Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Elegy for a Nature Poet" by Howard Nemerov is a poignant reflection on the life and death of a poet who found profound meaning in the natural world. The poem captures the essence of the poet's relationship with nature, his contemplative walks, and his eventual demise, all while considering the ironies and harsh realities of life.

The poem begins by situating the poet's final walk in October, a time often associated with change and decline. October, being a "favorite season," suggests a deep connection with this period of transformation. The imagery of the "covered bridge, / Most natural of all the works of reason," serves as a metaphor for the transition between life and death, a crossing from one state of being to another. The poet is described as engaging in simple, familiar activities: rattling his stick along the hedge, observing the changes in the bushes, and noting the late meadow larks. These actions reflect his deep engagement with the details of the natural world.

Despite his rapture with nature, the poet's practical neglect leads to his death: "He died / Of a catarrh caught in the autumn rains / And let go on uncared for." The line "He was too rapt / In contemplation to recall that brains / Like his should not be kept too long uncapped / In the wet and cold weather" underscores the irony that his deep immersion in nature, which brought him so much joy, ultimately contributed to his demise. This ironic twist is not lost on those who mourn him, as they reflect on his imprudence and the harsh turn of nature against him.

Nemerov emphasizes the poet's unique ability to find meaning in everything: "His gift was daily his delight, he peeled / The landscape back to show it was a story." The poet's skill in revealing allegories in both grand and trivial elements of nature—whether "from mountain range or humble vermin"—highlights his exceptional interpretive power. The phrase "crack the stone to get the sermon" captures his relentless pursuit of deeper truths hidden within the natural world.

The elegy laments the loss of the poet and the impact of his absence on the landscape he once interpreted so vividly. Without him, "the field reverts to wilderness again," and "the rocks are silent, woods don't seem the same." This personification of nature grieving his loss suggests that his presence imbued the landscape with meaning and order, and now, without him, it returns to a state of chaos and indifference. The image of "demoralized small birds will fly insane" poignantly illustrates the disarray that follows his passing.

In the final lines, Nemerov addresses the poet's relationship with nature, which he loved to idealize and even imagined as a union: "Rude Nature, whom he loved to idealize / And would have wed, pretends she never heard / His voice at all." This depiction of nature as indifferent to his devotion underscores the ultimate indifference of the natural world to human affection and interpretation. The poet, who spent his life giving voice to nature, now faces it in silence as he goes to her "without a word."

"Elegy for a Nature Poet" is a beautifully crafted meditation on the intersections of art, nature, and mortality. Nemerov honors the poet's life and work while acknowledging the inherent ironies and harsh truths of his devotion to nature. The poem invites readers to reflect on the delicate balance between human interpretation and the indifferent reality of the natural world, and it poignantly captures the enduring legacy of a poet whose life was intertwined with the rhythms of nature.

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