Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Life Cycle of Common Man" offers a satirical yet poignant examination of an ordinary individual's life, emphasizing the mundane, repetitive aspects of existence and the ultimately transient nature of human achievements. Through its detailed inventory of the average man's consumption and activities, the poem highlights themes of materialism, the cyclical nature of daily routines, and the inevitable passage into silence.

The poem begins with a quantified description of the man's consumption: "just under half a million cigarettes, / Four thousand fifths of gin and about / A quarter as much vermouth." This meticulous accounting sets the tone for the rest of the poem, focusing on the numerical and material aspects of life. The man's consumption of "a hundred thousand cups of coffee" and the estimated cost of "half a million dollars" to support him through life paint a picture of a life measured in tangible, consumable goods.

Nemerov then shifts to the more abstract cost of the man's existence, pondering the countless animals that "Died to provide him with meat, belt and shoes." This consideration of the unseen and often unacknowledged sacrifices made for human convenience underscores the man's position within a broader ecological and economic system. The line "it is in this way that a man travels through time, / Leaving behind him a lengthening trail / Of empty bottles and bones" encapsulates the cumulative impact of his existence, reduced to a trail of waste and remnants.

The poem's focus then broadens to encompass the man's daily activities: "The usual things, of course, / The eating, dreaming, drinking and begetting." These repetitive actions, necessary to sustain life, are portrayed as a cycle that perpetuates itself: "he worked for the money which was to pay / For the eating, et cetera, which were necessary / If he were to go on working for the money, et cetera." This cyclical nature of existence underscores the mundane reality of many lives, driven by the need to sustain themselves.

A significant portion of the poem is devoted to the man's speech: "chiefly he talked." Nemerov humorously quantifies the man's words, noting that even printing all his commas would produce "a very large volume." The mundane phrases—"thank you" or "very little sugar, please"—are given weight, suggesting that these simple, everyday utterances form the bulk of human communication. The poem acknowledges the "Witticisms, platitudes, and statements" that punctuate this speech, reflecting the small moments of individuality and personality within the broader pattern of repetitive language.

The poem culminates in a reflection on the man's courage: "Consider the courage in all that, and behold the man / Walking into deep silence." This image of the man moving towards silence, with his "cartoon's balloon of speech proceeding / Steadily out of the front of his face," captures the inevitable progression towards death and the cessation of speech. The "words / Borne along on the breath which is his spirit" highlights the intrinsic connection between language and life, with the breath symbolizing both vitality and the fleeting nature of existence.

In the final lines, Nemerov reflects on the man's legacy: "telling the numberless tale of his untold Word / Which makes the world his apple, and forces him to eat." This suggests that despite the mundane and repetitive aspects of life, each individual contributes to the broader narrative of human existence. The "untold Word" signifies the unique, albeit often unremarkable, story of each person, while the world as "his apple" symbolizes the endless cycle of consumption and existence.

In "Life Cycle of Common Man," Nemerov uses humor, detailed imagery, and reflective commentary to explore the ordinary yet profound aspects of human life. The poem’s structure, moving from quantifiable consumption to the abstract passage into silence, encapsulates the essence of an average life—mundane, repetitive, and ultimately ephemeral. Through this exploration, Nemerov invites readers to consider the deeper significance of everyday actions and the quiet courage inherent in the human condition.

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