Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Hewitt?s "On Reading Wallace Stevens Collected Poems After Many Years" offers a pointed critique of Wallace Stevens? poetic style while simultaneously highlighting Hewitt?s own preferences in poetry. Through its sharp diction and structured critique, the poem juxtaposes Stevens’ richly layered, image-laden verse with an alternative poetics that values concision and precision.

The poem begins with an almost dismissive tone, describing Stevens as an "artificer of chiaroscuro." This phrase acknowledges Stevens? craftsmanship and his mastery of light and shadow, metaphorically speaking, in his poetry. However, by situating him "on the high shelf with all those phrase-bound poets," Hewitt aligns Stevens with a tradition of poets who prioritize elaborate language and complex metaphor. The mention of being "padded with pedant’s resonance" further critiques the intellectual density and ornamental quality of Stevens? work, suggesting that it can become overly self-referential or weighed down by its own cleverness.

Hewitt’s critique sharpens with the imagery of poets "ballooned with bouncing echoes of their paladins." Here, the metaphor likens Stevens and his ilk to inflated figures echoing their literary predecessors, a possible nod to Stevens? own allusions and philosophical musings that often reference and respond to earlier poetic traditions. This image suggests an excess or bloat, as though the poetry becomes unwieldy or overly derivative despite its grandeur.

In the second stanza, Hewitt pivots to articulate his own aesthetic preferences. He champions "crisp neat-witted fellows" who are "sharp and laconic," contrasting Stevens? expansive, multi-layered style with a pared-down, minimalist approach. This emphasis on brevity and clarity suggests Hewitt’s appreciation for poets who wield language economically, making "one word do" instead of employing elaborate phrases or extended metaphors.

The lines "the clipped couplet, the pointing syllables, / the clean-beaked sentence, the exact look" form a rhythmic, precise catalog of Hewitt’s ideals in poetic composition. These phrases evoke a sense of directness and focus, emphasizing form and function over decorative complexity. The metaphor of a "clean-beaked sentence" vividly encapsulates Hewitt?s vision of language as sharp, efficient, and purposeful, much like a bird?s beak designed for specific tasks.

Hewitt’s poem, while critical of Stevens, also implicitly acknowledges the value and influence of Stevens? work. By engaging with Stevens? poetic legacy, Hewitt underscores the enduring significance of his intricate and philosophical verse. However, Hewitt’s advocacy for an alternative style—one that is direct, concise, and grounded—speaks to the diversity of poetic expression and the varying demands of readers and writers.

In this way, "On Reading Wallace Stevens Collected Poems After Many Years" becomes more than a critique; it is a declaration of poetic taste and an invitation to consider the spectrum of styles that enrich the literary tradition. By juxtaposing Stevens’ lush verbosity with his own preference for "exact look" and "sharp" language, Hewitt celebrates the diversity of poetic voices while asserting his allegiance to clarity and economy in verse.

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