Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Schuyler’s poem "Closed Gentian Distances" is a brief yet vivid meditation on the passing of time and the transient beauty of nature. Through his use of compact imagery and subtle shifts in tone, Schuyler captures the delicate interplay between the mundane and the sublime, creating a scene that resonates with both immediacy and timelessness.

The poem begins with a description of a "nothing day," a phrase that initially suggests monotony or insignificance. However, Schuyler immediately contrasts this with the presence of "wild beauty," indicating that even in the most unremarkable of days, there is a richness and depth that can be found in the natural world. This juxtaposition sets the tone for the poem, where the ordinary is infused with a quiet, almost hidden splendor.

The "timer pings," signaling a transition, perhaps the end of a moment or a call to attention. This sound acts as a marker of time, reminding the reader that even as they are absorbed in the beauty of the day, time continues to move forward. The action of rolling up "the silver off the bay" evokes the idea of packing away the day’s light or the reflection of the sun on water, an act that is both practical and poetic. It suggests an end to the day's brightness, as if nature itself is preparing for a new phase, possibly evening or autumn.

Schuyler’s mention of "taking down the clouds" and "sorting the spruce" further emphasizes this idea of tidying up the natural world, as though the elements are being carefully put away like possessions. The phrase "send to laundry marked, more starch" injects a touch of domesticity into the poem, blending the everyday task of doing laundry with the natural imagery. This serves to ground the poem, bringing the reader back to the routine aspects of life even as it continues to celebrate the fleeting beauty of the natural world.

The farewell to "golden- and silver-rod, asters, bayberry" suggests the end of a season, likely summer or early autumn. These plants, known for their late blooming, symbolize the last flourish of life before the arrival of winter. Schuyler’s description of bayberry as "crisp in elegance" captures the plant’s resilience and understated beauty, even as it prepares to fade away.

The final lines of the poem, where "little fish stream by, a river in water," encapsulate the continuous flow of life. The imagery of fish moving in the water mirrors the flow of time, reinforcing the theme of transience that runs throughout the poem. The "river in water" might also suggest a deeper, hidden current within the visible world, hinting at the unseen forces that shape the natural world and our experiences within it.

"Closed Gentian Distances" is a poem that finds beauty in the ephemeral and the everyday. Schuyler’s careful attention to detail, his blending of the domestic with the natural, and his subtle handling of time all contribute to a work that feels both grounded and ethereal. The poem leaves the reader with a sense of having witnessed something both ordinary and extraordinary—a "nothing day" that is, in fact, full of meaning and quiet splendor.

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