Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Penn Warren’s "Variation: Ode to Fear" is a sardonic yet deeply reflective meditation on mortality, the fragility of human existence, and the omnipresence of fear in daily life. The recurring refrain "Timor mortis conturbat me," meaning "the fear of death disturbs me" in Latin, echoes throughout the poem, reinforcing the central theme of dread that permeates even the most mundane experiences. The poem juxtaposes trivial, often humorous moments with the underlying, persistent awareness of death, presenting fear as both an intimate, ever-present companion and a universal human condition.

The poem begins with the dentist adjusting his drill, a familiar and somewhat comic scenario, where the dentist's comforting words, "Just hold tight, it'll soon be over," are laced with irony. The reader is reminded that this seemingly routine event is not exempt from the overarching anxiety of mortality. The casualness of the dentist’s task is contrasted with the deep, primal fear of death—represented by the refrain "Timor mortis conturbat me." This phrase, borrowed from the medieval tradition, encapsulates the fear that something as small as a dental procedure can provoke.

Warren continues to explore similar juxtapositions as the poem progresses. The surgeon, regarding the speaker "like an apple" before cutting into him, and the mundane financial worry of an overdrawn account both serve as reminders that death and fear lurk beneath the surface of everyday life. Even the minor annoyances and stresses of modern existence—such as reading an unpleasant letter or seeing a friend’s form "waver" at the train station—carry with them a subtle sense of loss and impermanence. This blend of the mundane and the existential creates a tension between the ordinary and the profound, underscoring the poem’s central theme that fear of death is always present, even in seemingly inconsequential moments.

The middle sections of the poem broaden the scope to include societal fears and disillusionments. Warren touches on the national debt and its implications for future generations, as well as the disillusionment with historical figures like the Founding Fathers, Milton, and Joan of Arc. These references reflect a broader cultural anxiety, where fear is not only personal but also collective. The line about reading "in Charles A. Beard / That the Founding Fathers... were not above a cozy deal" highlights the sense of betrayal that accompanies the realization that even revered figures are flawed. The disillusionment extends to religious figures, with the speaker’s irreverent mention of Jesus in Gethsemane "sweating from T.B." and Saint Joan being "charmingly psychotic." These jarring images suggest that fear and doubt permeate not just the individual psyche but the very foundations of society’s moral and intellectual beliefs.

As the poem continues, Warren turns to more explicit encounters with fear, particularly in the context of war and violence. The speaker's knees tremble as "Focke-Wulf mounts, or Zero," symbolizing the terror of aerial combat and the visceral fear that accompanies warfare. The imagery here—of the speaker’s body responding with "manly marrow turns to soup" and the suggestion of nausea in "lunch expertly loops the loop"—reinforces the physical, gut-wrenching nature of fear. This moment in the poem highlights the inescapability of fear in the face of existential threats.

Warren also touches on the fear of time’s relentless passage, as seen in the lines about the speaker lying in bed and marking the "breath beside me in the dark," knowing that it is "a clock" ticking away. The awareness of mortality becomes even more acute in the moments of intimacy or quiet, where the ticking clock is a constant reminder of the limited time left. The metaphor of breath as a clock emphasizes the inescapable reality that life, like time, is finite and ever-moving toward its end.

The poem then shifts into a more surreal and playful tone as Warren personifies fear itself, describing it as a figure that "pinch[es] the maiden’s tenderest part" but brings no real warmth or love. This figure is sly, mischievous, and omnipresent, from birth onward. The speaker acknowledges that fear has been with them "in utero" but recognizes that fear, like a loyal dog ("you fawn and follow like Fido"), will find another master when the speaker dies. This darkly humorous acknowledgment reinforces the idea that fear is a universal companion, one that transcends individual experience and will persist long after the speaker is gone.

Warren further reflects on how past generations have dealt with fear and death. He observes that people "in various ages / Have dispensed with heroes and with sages," and managed to survive without the comforts of religion, national ideals, or even the company of others. The poem suggests that while fear of death is inevitable, humans have always found ways to cope, whether through simple pleasures, stoic resignation, or even irreverence. The speaker wryly notes that even when "they got it in the gut," some found solace in a cigarette butt—an image that underscores the trivial, sometimes absurd ways in which people try to distract themselves from the fear of death.

The poem concludes with a resigned yet pragmatic attitude toward fear. The speaker, recognizing the inescapability of death and the persistence of fear, resolves to carry on with life’s routines: patting the "beast that sleeps beside the bed," putting on pants and vest, and going to eat breakfast. The final lines capture the essence of Warren’s meditation on fear—while it is omnipresent and deeply unsettling, life must go on despite it. The act of going about one’s day, despite the fear of death, becomes an act of defiance, an acknowledgment that while "Timor mortis conturbat me," life continues in its mundane, habitual rhythms.

In "Variation: Ode to Fear," Robert Penn Warren presents a wide-ranging reflection on fear, mortality, and the human condition. Through humor, irony, and poignant imagery, the poem grapples with the inescapable reality of death and the many ways in which fear manifests in everyday life. By interweaving personal, societal, and historical references, Warren creates a rich and textured meditation on the persistence of fear, suggesting that while it may disturb and unsettle, it is also a fundamental and universal part of the human experience.

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