Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Donald Justice's poem "About My Poems" offers a reflective and somewhat critical view of his early poetic works. Through vivid imagery and introspective commentary, Justice explores themes of melancholy, artistic growth, and the cyclical nature of creativity.

The poem begins with a candid admission: “How fashionably sad my early poems are!” This line sets the tone for the self-reflective critique that follows. Justice acknowledges the deliberate sadness that characterized his earlier work, suggesting a sense of detachment or perhaps an awareness of the youthful tendency to romanticize melancholy.

Justice then describes the setting of these early poems: “On their clipped lawns and hedges the snows fall; / Rains beat against the tarpaulins of their porches.” This imagery evokes a sense of quiet, suburban landscapes, places of orderly beauty yet permeated by a sense of stillness and solitude. The falling snow and beating rain contribute to the atmosphere of subdued sadness.

The portrayal of family life adds to this mood: “Where, Sunday mornings, the bored children sprawl, / Reading the comics, before the parents rise.” This image of children idly reading comics on a Sunday morning while waiting for their parents captures a moment of mundane routine and boredom, highlighting the everyday melancholy that Justice associates with his early poems.

The poet’s technical critique follows: “—The rhymes, the meters, how they paralyze!” Here, Justice reflects on the restrictive nature of formal poetic structures that he once adhered to. The use of rhyme and meter, while traditional and respected, is seen as paralyzing, suggesting that these structures may have constrained his creative expression and emotional depth.

The poem continues with a depiction of a deserted small town: “Who walks out through their streets tonight? No one. / You know these small towns, how all traffic stops / At ten; the corner streetlamps gathering moths.” This imagery conveys a sense of emptiness and abandonment, reinforcing the theme of isolation. The detail of streetlamps gathering moths adds a touch of poignancy, symbolizing the attraction to light and the inevitability of decay.

Justice introduces a haunting image with “And the pale mannequins waiting in dark shops, / Undressed, and ready for the dreams of men.” The mannequins, undressed and lifeless, stand as symbols of unfulfilled desires and the emptiness of commercialism. They embody the notion of being poised for action or purpose but remaining static and objectified.

The poem concludes with a note of renewal and hope: “—Now the long silence. Now the beginning again.” This final line suggests a period of introspection and creative pause, followed by a resurgence of artistic inspiration. The “long silence” implies a necessary break from the past, allowing for growth and new beginnings in the poet’s work.

In "About My Poems," Donald Justice masterfully combines self-reflection with vivid, evocative imagery to critique his early poetic endeavors. By acknowledging the fashionable sadness and formal constraints of his earlier work, Justice opens a dialogue on the evolution of his creative process. The poem serves as both a personal critique and a broader commentary on the artistic journey, emphasizing the importance of continual growth and the renewal of inspiration.

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