Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov’s poem "Midsummer’s Day" is a richly textured meditation on the passage of time, the cycles of nature, and the poignant reflections on life and decay. The poem, dedicated to the poet's son, captures a moment of midsummer heat and uses it as a lens to explore deeper themes of memory, change, and the relentless progress of nature and history.

The poem begins with the depiction of a "misty heat" that signifies the transition from spring to the full bloom of summer. This heat "glitters out on this hillside and the meadow," creating a shimmering, almost surreal landscape. The "slow river" that "turns / To be lost among willows" evokes a sense of meandering time and the gradual, almost unnoticed passage into the depths of summer. The imagery of the "high sun" burning from within until "the green world goes brown" underscores the intense, almost oppressive presence of the summer sun, which parches the landscape and pushes it towards decay.

The poem then shifts focus to a "ruinous garden" that an "old woman made / And fertilized with tea leaves and coffee grounds." This garden, now overgrown with wild grass and dandelions, stands as a metaphor for neglect and the passage of time. The "handle of a spade / Is toughly fastened in a climbing vine" symbolizes the entanglement of human effort and nature's reclamation. The description of the garden as overrun by nature suggests the inevitability of decay and the futility of trying to control or tame the natural world.

As the speaker observes the summer's growth "between the cracked flags / Of the terrace where no one wishes to sit," there is a reflection on "fortune and family" and the transient nature of human achievements. The "fine rags" stitched together into a show for everyone to marvel at represent the ephemeral nature of pride and accomplishment, already withering from within. This introspective passage highlights the contrast between the vibrancy of life and the inevitability of decline.

The poem reflects on the history of the place, once belonging to farming people, and the sense of loss that accompanies its transformation: "Maybe a pity that it doesn't now." The contemplation of history's downhill trajectory suggests that even the most cherished traditions and ways of life are subject to change and erosion. The reference to "Babylon and Rome" reinforces the idea that all great civilizations, like nature, are destined for ruin.

In the final stanza, Nemerov draws a parallel between the cycles of nature and the transient nature of human life: "This mind, that flesh is and will go like grass." The comparison of flesh to grass, which can be "burnt at harvest" or wither under "the sun's long stare," emphasizes the brevity and fragility of life. The image of the "high and silent wave over the floor / Of summer come, casting up seed and rind" captures the cyclical nature of life and decay. Despite the inevitable decline, the speaker finds a moment of stillness and observation, hearing "the loud forage of the honey bees" among the trees.

"Midsummer’s Day" is a contemplative poem that juxtaposes the vibrancy of summer with the undercurrents of decay and transformation. Through its vivid imagery and reflective tone, Nemerov captures the fleeting beauty of the season and the poignant reminders of life's transience. The poem invites readers to consider the passage of time and the intricate balance between growth and decay, memory and change, in both nature and human life.

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