Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Donald Hall’s poem "Merle Bascom's .22" intricately weaves together themes of memory, inheritance, and the complex relationship between the past and the present. Through the lens of a Mossberg .22 rifle, the poem explores the narrator’s journey from boyhood to old age, highlighting the ways in which objects can carry deep emotional and symbolic significance.

The poem opens with a nostalgic recollection of the narrator receiving the .22 rifle from his father at the age of twelve. The rifle, described with meticulous detail, "hand-made, with a short octagonal barrel, stylish as an Indianfighter posing for a photograph," serves as a potent symbol of the bond between father and son. The act of shooting at coffee cans, both "competitive and companionable," underscores the blend of camaraderie and rivalry that often characterizes father-son relationships. The father's trembling hands foreshadow the passing of time and the inevitability of decline.

As the poem progresses, the rifle becomes a companion in the narrator’s life, used in various contexts and stages. It is a tool for pest control, protecting the garden from woodchucks, which metaphorically represents the narrator's attempts to manage and maintain his life’s order. The rifle’s presence in the closet behind the woodstove ties it to the narrator's past, his roots, and the continuity of his family history.

The poem takes a poignant turn with the arrival of an old friend recovering from a nervous breakdown. The act of hiding the rifle, "wrapped the octagonal Mossberg in a burlap bag and concealed it under boards in the old grainshed," signifies the narrator’s protective instincts and the need to create a safe space for healing. This gesture also highlights the tension between the past's violent potential and the present's fragile peace.

Hall’s reflection on the passage of time is evident in the narrator’s realization that "another year had passed" while he was absorbed in reading Plutarch. This moment of awareness is accompanied by the choir’s hymn, "the still small voice of calm," which becomes a contemplative backdrop to the narrator's musings about life and death. The hymn's mention at the narrator’s imagined funeral reflects his growing consciousness of mortality.

The discovery of the rifle, "hardly rusted," prompts a reverie about the narrator’s father and the trembling hands that once aimed it. This connection to the past is further deepened by the news of a forthcoming grandchild, which triggers a complex mix of emotions. The narrator's daydream about a future with his granddaughter is abruptly interrupted by a "fit of revulsion," expressing a profound existential fatigue and the daunting prospect of repeating life's cycle.

The poem reaches a climax with the narrator’s recollection of a near-fatal car accident. The fleeting moment of anticipated death brings a rush of "joy fired through my body," juxtaposed against the "torment and terror" that follows his survival. This episode encapsulates the narrator's ambivalence towards life and death, revealing a deep-seated desire for escape from the burdens of existence.

In the final part of the poem, the narrator's decision to drive to his friend Paul's house to hide the rifle’s firing pin signifies a crucial step towards relinquishing the violent legacy of the past. Paul's silent acceptance of the firing pin symbolizes a tacit understanding and solidarity. The narrator's acknowledgment that he "cannot throw it away; it was my father's gift" underscores the enduring emotional weight of the rifle as a familial heirloom.

"Merle Bascom's .22" masterfully captures the intricate interplay between memory, legacy, and the passage of time. Through the rifle, Hall explores themes of inheritance, the cyclical nature of life, and the struggle to reconcile with one's past. The poem’s rich imagery and reflective tone invite readers to ponder their own connections to objects and memories that shape their identities. In doing so, Hall illuminates the universal human experience of grappling with the legacies we inherit and the choices we make in the face of an uncertain future.

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