Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Shadows at Boxford" by Norman Dubie is a poem that weaves elements of the mundane with the mystical, creating a narrative that blurs the line between reality and the surreal. The poem uses domestic and everyday imagery, juxtaposed with unexpected and eerie occurrences, to explore themes of loss, alienation, and the unknown.

The poem opens with a reference to "the white powder cauliflower of still distant moons," immediately setting a tone of otherworldliness. However, this is quickly grounded by the "old salacious sump of salt pork frying with milk," a vivid and homely image that anchors the scene in the familiar. This juxtaposition sets the stage for a narrative that oscillates between the ordinary and the extraordinary, suggesting the thin veil between our daily lives and the unfathomable.

The mention of "the modus operandi for alien abductions" as a motive for verse introduces a sense of foreboding and mystery, which is intensified by the casual, yet unsettling disappearance of a man who says he's just going to the corner for cigarettes and groceries. His disappearance "from our planet" is stated matter-of-factly, yet it opens up a realm of possibilities—both literal and metaphorical—regarding where he might have gone. This event seems to act as a catalyst for a series of strange occurrences, including the "summer anniversary of a suddenly dead cat" and the old lady described as a somnambulist, enhancing the eerie and ghostly atmosphere of the poem.

The woman, perhaps the speaker, engages in ordinary activities such as shelling beans and making chowder, yet there is a persistent undertone of sorrow and loss. The mundane acts become a backdrop to her inner world of grief and bewilderment, emphasized by the narrative of the man who "reached the corner and is smoking with a childhood friend." His mundane action contrasts sharply with his earlier, unexplained vanishing, suggesting that life's ordinary moments are often interwoven with deeper, unseen currents.

The imagery of a "cloud burst" that is sensitive to "the phrasing of their sentences" suggests that the environment itself is responsive to human emotions and actions, adding a layer of sensitivity and responsiveness to the world Dubie portrays. This world is one where nature and human emotion are interconnected, influencing and reflecting each other in a continuous dance.

The woman's loyalty and dedication to the man, despite the absence of attraction or personal gain, is depicted in her everyday acts of service—burying his children, mowing his lawn, and caring for the church's grounds. These actions speak to a deep-seated sense of duty and perhaps resignation, underscored by the "lower registry of voices," which might symbolize the whispered secrets or undercurrents of life that go unnoticed but are ever-present.

The image of "the one loafer flung past the newspapers filling with rain" captures a moment of abandonment and decay, symbolizing the transience and fragility of life and human endeavors. It serves as a poignant reminder of what is left behind, unnoticed or forgotten in the rush of daily life.

Overall, "The Shadows at Boxford" is a reflective piece that invites the reader to ponder the deeper layers of existence that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life. Through its blend of the real and the surreal, Dubie crafts a narrative that is both haunting and profoundly moving, challenging the reader to consider the unseen forces that shape our lives and our perceptions.

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