Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Robert Pinsky's poem "Generation Before," the poet reflects on the lives of the previous generation, depicting them through a lens of nostalgia and melancholy while grappling with the passage of time and the inevitable decline that accompanies aging. The poem serves as an exploration of memory, style, and the ephemeral nature of existence, capturing a snapshot of a bygone era and its eventual fade into history.

The poem opens with a vivid sensory description, setting the tone with the image of wind and rain, with "nickels" of rain falling, evoking a sense of the harshness and relentlessness of the environment. This imagery establishes a connection between the physical world and the lived experiences of the generation before, suggesting that they, too, were shaped by the elements, by forces beyond their control. The hats mentioned in the next line, for both sun and rain, represent the practical yet quaint aspects of their lives—small defenses against the onslaughts of nature, reflecting their attempts to cope with the world around them.

Pinsky then shifts to a more metaphorical depiction of this generation, describing "flesh" as a "poor garb," an inadequate covering that emphasizes their vulnerability. The people of this generation are portrayed as "quaint," a term that suggests both endearment and obsolescence, as if their ways of living and being are out of step with the modern world. They are "muffled up into their high cars" and "bulky clothing," symbolizing a kind of insulation or detachment from reality, a protective layer against the harshness of life.

The poet touches on the societal norms and cultural practices of the time, describing it as a "prolonged slap-happy Lent," a period marked by a strange mixture of deprivation and indulgence. This description captures the contradictions of their era, where people managed to find moments of joy and celebration—"Made Carnival in hotel bars, / At ball games or the track"—even as they navigated a world that was, in many ways, more difficult and unforgiving than the present. These moments of "Carnival," of temporary escape, are contrasted with the more mundane and burdensome aspects of their existence, highlighting the bittersweet nature of their lives.

Pinsky's portrayal of this generation is tinged with both admiration and sorrow. The "vague murmur of style" that they leave behind in photographs and films suggests that their legacy is one of appearances, of a certain elegance and charm that is now fading into obscurity. The objects associated with them—"cases, lighters, / Syphons, clips, objects for looks or laughs"—become relics of a past era, symbols of a world that is no longer fully understood or appreciated. These items, once imbued with meaning and significance, now seem like artifacts from a distant time, their purposes and values diminished by the passage of time.

The poem's tone grows more somber as Pinsky considers the eventual decline of this generation. They are destined to "fall / Sick in the lungs and the heart," their once-vibrant lives reduced to struggles with illness and the creeping realization of their own mortality. The image of them "swearing at their own lost / Flickery past" captures the frustration and despair of aging, as they grapple with the loss of vitality and the encroaching shadows of their memories. This depiction is poignant and tragic, underscoring the inevitable fate that awaits all generations.

In the closing lines, Pinsky introduces the idea of the "impossible field of the present," a space that is both barren and full of potential. The field, "pale and recent / Over the plow-twisting tangle of the past," represents the present moment, fraught with the weight of history yet offering the possibility of new growth. The grasses are "coarse, unculled," symbolizing the raw, untamed nature of the current era, contrasting with the cultivated, refined past. This final image encapsulates the poem's exploration of time, memory, and the cyclical nature of life, suggesting that while the past may be lost, it continues to shape and inform the present.

"Generation Before" is a meditation on the passage of time, the inevitability of decline, and the ways in which we remember and reimagine those who came before us. Pinsky captures the essence of a generation's style, struggles, and ultimate fate, offering a nuanced reflection on the transient nature of life and the enduring impact of memory.

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