Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Parish" by Norman Dubie is a deeply atmospheric and contemplative poem that intricately weaves together images of isolation, reflection, and the surreal interplay between the mundane and the mysterious. Set against the backdrop of a snow-covered landscape, Dubie paints a vivid picture of a small-town scene, infusing it with a sense of otherworldly eeriness and quiet melancholy.

The poem is structured into four parts, each offering a snapshot that builds upon the overall mood and narrative:

I. The opening stanza sets the scene with the speaker observing from the parsonage across to the mortuary. The detailed description of the mortician removing his white gown and washing his hands introduces themes of cleansing and fatigue, perhaps after performing his duties. The image of the lone lamp burning and the water still running adds a haunting quality, emphasizing a sense of ongoing, unfinished business or a moment suspended in time.

II. The second part shifts to a more personal memory, introducing a childhood friend who repaired her own dolls. This anecdote serves as a metaphor for repairing or dealing with damaged, imperfect things, paralleling the mortician's work. The friend's growth into an odd adult and the speaker’s waiting for a visitor who never arrives due to closed roads because of bad weather deepen the feeling of isolation and unfulfilled expectations.

III. The third part returns to the mortician, who is now seen as hypnotized by the elements around him—snow and running water. This trance-like state, combined with his gaze toward the distant hills, suggests a longing or a deeper contemplation, perhaps a yearning to escape from the confines of his work and surroundings.

IV. The final part reveals that it is now dawn, and the storm has passed. The discovery of footprints that had approached the door during the night introduces a mysterious element—someone or something came close but never entered, only to disappear into the landscape. The reference to St. Jerome’s lion, a symbol of burden and service, and the imagery of footprints that circle and then leap or pass through a fence, all contribute to a mystical and almost mythical closing, leaving the reader pondering the nature of the visitor and the connection to the wider themes of the poem.

Throughout "Parish," Dubie masterfully uses language to create a layered narrative that is both grounded in the physical details of the setting and imbued with a sense of the ethereal. The poem explores themes of solitude, the passage of time, and the intersections between human activities and the natural world, leaving an impression of unresolved mystery and quiet reflection. The closing image of footprints vanishing into the hills serves as a poignant metaphor for transient human experiences and the elusive nature of understanding and connection.

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