Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Memorial Day" by Michael Anania is a poignant and evocative poem that captures the essence of visiting a cemetery on Memorial Day. The poem opens with a sense of forgetfulness or uncertainty – "It is easily forgotten, year to year, exactly where the plot is" – suggesting both the passage of time and the blurring of specific memories. Yet, despite this initial uncertainty, the setting is intimately familiar, signaling the ritualistic nature of the visit.

The poem paints a vivid picture of the cemetery, with a willow tree by a curving road, its leaves gently sweeping the black asphalt. This imagery creates a serene and contemplative atmosphere. The details of "damp grass strewn with flower boxes, canvas chairs, dark-skinned old ladies circling in draped black crepe" further add to the somber yet communal nature of the occasion.

Anania pays close attention to the physical details of the visitors, particularly the older women – their "fingers cramped red at the knuckles, discolored nails" – as they engage in the tender act of planting new flowers and tending to the graves. This act of care and remembrance is a central theme of the poem, highlighting the connection between the living and the dead.

The presence of a single water faucet, described as "birdlike upon its grey pipe stem," is a subtle yet powerful symbol in the poem. It suggests life, sustenance, and continuity amidst the backdrop of death and remembrance.

The poem also touches on the storytelling aspect of such gatherings, where families share stories and recount memories. This communal sharing acts as a way of keeping the memory of the deceased alive. The brilliance of the morning and the sunlight filtering through the willow tree provide a contrast to the somber activity, perhaps suggesting the ongoing cycle of life and death.

The poem concludes with an introspective note, acknowledging the physical and emotional challenge of navigating the cemetery – "the way is lost, that we have no practiced step there, and walking, our own sway and balance, fails us." This ending speaks to the universal experience of loss and the difficulty of coming to terms with it, even as it becomes a part of our annual rituals.

Overall, "Memorial Day" is a deeply moving exploration of memory, loss, and the rituals of remembrance. Through its vivid imagery and thoughtful observations, the poem captures the solemn beauty of Memorial Day commemorations.

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