the lovers' time in the house.

Despite the turmoil, the lovers perceive themselves as a "fixed point": "Within it all, above it, or beyond, / We thought we were the fixed point." This belief is symbolized by the quail, "holding still as the quail lit down beside us," representing their attempt to remain steady amidst the chaos. The valley's sunshine "reeled them in," suggesting a temporary sense of security and peace.

Jarman doesn't let the reader forget the presence of "wilderness around us," hinting at lurking dangers and the ever-present Pacific Ocean's "passions taking place as rain." This natural imagery emphasizes the unpredictable and wild aspects of life, mirroring the uncertainty in the lovers' relationship.

The sorrow of the couple in the next room, described as "a deep muteness nightly," contrasts sharply with the vibrancy of the speaker's love. This "loneliness could come of loving" serves as a sobering reminder of the potential for love to fade into silence. The house, symbolic of their relationship, "was taking wing already," indicating the beginning of its end even as they believed it to be stable.

In the final stanzas, Jarman reflects on the lasting impact of these days: "After we left, still it took us years / Before we stopped comparing / Every morning together to that first one." The memory of their early love becomes a benchmark against which all subsequent experiences are measured. The repetition of "that first word repeated all night long" underscores the lingering influence of their initial connection.

In "Days of '74," Mark Jarman masterfully captures the intensity and transience of young love against a backdrop of historical and personal turbulence. Through rich, evocative imagery and a reflective tone, he explores themes of memory, change, and the enduring impact of formative experiences. The poem invites readers to consider their own moments of passion and the ways in which they shape and are shaped by the broader context of their lives.

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