Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Louis Simpson’s poem "Lilies of the Field" is a poignant exploration of displacement, survival, and the quiet resilience of immigrants who find themselves in a new world, far from the chaos and trauma of their past. Through a juxtaposition of vivid wartime memories and the present-day tranquility of rural Vermont, Simpson weaves a narrative that highlights the contrast between past suffering and current peace, while subtly commenting on the ways people adapt—or struggle to adapt—to new environments.

The poem begins with a chaotic and frightening scene from the past, presumably during World War II. The imagery is immediate and visceral: "The road is full of people, cars and carts, bicycles. / A Heinkel flies over... everyone is screaming and running." The mention of the Heinkel, a German bomber, situates the scene during the war, as people scramble for safety, driven by fear and urgency. The speaker and others find temporary refuge by a river, where they try to find some relief by dipping their feet in the water. However, the tranquility of the moment is overshadowed by the sense of dislocation captured in the German quote: "Seltsam, / alles, was sich bezog, so lose im Raum flattern zu zehen." Translated, it means, "Strange, / all that was together, now loose, flying away in space." This line encapsulates the profound sense of loss and fragmentation that war brings—everything that once was stable and connected is now scattered and untethered.

The narrative then shifts to a more specific memory, possibly of the speaker or someone close to them, trying to escape from France. The interaction with the Chief of Police, who cynically raises the price for help when the speaker asks for a seat for a woman, underscores the desperation and exploitation that often accompany such perilous situations. The stark contrast between this harrowing past and the mundane details of the present is further explored in the second part of the poem.

Anna, a central figure in this narrative, enters the scene in a domestic setting, bringing a tray and pouring tea—a simple act that contrasts sharply with the earlier scenes of chaos. Her initial silence, coupled with her description of her husband, suggests a life of quiet endurance. Her admiration for her husband, who once captivated her with his "long nose, lines of hair combed across his baldness," speaks to the depth of their shared history, one that includes her schooldays in Düsseldorf, running in a field with a hockey stick, and attending a cabaret in Berlin where she first saw Walter on stage. These memories provide glimpses of a life before displacement, when Anna was a young woman in Germany, full of energy and hope.

The couple now lives in Vermont, a place that symbolizes stability and a new beginning. The pastoral setting, with Anna still wearing her hair "braided like a schoolgirl" and Walter leaning on a gate, contrasts sharply with their past in Europe. Walter's book, *River of Remembrance*, which sold only thirteen hundred copies, represents both his attempt to hold onto the past and the limited recognition he receives in his new country. The title of his book suggests a flow of memory, a connection to what once was, even as they live quietly in the present.

The poem’s title, "Lilies of the Field," references the biblical passage from the Gospel of Matthew, which speaks to the idea of trusting in God's provision: "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin." This reference implies a life lived in simple faith, without the anxieties that once dominated their lives. Despite their past struggles and the cultural challenges they face in America, Anna and Walter have found a way to live modestly, relying on the goodwill of others and the simple joys of life.

Simpson concludes the poem with a reflection on the couple's integration into their new environment. While Walter, with his thick accent and perhaps more entrenched attachment to the past, remains somewhat of an outsider—travelers struggle to understand him—Anna has adapted more fully. Her English has improved, and she "fitted right in," symbolizing the different ways in which immigrants navigate their new lives.

"Lilies of the Field" is a meditation on the journey from trauma to tranquility, from displacement to belonging. Simpson captures the tension between past and present, between the horrors of war and the peacefulness of a new life in Vermont. The poem subtly underscores the idea that while the past is never truly left behind, it is possible to find peace and purpose in a new place, living "like the lilies of the field"—rooted in the present, yet forever shaped by the past.

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