Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Variations on a Fragment by Trumbull Stickney," John Hollander explores themes of impermanence, the passage of time, and the interplay between light and water. Through vivid imagery and a contemplative tone, Hollander expands on Stickney's original fragment, delving into the transient beauty of nature and the subtle shifts that mark the flow of time.

The poem opens with the serene image of a river wandering through a valley: "I hear a river thro' the valley wander / Whose water runs, the song alone remaining." This suggests a timeless, almost eternal quality to the river, where the physical water flows away, but its song, its essence, lingers. This sets the stage for the poem's meditation on enduring beauty and fleeting moments.

"A rainbow stands and summer passes under, / Flowing like silence in the light of wonder." Here, Hollander juxtaposes the vibrant, ephemeral nature of a rainbow with the steady passage of summer. The rainbow becomes a symbol of fleeting beauty, a moment of silence and wonder amidst the constant flow of time.

The poem then shifts to a more dynamic scene: "In the near distances it is still raining / Where now the valley fills again with thunder." This line captures the cyclical nature of weather and time, as rain continues to fall and thunder rolls through the valley, renewing the landscape even as it echoes past storms.

"Where now the river in her wide meander, / Losing at each loop what she had been gaining, / Moves into what one might as well call yonder." The river's meandering path symbolizes life's journey, with each turn representing a loss and gain, a constant reshaping of identity and direction. The use of "yonder" evokes a sense of the unknown, the distant future that lies ahead.

Hollander reflects on the relationship between water and light: "The way of the dark water is to ponder / The way the light sings as of something waning." This line highlights the contrast between the contemplative nature of water and the ephemeral quality of light, suggesting that water, like time, quietly absorbs and reflects the transient beauty of light.

"The far-off water fall can sound asunder / Stillness of distances, as if in blunder, / Tumbling over the rim of all explaining." The waterfall's distant roar disrupts the stillness, its continuous motion defying complete understanding. This image reinforces the theme of nature's inherent mystery and the limits of human comprehension.

"Water proves nothing, but can only maunder. / Shadows show nothing, but can only launder / The lovely land that sunset had been staining." These lines emphasize the idea that both water and shadows, despite their constant presence and movement, reveal little about the deeper truths of existence. They wash over the landscape, cleansing and transforming it, yet their true essence remains elusive.

The poem circles back to the theme of summer and memory: "Here summer stands while all its songs pass under, / A riverbank still time runs by, remaining." The riverbank serves as a metaphor for stability amidst change, a place where the passage of time is both observed and felt. The speaker resolves to remember the fleeting beauty of rainbows: "I will remember rainbows as I wander."

In "Variations on a Fragment by Trumbull Stickney," John Hollander masterfully intertwines imagery of water, light, and landscape to explore the themes of transience and memory. The poem invites readers to contemplate the beauty and impermanence of the natural world, highlighting the delicate balance between enduring essence and fleeting moments. Through its reflective tone and evocative language, the poem captures the timeless dance of light and water, echoing the continual flow of life itself.

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