Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Updike's poem "Commencement, Pingree School" captures a quintessentially American ritual—the high school graduation ceremony—with his characteristic attentiveness to detail and subtext. Set in an affluent environment, evident from references like "North Shore tennis tans" and seersucker clothing, the poem explores themes of transition, accomplishment, and the bittersweet nature of parental pride.

The poem begins with the speaker, presumably a parent, observing the setting and his surroundings. The "lovely tent of white" and the leisurely attire suggest a comfortable, upper-middle-class setting, one that is both celebratory and somewhat performative. The use of "tennis tans" and "seersucker" immediately places the reader in a specific social milieu, one associated with leisure and privilege.

The imagery used by Updike is vivid and evocative. "Slim boughs of blossom tap the tent and stamp / Their shadows like a bower on the cloth." Here, the natural beauty of the environment interplays with the man-made setting of the graduation tent, symbolizing how these students' nurtured, cultivated educational experiences are about to intersect with the natural, less predictable course of their adult lives.

The procession of graduates is likened to moths drawn to a flame, a metaphor that suggests both the allure of achievement and the potential danger of what lies ahead. This moment of graduation is both a culmination and a point of vulnerability, as these young adults are poised on the cusp of the larger, more daunting world.

The "Master," likely a school official, and the orderly proceedings ("Music. Prayer.") underscore the ceremony and tradition involved in such communal rites of passage. The reference to "Class loyalty" hints at the deep bonds formed over the years, now to be fundamentally changed as each graduate takes a step towards individual futures.

The poem's ending, "A paper of divorce and endless leave," is particularly poignant. The diploma is seen not just as a certificate of achievement but as a severance, a formal conclusion to a familiar and structured phase of life. This "divorce" from childhood and school life is final and irrevocable.

Furthermore, the appearance of "Daddy with a Nikon" captures the blend of personal moment and universal experience. The action of taking a photograph is both an attempt to preserve a fleeting moment and a cliché, a ritual enacted in countless similar ceremonies across the country and over generations. This small action highlights the personal significance of the event for each family, even within the ceremony's formal, somewhat impersonal context.

In "Commencement, Pingree School," Updike offers not just a snapshot of a graduation day but also a reflection on the passage of time, the ambivalence of progress, and the universal human desire to capture and hold onto significant life moments. Through detailed imagery and nuanced language, he elevates a common event into a profound communal and personal milestone.

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