Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Norman Dubie's poem "For Randall Jarrell, 1914-1965" is a poignant tribute that reflects on themes of perception, memory, and the interplay between life and art. Through its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, the poem honors Jarrell’s legacy while exploring the complexities of understanding and the passage of time.

The opening line, "What the wish wants to see, it sees," directly echoes Jarrell’s sentiment from his poem "Field and Forest," establishing a thematic continuity between the two works. This line sets the stage for the exploration of how desires and perceptions shape our experience of reality.

Dubie then introduces a scene that evokes both tranquility and urgency: "Off the des u are ati as tie of elou peas / While the living run around, not aimlessly, but / Like two women in white dresses gathering / Hymnbooks out on a lawn with the first / Drops of rain already falling on them." The juxtaposition of the serene image of women gathering hymnbooks with the impending rain suggests a moment of calm disrupted by the inevitability of change.

The poem then shifts to a more personal reflection, with Dubie recalling a moment of sudden inspiration: "Once, I wrote a sudden and enormous sentence / At the bottom of a page in a notebook / Next to a sketch of a frog." This anecdote highlights the intersection of the mundane and the profound, as the vivid description of the sunfish’s gills ("the color of cut rhubarb") captures the essence of how art and observation can transform everyday experiences into something extraordinary.

Dubie continues to reflect on the nature of understanding and perception: "Anything approaching us we try to understand, say, / Like a lamp being carried up a lane at midnight." This simile emphasizes the human desire to make sense of the world, even when faced with uncertainty or darkness. The reference to Jeremy Taylor, a 17th-century cleric known for his contemplative writings, underscores the timeless nature of this quest for understanding.

The poem’s narrative then shifts to a more introspective tone, contemplating the passage of time and the inevitability of aging: "Self-taught, it came to us, I believe, / As old age to a panther who's about to / Spring from one branch to another but suddenly / Thinks better of it." This metaphor captures the hesitation and reflection that often accompany the transition from one stage of life to another.

In a striking image, Dubie personifies nature as a wise, contemplative figure: "She says to us from her tree: / 'Please, one world at a time!' and leaps— / Making it, which could mean, / Into this world or some other. And between." This final image encapsulates the poem's exploration of the delicate balance between different realms of existence—whether they be physical, temporal, or metaphorical.

"For Randall Jarrell, 1914-1965" is a deeply reflective and evocative poem that pays homage to Jarrell’s legacy while delving into broader themes of perception, memory, and the passage of time. Through its rich imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which we navigate and make sense of the world, honoring both the moments of clarity and the enduring mysteries that define our experience.

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