Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Title: Nursery

"Nursery" is a poem by Fanny Howe, an American poet and novelist. The poem was published in her collection "Selected Poems" in 2000.

Explanation:

The poem is written from the perspective of a speaker who is recalling their memories of a nursery, a place where infants and young children are taken care of. The speaker reminisces about the peaceful and nurturing atmosphere of the nursery, where infants sleep and play while being watched over by caretakers. However, the speaker's memories are disrupted by a sense of loss and melancholy as they reflect on their own mortality and the fleeting nature of human life.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Theme: Memory, mortality, childhood
• Imagery: Imagery of the nursery, the infants and their caretakers, the speaker's memories
• Tone: Nostalgic, melancholic
• Sound: Repetition of "now," as well as alliteration and assonance throughout the poem
• Language: Simple, straightforward language with occasional moments of poetic and philosophical reflection
• Figurative Language: Metaphors comparing life to a "card game" and "invisible letters"
• Structure: Divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza focusing on the nursery and the second stanza reflecting on mortality and the impermanence of life
• Symbolism: The nursery as a symbol of safety and protection, the infants as symbols of innocence and vulnerability
• Emotion: A sense of longing and sadness, mixed with a bittersweet nostalgia for childhood and a recognition of life's transience

Conclusion:

In "Nursery," Fanny Howe evokes a sense of nostalgia for childhood and a longing for safety and protection in the face of life's uncertainties. The poem is a reflection on memory, mortality, and the fleeting nature of human existence, as well as a celebration of the beauty and innocence of childhood. Through the use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and a melancholic yet hopeful tone, Howe creates a deeply moving and emotionally resonant poem.

Poem Snippet:

"In the nursery

infants sleep and wake

as if invisible letters

had arrived by card game."

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