Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s poem "Calendar: Old Days (October)" captures the poignancy of revisiting a familiar place and reflecting on the changes brought about by time and the passing seasons. Through vivid yet economical imagery, Creeley evokes a sense of nostalgia, the impermanence of nature, and the subtle shifts that occur within both the landscape and the self. The poem’s structure and language are characteristically minimal, allowing each word and image to resonate with layers of meaning.

The poem opens with the line "River’s old look from summers ago," which immediately establishes a temporal shift and introduces a sense of reflection. The phrase "River’s old look" evokes familiarity, suggesting that the speaker is recalling a version of the river from a previous time—specifically, "summers ago." The idea of an "old look" implies that the river, once known intimately, has changed over the intervening years. It also hints at a comparison between the past and the present, setting the stage for the speaker';s contemplation of the passage of time.

The line "we’d come to swim" adds a personal element to the scene, revealing that this place holds cherished memories for the speaker. The use of "we’d" indicates a shared experience, perhaps with friends or family, further enhancing the nostalgic tone. The act of swimming in the river evokes a sense of freedom and connection with nature, suggesting a simpler, more carefree time.

"Now yellow, yellow rustling, flickering / leaves in sun" shifts the focus to the current moment, emphasizing the changes that have occurred in the landscape. The repetition of "yellow" draws attention to the color of the leaves, which signifies autumn—a season associated with transition and decline. The words "rustling" and "flickering" convey movement, suggesting the liveliness of the leaves in the wind and the play of sunlight through them. This imagery evokes a sense of beauty but also impermanence, as the leaves are in the process of falling, marking the end of a cycle.

"Middle of October / water’s up, high sky’s blue," provides a clear temporal setting, grounding the poem in the middle of autumn. The image of "water’s up" implies that the river level has risen, possibly due to seasonal rains, and this change in the river’s condition contrasts with the memory of the summer swims. The "high sky’s blue" evokes a sense of openness and expansiveness, adding a serene, contemplative quality to the scene. The juxtaposition of the raised water and the clear blue sky suggests both change and continuity—elements of the landscape are in flux, yet some things remain constant.

"Bank’s mud’s moved, / edge is / closer," focuses on the physical changes in the riverbank. The movement of the "bank’s mud" signifies erosion or shifting boundaries, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the landscape. The "edge is / closer" suggests that the river has encroached upon what was once solid ground, bringing the boundary of the water nearer than it was during those past summers. This change in the river’s geography symbolizes the inevitable shifts that occur over time—both in the physical world and in the speaker';s internal landscape.

The final line, "nearer than then," carries a poignant resonance. The word "nearer" implies both physical proximity and an emotional closeness. The river, once a place of carefree joy, now feels different, altered, and perhaps more intimately connected to the speaker’s present state of mind. The phrase "nearer than then" could also suggest that the past, while distant, remains close in memory, the experience of revisiting this place bringing those old days closer to the surface. This dual sense of closeness—both physical and emotional—highlights the complexity of memory and the layered nature of revisiting familiar places.

Structurally, the poem’s short lines and enjambment create a sense of movement, mirroring the flow of the river and the shifting nature of memory. The lack of punctuation allows the images to flow seamlessly, creating an impressionistic effect that captures both the physical landscape and the speaker’s emotional response to it. Creeley’s choice of language is sparse yet evocative, each word carefully chosen to convey both the beauty of the scene and the underlying sense of loss or change.

"Calendar: Old Days (October)" is a meditation on the passage of time, the changes in the natural world, and the enduring power of memory. Through the imagery of the river and the autumn landscape, Creeley reflects on how places that once held significant meaning can transform over the years, becoming both familiar and unfamiliar. The poem evokes a sense of nostalgia for the past while acknowledging the inevitability of change. By focusing on the small, specific details of the scene—the yellow leaves, the rising water, the shifting mud—Creeley captures the essence of both the fleeting beauty of nature and the complex emotions that come with revisiting old memories. Ultimately, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which time alters both the physical world and our relationship to it, and how these changes bring us closer to an understanding of ourselves and our past.

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