Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Beagle or Something" by April Bernard is an evocative poem that intertwines the profound impact of music with the visceral experience of emotional turmoil. Through the lens of listening to a classical piece by a composer humorously remembered as "Beagle or something," the speaker embarks on an introspective journey, reflecting on the beauty of the natural world, the complexities of human emotion, and the quest for solace and understanding amidst suffering.

The poem opens with the speaker in a parked car, enveloped by the "chimes and strings aswirl" of a classical music piece, which serves as both a catalyst for reflection and a mirror to the speaker's emotional state. The mention of the composer's name, misremembered as "Beagle," introduces a tone of informality and humor that contrasts with the depth of the ensuing contemplation. The music, described as "dangerous for one whose eyelids and sockets have been rashing from tears," immediately signals the speaker's vulnerability and the rawness of their emotional pain.

As the speaker gazes at a "smallish maple, fire-gold and half-undone by the wind," the focus shifts from the interiority of the car and the music to the external world. The vivid imagery of the tree, "shaking in itself" against the "shocking blue morning sky," becomes a powerful symbol of resilience, beauty, and transformation. The juxtaposition of the natural scene with the mundane elements of "trucks and telephone wires and dogs and children late to school" highlights the coexistence of the ordinary and the extraordinary, suggesting that moments of profound insight and connection can occur amidst everyday life.

The realization that "it was the tree that caused an uproar" signifies a moment of epiphany for the speaker, as they recognize the tree's tumultuous beauty as a reflection of their own inner turmoil and the presence of a soul they had metaphorically placed "in my chest, the heart being away." This metaphorical soul, "shaking, golden-orange, half-spent but clanging truer than Beagle music," embodies the speaker's struggle, resilience, and the search for authenticity and expression beyond the confines of language and music.

The poem concludes with the speaker's "forehead pressed hard on the steering wheel in petition for release," a gesture that captures the intensity of their desire for relief from emotional pain. This final image, grounded in physicality, contrasts with the ethereal and transcendent qualities of the soul and the music, underscoring the tension between the spiritual and the corporeal, the eternal and the ephemeral.

"Beagle or Something" is a richly layered and beautifully rendered poem that invites readers to consider the ways in which art, nature, and personal reflection intersect to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Through her masterful use of imagery and narrative, April Bernard crafts a poignant meditation on the healing power of beauty and the enduring human capacity for hope and renewal amidst adversity.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Romanticism_Poems/uvh1mZMX1eAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22The+composer%27s+name+was+beagle+or+something%22+bernard&pg=PA19&printsec=frontcover

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...