Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Obituary," Weldon Kees reflects on the death of Boris, a parrot with a unique and irascible personality, using this seemingly trivial event to comment on larger themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The poem’s tone blends a sense of irony with genuine melancholy, making the obituary of a bird a poignant meditation on existence.

The opening lines immediately announce the death of Boris: "Boris is dead. The fatalist parrot / No longer screams warnings to Avenue A." By calling Boris a "fatalist parrot," Kees imbues the bird with a philosophical weight, suggesting that Boris's cries were not just random squawks but meaningful warnings to the world around him. The mention of Avenue A situates the scene in a specific urban environment, adding a touch of realism to the narrative. The line "He died last week on a rainy day" further evokes a somber mood, aligning the weather with the event of Boris's death.

Kees continues to evoke a sense of emptiness and loss: "The cage is empty. The unhooked chain, / His pitiful droppings, the sunflower seeds, / The brass sign, 'Boris,' are all that remain." The detailed listing of these remnants creates a vivid image of Boris’s absence, emphasizing the void left behind. The use of the word "pitiful" to describe the droppings adds a touch of pathos, highlighting the mundane reality of Boris's existence and the finality of his death.

The poem then shifts to a more reflective tone, likening Boris's end to T.S. Eliot's famous line, "Like Eliot’s world, he went out with a whimper." This allusion to Eliot’s bleak view of modernity underscores the sense of quiet despair in Boris's final days: "Silent for days, with his appetite gone, / He watched the traffic flow by, unheeding, / His universe crumbling, his heart a stone." The image of Boris, once vocal and vibrant, now silent and indifferent, powerfully captures the decline and resignation that accompany the end of life.

Kees highlights Boris’s once lively and rebellious spirit: "No longer will Boris cry, 'Out, brief candle!' / Or 'Down with tyranny, hate and war!'" These phrases, echoing Macbeth and rallying cries against oppression, cast Boris as a parrot with a dramatic and defiant character. His ability to astonish "churchgoers and businessmen" with such statements adds a layer of humor and irony, contrasting with the somber reality of his death.

The final lines of the poem bring a sense of closure: "Boris is dead. The porch is a tomb. / And a black wreath decorates the door." The metaphor of the porch as a tomb emphasizes the finality of Boris’s passing and the mourning that follows. The black wreath, a traditional symbol of mourning, signifies the end of an era and the respect given to Boris, despite his being "just" a parrot.

"Obituary" by Weldon Kees uses the death of Boris the parrot to explore deeper themes of loss, memory, and the inexorable passage of time. Through vivid imagery, irony, and a touch of humor, Kees transforms the simple obituary of a pet into a reflective and poignant commentary on life and death, inviting readers to consider the impact and significance of even the smallest lives.

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