Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Town of Hill" by Donald Hall is a poignant reflection on a town submerged by the construction of a dam. The poem vividly captures the remnants of life in the town that now lies beneath the water, intertwining images of everyday objects with a dreamlike atmosphere. Through its evocative language, the poem explores themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time.

The poem begins with the setting: "Back of the dam, under a flat pad / of water." This introduction immediately situates the reader in a submerged environment, suggesting a stillness and a sense of burial. The "flat pad of water" creates an image of calmness, yet it is also a boundary that separates the past from the present.

The next lines, "church bells ring in the ears of lilies, a child's swing / curls in the current of a yard," juxtapose sounds and movements associated with life above ground with the underwater setting. The church bells, a symbol of community and tradition, now ring in the ears of lilies, plants that thrive in the water. This blending of human and natural elements emphasizes the transformation of the town. The image of a child's swing curling in the current further evokes a sense of lingering life and nostalgia.

"Horned pout sleep in a green / mailbox" continues the theme of everyday objects repurposed by the underwater environment. The horned pout, a type of fish, sleeping in a mailbox—a symbol of communication and connection—suggests the cessation of human activity and the adaptation of nature to the submerged town.

"A boy walks / from a screened porch beneath / the man-shaped leaves of an oak" introduces a human figure, adding a personal dimension to the poem. The boy's walk from the screened porch, a typical suburban feature, signifies a journey from a familiar, domestic space into the transformed environment. The "man-shaped leaves of an oak" personify nature, hinting at the enduring presence of human influence even in the natural world.

The poem then zooms out to describe the broader scene: "down the street looking at the town / of Hill that water covered forty / years ago." This line grounds the poem in a specific temporal context, emphasizing the long passage of time since the town was submerged. The boy's gaze at the town suggests a contemplation of history and loss, an attempt to connect with a past that is now inaccessible.

The final lines, "and the screen / door shuts under dream water," bring the poem full circle. The shutting screen door, an ordinary sound and action, now occurs "under dream water," blending the real and the surreal. This imagery reinforces the dreamlike quality of the submerged town and the haunting persistence of its memories.

"Town of Hill" by Donald Hall masterfully evokes a sense of melancholic beauty, capturing the submerged remnants of a once-thriving town. Through its rich imagery and careful attention to detail, the poem explores the enduring impact of memory and the quiet, transformative power of nature. It is a meditation on how places and experiences, even when physically altered or erased, continue to resonate in the collective and personal consciousness.

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