Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Again" is a lyrical reflection on the cyclical nature of seasons, capturing the poignant beauty and inevitable decay of autumn. The poem employs vivid imagery and a contemplative tone to explore the gradual transition from the vibrant colors of October to the bleakness of winter.

The poem opens with an invocation to the "great season" to "sing it through again," emphasizing the recurring and familiar cycle of nature. The request to sing "before we fall asleep" suggests a desire to fully experience and savor the season’s changes before they pass. This line sets the stage for a meditation on the slow transformation that characterizes autumn.

Nemerov vividly describes October’s "slow change / That makes October burn out red and gold." The imagery of the landscape "burning out" captures the intensity and brilliance of autumn foliage, which is contrasted with the inevitable fading and dying of color as the season progresses. The phrase "color bleed into the world and die" evokes a sense of both beauty and loss, highlighting the ephemeral nature of the season's splendor.

The poem continues with the image of "butterflies among the fluttering leaves," which "disguise themselves until the few last leaves / Spin to the ground or to the skimming streams." This personification of butterflies blending with the leaves underscores the theme of camouflage and transformation. The falling leaves, carried by the streams until they sink, symbolize the end of the vibrant life of summer and autumn, transitioning into the dormancy of winter.

Nemerov further deepens the sense of decay with the description of the forest floor: "the nevergreen / Needles and mull and duff of the forest floor." The use of "nevergreen" contrasts with the usual evergreen connotation, suggesting a landscape that is permanently altered by the seasonal cycle. The forest floor, covered in decaying needles and organic matter, represents the culmination of the season’s changes.

The wind, described as "ashen," introduces a somber and desolate tone as the poem moves towards the arrival of winter. The line "till one afternoon / The cold snow cloud comes down the intervale" marks the transition from autumn to winter. The "intervale," or low-lying land near the river, becomes the stage for the first signs of snow.

The final lines of the poem depict the first snowfall: "Above the river on whose slow black flood / The few first flakes come hurrying in to drown." The contrast between the "slow black flood" of the river and the "few first flakes" of snow highlights the starkness of the changing season. The imagery of the snowflakes "hurrying in to drown" suggests both urgency and the inevitability of winter’s arrival, completing the cycle.

In "Again," Howard Nemerov masterfully captures the essence of autumn and its transition to winter. The poem’s rich imagery and contemplative tone invite readers to reflect on the beauty and impermanence of the natural world. Through his detailed observations, Nemerov conveys the cyclical nature of life and the bittersweet passage of time, reminding us of the continuous and ever-changing rhythms of the seasons.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Selected_Poems_of_Howard_Nemerov/z6YuZdJAzBwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=GREAT%20SEASON

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