Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Edward Field’s poem "Death Mask" explores the unsettling realities of aging, memory loss, and mortality. Through candid reflection and poignant imagery, Field examines the gap between internal identity and outward appearance, offering a contemplative meditation on the passage of time.

The poem opens with two epigraphs that frame the central themes: one from Leon Trotsky, "Old age is the most unexpected / of all the things that happen to a man," and another from T.S. Eliot’s "East Coker," "Do not let me hear / Of the wisdom of old men, but rather of their / folly, / Their fear…" Together, these quotations set a tone of disillusionment and vulnerability regarding aging.

In Part 1, the poem begins with a reflection on the disconnect between the internal self and the external image: "In the mirror now, / what I see / reminds me / I won't be here forever." The image in the mirror reminds the speaker of mortality, but this face does not align with how he feels inside: "I don't feel like / that face at all. / Inside it, I protest, / I'm quite different." He describes the face as "somebody's grandfather," rejecting it and expressing confusion: "Whose grandfather is that? / I don't want him."

This first section captures the shock and denial often associated with aging, as the speaker struggles to reconcile his internal vitality with the aged appearance in the mirror. The mirror becomes a symbol of unwelcome truth, revealing the physical changes that betray the internal sense of identity.

Part 2 shifts to a lament about memory loss: "Ah, memory, memory…. / terrible, / to be losing / the words." The ellipses suggest hesitation and uncertainty, reflecting the disorienting experience of losing one's memory. The simplicity and directness of these lines convey the anguish of a fading mind.

In Part 3, the speaker grapples with the inevitability of decline: "How do you get from here to there— / I mean, from where I am / to the nursing home?" He acknowledges the rapid progression of aging: "In a snap of the fingers, / the blink of an eye." This suddenness echoes his mother's words: "It went so fast," spoken as she was being taken away in an ambulance. The mention of the mother’s fate reinforces the inevitability of aging and death, adding a personal and familial dimension to the poem.

Part 4 concludes the poem with an extended metaphor that encapsulates the experience of life and death: "Life / a lazy buzz, / then / the quick sting." This image compares life to the movement of a bee, emphasizing the brevity of life and the sharp finality of death. The metaphor continues with "A long inward breath, / then / the sudden / exhaling," suggesting that life is akin to breathing in deeply and then releasing it suddenly in death.

Structurally, "Death Mask" is divided into four parts, each exploring different facets of aging and mortality. The use of short, fragmented lines reflects the fragmented nature of memory and thought in old age, emphasizing the disorientation that accompanies the loss of mental faculties. Field's straightforward language and free verse style lend an intimate and sincere tone to the poem.

Overall, "Death Mask" is a poignant meditation on aging, mortality, and the struggle to maintain one's identity in the face of inevitable decline. Edward Field captures the emotional and psychological challenges of growing old through vivid imagery and direct language. The poem's exploration of the gap between the internal self and external appearance, as well as the anguish of memory loss, makes it a compelling and relatable reflection on the human condition.

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