Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Memo," by Kenneth Fearing, is a poignant and contemplative poem that captures the fleeting nature of memory and the impermanence of significant moments in life. Through vivid imagery and reflective questions, the narrator explores the resonance of a past encounter against the backdrop of the present, revealing how memories can be both cherished and elusive.

The poem begins with a reflective inquiry: "Is there still any shadow there, on the rainwet window of / the coffee pot, / Between the haberdasher's and the pinball arcade." The specific placement of "the coffee pot, / Between the haberdasher's and the pinball arcade" grounds the memory in a precise, almost nostalgic location. The "rainwet window" evokes a sense of melancholy, setting a reflective mood as the narrator looks back on a past moment.

The narrator recalls the encounter with warmth and intimacy: "There, where we stood one night in the warm, fine rain, / and smoked and laughed and talked." The description of "warm, fine rain" adds a tactile element to the memory, while the shared activities of smoking, laughing, and talking suggest a moment of connection and joy. This memory contrasts with the present, prompting the narrator to ask, "Is there now any sound at all, / Other than the sound of tires, and motors, and hurrying / feet."

In the present moment, the familiar sounds of the city—tires, motors, and hurrying feet—seem to drown out any echoes of the past. However, the narrator hopes that a trace of the past remains: "Is there on tonight's damp, heelpocked pavement / somewhere the mark of a certain toe, an especial nail, / or the butt of a particular dropped cigarette?" These details represent the tangible remnants of the encounter, and the specificity of "a certain toe," "an especial nail," and "a particular dropped cigarette" underscores the uniqueness of the memory.

The narrator insists that these traces must still exist: "(There must be, there has to be, no heart could beat if this / were not so, / That was an hour, a glittering hour, an important hour in a / tremendous year)." The repetition of "there has to be" conveys a sense of urgency and determination to hold onto the memory. The "glittering hour" is portrayed as "an important hour in a tremendous year," highlighting its significance in the narrator's life.

The memory is further elaborated upon: "Where we talked for a while of life and love, of logic and the / senses, of you and of me, character and fate, pain, / revolution, victory and death." The wide range of topics—life, love, logic, character, fate, pain, revolution, victory, and death—suggests an intimate and deeply meaningful conversation. The comprehensive nature of the discussion reflects the depth of the connection between the narrator and the other person.

The poem concludes with a return to the initial question: "Is there tonight any shadow, at all, / Other than the shadows that stop for a moment and then / hurry past the windows blurred by the same warm, / slow, still rain?" The repetition of "any shadow, at all" emphasizes the narrator's longing for a trace of the past. However, the "shadows that stop for a moment and then / hurry past" reflect the transience of time and the inability to hold onto specific moments forever.

Structurally, "Memo" is written in free verse, allowing Fearing to fluidly transition between past and present, building a narrative that is both introspective and vivid. The poem's lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter reflects the irregular and often elusive nature of memory.

In "Memo," Kenneth Fearing creates a poignant meditation on memory, connection, and the passage of time. The poem beautifully captures the struggle to preserve significant moments against the relentless march of time, ultimately revealing the fragility of human connections and the impermanence of even the most treasured memories.

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