Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Way of Life" offers a satirical and incisive commentary on contemporary American culture as mediated through television. By juxtaposing scenes of violence, advertising, and banal domesticity, Nemerov critiques the pervasive influence of media and its normalization of extreme behavior and commercialism.

The poem begins with an almost indifferent observation: "It's been going on a long time." This line sets the tone for the entire piece, suggesting a sense of resignation and familiarity with the depicted scenes. The narrative then shifts to two men "slogging through sun and sand," fleeing a crime scene. The sudden and casual violence—one man "smacks / His buddy flat with the flat of an axe"—is presented as a routine occurrence. The speaker's detached reaction, viewing it as "normal than sad," underscores the desensitization to violence fostered by constant media exposure.

Nemerov highlights the interruption of such grim scenes with commercials, which offer starkly contrasting imagery. The mention of "a pale beauty / Smoking a filter beside a mountain stream" provides a brief, idyllic escape from the ongoing narrative of violence. This transition from brutality to serene advertising illustrates the disjointed reality that television presents, where extreme opposites coexist seamlessly.

The poem continues with a critique of melodramatic tropes in media: a "lean young lunkhead" with a gun confesses to beating up his grandmother and pawning her chair in a state of "existential despair." This hyperbolic scenario reflects the sensationalism often found in television dramas, where personal and societal issues are exaggerated for effect.

Nemerov's portrayal of the American Dream is filled with irony. The "sheriff and posse" represent justice and order, but their actions are described as "considerable horsing around," implying inefficiency and triviality. The eventual triumph of Justice, symbolized by the villain's defeat, is undercut by the introduction of a "kindly uncle" offering syrup for a cough, further trivializing serious themes with mundane resolutions.

The poem then transitions to a science fiction scenario, where "clean-cut athletic types / In global hats" debate nervously between their rocket ships. This scene, set in an "atmosphere of hate," mirrors Cold War anxieties and the pervasive sense of conflict even in imagined futures. The absurdity peaks with the image of an "angel food cake" fluttering in the void, blending domesticity with the cosmic, and highlighting the bizarre juxtapositions that television creates.

In the final stanzas, Nemerov reflects on his own engagement with this mediated reality. He acknowledges the violence and strife in American life but also notes the presence of "a lot of love, too, mixed with the strife, / And kitchen-kindness." This mixture of tenderness and brutality reflects the complex and often contradictory nature of human experience as portrayed on television.

The poem closes with the speaker maintaining a state of wary readiness: "Still, I keep my weapons handy, sitting here / Smoking and shaving and drinking the dry beer." This image of vigilance amidst ordinary activities encapsulates the poem's critique of contemporary life, where the boundaries between violence and normalcy, reality and fiction, are blurred.

"Way of Life" by Howard Nemerov is a nuanced and critical exploration of how television shapes and reflects American culture. Through its vivid and often absurd imagery, the poem underscores the normalization of violence and the trivialization of serious issues, revealing the disorienting and fragmented nature of modern media consumption. Nemerov invites readers to reflect on the pervasive impact of television on their perceptions and values, highlighting the need for critical engagement with the mediated realities we consume.

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