Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Promises: 16. Ballad of a Sweet Dream of Peace: 2, Keepsakes," Robert Penn Warren continues his exploration of memory, decay, and the search for meaning in the remnants of the past. Through the figure of an elderly woman searching through an old bureau at night, Warren examines how people cling to material objects in an effort to preserve memories and understand their own history. The poem uses the act of searching for a lost item as a metaphor for the human tendency to look for lost meaning or purpose, even when the specific object of that search is elusive.

The poem opens with a question: "Oh, what brings her out in the dark and night?" This immediately introduces a sense of mystery and urgency, as the reader wonders what has compelled the old woman to venture into the night. The answer, that "she has mislaid something," is vague, suggesting that the woman herself is unsure of what exactly she is searching for. This uncertainty sets the tone for the poem, as it becomes clear that the woman’s search is not simply for a physical object, but for something deeper—perhaps a sense of closure, identity, or understanding. The phrase "just what she can't say" reinforces this ambiguity, indicating that her search is motivated by an unnamed, perhaps unconscious, need.

The bureau, which appeared in the previous poem, reappears here as the focal point of the woman’s search. The question, "why, in God's name, does she polish so much, and not look in a drawer right away?" highlights the futility of her actions. The woman meticulously polishes the surface of the bureau, attending to its external appearance, but avoids looking inside the drawers, where the answers to her search might lie. This behavior can be seen as a metaphor for how people often focus on superficial concerns—polishing the outside—while avoiding deeper, more difficult truths hidden within. The act of polishing also evokes a sense of ritual, as if the woman’s nightly cleaning is a way of maintaining a connection to the past, even if she cannot fully understand what she is looking for.

When the woman finally does open the drawers, the contents are a mix of personal and intimate items: "a Book of Common Prayer, / A ribbon-tied lock of gold hair, / A bundle of letters, some contraceptives, and an orris-root sachet." These objects suggest a lifetime of memories and experiences, from religious devotion to romantic or sexual relationships. The lock of hair and the bundle of letters evoke nostalgia and loss, symbols of loved ones who are no longer present. The contraceptives introduce a more surprising element, hinting at a past life that included physical desire, choices, and possibly secrets. The orris-root sachet, a traditional item used for scenting linens, adds to the sense of the past being preserved, as though the woman is trying to hold onto something that has long since faded.

Despite the presence of these keepsakes, the poem ends with the question: "Well, what is the old fool hunting for?" This line carries a tone of impatience or frustration, as if the speaker (or perhaps society) is unable to understand the woman’s persistent search. The use of "old fool" underscores how the elderly are often dismissed or misunderstood, their actions seen as irrational or pointless. Yet, the poem leaves this question unanswered, suggesting that the woman’s search is not for any single object, but for something more elusive—perhaps a sense of meaning or a connection to the past that can never be fully recaptured.

In "Keepsakes," Warren deepens the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time introduced in the earlier poem. The woman’s search through the bureau becomes a metaphor for the broader human tendency to look to the past for answers, even when those answers remain out of reach. The keepsakes she finds are symbolic of a life lived, full of love, faith, and choices, but they also highlight the limitations of material objects in providing meaning or closure. Ultimately, the poem suggests that while we may search for something specific—some key to understanding our lives or our past—the true object of that search may remain elusive, leaving us to grapple with the uncertainty of what it is we are really seeking.

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