Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

David Wagoner’s "Finale" is an evocative meditation on decay, change, and the passage of time, illustrated through the disintegration of a once-inhabited house. The poem blends vivid imagery with metaphor to portray the physical and symbolic dismantling of a structure, offering a poignant reflection on impermanence and the natural reclamation of human spaces.

The poem opens with the striking image of a house being "torn," its floors shredded to reveal "thoroughfares of termite / To weather and the light." This portrayal of decay serves as both a literal description of structural collapse and a metaphor for the gradual erosion of human endeavors by nature and time. The reference to termites highlights the inevitability of natural forces asserting themselves, even over carefully constructed spaces. The juxtaposition of "weather and the light" against the darkness of hidden termite paths suggests an unanticipated unveiling, a revelation of what lies beneath the surface.

As the walls are "broken," Wagoner introduces the surreal and unexpected beauty of destruction: "curious hanging gardens" sway in the air, formed by "lathwork and wire." This imagery evokes a sense of transformation, as the remnants of the house take on an almost organic quality, becoming a new kind of landscape. The description underscores the interplay between human-made structures and the natural world, emphasizing that even in ruin, there is a strange and unexpected vitality.

The poem’s focus shifts to the altered perception of the house’s spaces. "Different doors" appear in unexpected places: in ceilings, under stairs, and in the form of a "high Judas window" through which "the sun looks through." These openings symbolize both literal and figurative breaches in the house’s integrity, suggesting new perspectives and the relentless intrusion of the outside world into what was once a private, enclosed domain. The sun’s gaze through the "Judas window" carries an undertone of judgment, as though the house’s decay is a betrayal of its original purpose.

Wagoner then draws attention to the surrounding environment, which has also undergone a transformation. The "narrowing path" now runs beneath "ragweed," a plant often associated with abandonment and neglect, while "broken glass / Blooms where the iris was." This imagery emphasizes the stark contrast between the cultivated beauty of the past and the wild, unrestrained growth of the present. The glass, a remnant of human presence, ironically becomes a new kind of "bloom," illustrating nature?s capacity to reclaim and repurpose even the most unnatural elements.

The final stanza shifts focus to a field beyond the house, where "the old gruff billygoat mourns." This figure serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and memory, with his "marvelous horns" curving "backward" in an echo of the past. The billygoat’s mourning suggests a sense of loss not only for the house but also for the time and history it represents. The backward curve of his horns becomes a poignant image of retrospection, underscoring the weight of years and the inevitability of change.

"Finale" is a richly layered poem that reflects on the transient nature of human creations and the inexorable forces of time and nature. Through vivid and sometimes surreal imagery, Wagoner captures the beauty and melancholy of decay, illustrating how destruction can give rise to new forms and perspectives. The house, once a symbol of shelter and stability, becomes a canvas for transformation, while the billygoat’s presence adds an emotional depth that ties the poem’s themes of loss and continuity together. In its exploration of the interplay between the constructed and the natural, "Finale" offers a moving reminder of life’s cyclical, ever-changing essence.

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