Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"I Only Am Escaped Alone to Tell Thee" by Howard Nemerov is a haunting and vivid poem that explores themes of memory, transformation, and the passage of time through intricate and evocative imagery. The title, a direct reference to the Book of Job and Herman Melville’s *Moby-Dick*, sets a tone of isolation and survival in the face of overwhelming forces.

The poem begins with the speaker recalling a woman, seen at "the dark entrance of the hall." The description of the gas lamp near her shoulder casts a dual light, illuminating both sides of her and creating a reflection in "the long inaccurate glass." This mirror, described as reflecting "pictures...as troubled water," suggests a distorted and unclear representation of reality, hinting at the themes of memory and perception.

The shadow cast on the floor is described with unsettling imagery: "A giant crab readying to walk, / Or a blanket moving in its sleep." This shadow, which "had its hand / Between us," introduces an element of tension and unease, suggesting a barrier or an ominous presence between the speaker and the woman.

The poem then shifts to a more reflective tone, as the speaker invites the reader to remember the woman with a sense of nostalgia, albeit influenced by cinematic portrayals: "You will remember, with a smile / Instructed by movies to reminisce." This introduces a critical view of how media shapes our recollections and perceptions of the past.

The woman’s strict corsets and elaborate hair are highlighted as symbols of restraint and rigidity: "How strict her corsets must have been, / How the huge arrangements of her hair / Would certainly betray the least / Impassionate displacement there." These elements suggest a controlled and constrained existence, one that could only be disrupted by significant change, such as marriage: "It was no rig for dallying, / And maybe only marriage could / Derange that queenly scaffolding."

The metaphor of a ship coming home, with sails dropping and tackle loosing, is used to illustrate the idea of transformation and release: "As when a great ship, coming home, / Coasts in the harbor, dropping sail / And loosing all the tackle that had laced / Her in the long lanes." This image captures the transition from rigidity to freedom, paralleling the woman's shift from her structured appearance to a more natural state.

Nemerov acknowledges that the metaphor need not be drawn out explicitly but connects the imagery back to its origins: "But all that whalebone came from whales. / And all the whales lived in the sea, / In calm beneath the troubled glass, / Until the needle drew their blood." This return to the source of the whalebone, used in the woman’s corsets, ties the personal transformation back to the natural world and the violent act of whaling.

The poem culminates with a powerful image of the woman standing in the hall, where the mirror is "lashed to blood and foam," and "the black flukes of agony / Beat at the air till the light blows out." This vivid and dramatic conclusion evokes the chaos and pain associated with whaling, drawing a parallel to the inner turmoil and transformation experienced by the woman.

"I Only Am Escaped Alone to Tell Thee" by Howard Nemerov is a richly layered poem that uses detailed imagery and metaphor to explore themes of memory, transformation, and the passage of time. Through its evocative descriptions and reflective tone, the poem invites readers to consider the complex interplay between personal history, perception, and the forces that shape our lives.

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