Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Round" by Weldon Kees is a contemplative, somewhat fragmented meditation on the decay and disarray of life, interspersed with reflections on historical figures and their contrasting reactions to existence. The poem’s repetitive structure mirrors the cyclical nature of thoughts that seem to haunt the speaker, weaving together a tapestry of existential musings and mundane observations.

The poem opens with a literary allusion: "'Wondrous life!' cried Marvell at Appleton House." This reference to Andrew Marvell's poem "Upon Appleton House" invokes a sense of admiration and wonder at life's complexities. However, this tone of wonder quickly contrasts with the more mundane and somber elements that follow. The mention of Renan admiring Jesus Christ "wholeheartedly" introduces a sense of reverence and devotion, yet this too stands in contrast to the decay depicted in the speaker's immediate environment.

Kees describes the physical surroundings with a sense of neglect and deterioration: "here dried ferns keep falling to the floor, / And something inside my head / Flaps like a worn-out blind." The repeated imagery of dried ferns falling to the floor evokes a sense of lifelessness and decay, while the worn-out blind flapping inside the speaker's head suggests a mind in disarray, possibly reflecting mental fatigue or a sense of despondency.

The repetition of "Royal Cortissoz is dead" serves as a refrain, marking a point of loss and the passing of an era. Cortissoz, a prominent art critic, symbolizes a connection to cultural and intellectual heritage that the speaker feels acutely. His death is presented as a blow to the "Herald-Tribune," emphasizing the impact of his absence on the cultural landscape.

The poem interweaves these personal and cultural reflections with more banal observations, such as a mouse rattling the wrapper on the breakfast food, which grounds the poem in the everyday while highlighting the contrast between the trivial and the profound. This juxtaposition is further emphasized by the repetition of Renan's wholehearted admiration for Jesus Christ, contrasting with the speaker's sense of internal and external decay.

Kees also references the artist Cézanne, noting how he "Would break out in the quiet streets of Aix / And shout, 'Le monde, c'est terrible!'" This outburst underscores a recognition of the world's terribleness, a raw and unfiltered reaction to life's hardships and complexities. Cézanne's scream of existential dread contrasts sharply with Marvell's cry of "Wondrous life," creating a tension between differing perspectives on existence.

The poem returns to the lifelessness of the moon, describing it as devoid of twilight, mist, rain, hail, snow, or life. This barren imagery reinforces the sense of emptiness and isolation pervading the speaker's world. The dying ferns and the mouse's activity continue to underscore a setting of decline and neglect.

As the poem cycles back through its repeated phrases, the refrain "Royal Cortissoz is dead" becomes a marker of ongoing loss, and the "flaps like a worn-out blind" continues to symbolize the speaker's mental and emotional exhaustion. The final lines revisit Marvell's cry of "Wondrous life!" at Appleton House, but this exclamation now feels ironic and hollow against the backdrop of the speaker's stark reality.

In "Round," Weldon Kees masterfully blends personal, cultural, and existential reflections into a cyclical narrative that captures the interplay of wonder, reverence, decay, and despair. The poem's structure and repetitive elements mirror the inescapable cycles of thought and experience, ultimately painting a poignant picture of a mind grappling with the contradictions and complexities of life.

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