Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Afterwards" by David Baker is a poignant reflection on the rituals of mourning and the communal experience of loss. Set against the backdrop of a funeral under the oppressive heat of the sun, Baker captures the physical and emotional discomfort of the attendees, while also exploring the deeper themes of grief, memory, and the search for solace. Through vivid imagery and careful observation, the poem conveys the weight of saying goodbye and the shared humanity that emerges in moments of collective vulnerability.

The poem begins with the practical details of attending a funeral—"A short ride in the van, then the eight of us / there in the heat"—immediately situating the reader in the midst of a solemn gathering. The physical discomfort of the mourners, with "white shirtsleeves sticking" and "the women’s gloves off," underscores the harsh reality of death's rituals, made all the more intense by the unrelenting sun. The provision of a "big blue tent" serves as a small respite, a gesture of care amid the inescapable heat, symbolizing the attempts to shield oneself from the full force of grief.

As the poem progresses, the focus expands to include the broader community that has come to pay their respects—"The long processional of neighbors, friends, / the town’s elderly, her beauty-shop patrons, / her club’s notables." This enumeration of attendees reflects the deceased's impact on the community and the various roles she played in life. Baker's mention of "The world is full of / prayers arrived at from afterwards" introduces a philosophical reflection on the nature of prayer and mourning, suggesting that our attempts to communicate with the divine or to find meaning in loss often come after the fact, in the aftermath of tragedy.

The imagery of the trees—"Look up through the trees—the hands, the leaves / curled as in self-control or quietly hurting"—evokes a sense of the natural world's participation in the mourning process. The leaves, personified with human attributes, seem to express the range of emotions felt by the mourners: restraint, pain, and eventually, a kind of resignation or release. The comparison of the leaves to hands, "whether from heat or sadness, waving," blurs the line between the human and the natural, suggesting a universal response to loss and the passage of time.

Baker's "Afterwards" is a meditation on the rituals of mourning and the collective experience of facing mortality. Through its detailed portrayal of a funeral and the emotional landscape of those in attendance, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which we come together in moments of sorrow, seeking comfort in the presence of others and in the enduring cycles of the natural world. The poem ultimately offers a contemplation on the gestures, both small and significant, that help us navigate the journey of grief and find a path towards healing and acceptance.

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