Howard Nemerov

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Analysis

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Howard Nemerov, a distinct voice in American poetry, consistently explored the absurdities of human existence within the grand narrative of time. His work reflects a divided temperament, striving to merge opposing elements of his character as both a poet and a fiction writer. Engaging with themes of modern existential fragmentation, Nemerov's poetry is characterized by a blend of satire, wit, and a keen respect for literary form, positioning him as a Renaissance man and a twentieth-century existentialist.

The Dual Nature of Existence

Nemerov’s poetry intricately weaves together the concept of the absurdity of humankind in the universe. Despite his inclination towards an empirical acceptance of objective reality, he harbored a subjective, poetic self that sought divine truth. This duality manifests in his persistent grappling with spiritual questions, leading to an existential inquiry that refused to subscribe to any specific orthodoxy, be it religious or artistic.

Early Works: The Image and the Law and Guide to the Ruins

Nemerov's early poetry collections, The Image and the Law, Guide to the Ruins, and The Salt Garden, chart his evolution from a derivative writer to a distinctive poetic voice. In The Image and the Law, he explores a dual vision of “poetry of the eye” and “poetry of the mind,” highlighting the ever-present tension between different worldviews. Critics initially noted a lack of unity and originality, attributing his style to influences like T. S. Eliot and W. H. Auden.

In Guide to the Ruins, Nemerov’s work broadens in scope and depth, capturing a post-war societal disillusionment. The collection reflects his internal conflict between art-faith and science-reality, a tension that often results in a Dostoevskian religious agony. A recurring theme is the unification of war and religion into a pessimistic yet life-affirming vision, highlighting a paradoxical celebration of existence amidst destruction.

The Salt Garden: Finding a Voice

With The Salt Garden, Nemerov began to assert his unique voice, focusing on the interplay between brutal nature and decent humanity. Nature serves as a backdrop against which human morality is tested, with water and blood acting as metaphors for the subconscious's call to wildness. The poems range from reflections on civilized life to the exploration of Freudian nightmares, presenting a vivid contrast between the civilized and the wild.

The imagery of liquids, particularly the ocean and blood, symbolizes the transient nature of life, echoing biblical themes. According to Julia Bartholomay, Nemerov’s perspective aligns with a biblical view where water is a sanctifying force, bringing renewal amidst decay.

Mirrors and Windows: Nature as a Reflection

Nemerov’s later collections, such as Mirrors and Windows and The Blue Swallows, continue to explore nature's objective reality. Like Robert Frost, Nemerov does not merely describe nature but infuses his observations with philosophical reflections. His poetry serves as a frame that contains life’s beauty and terror, without necessarily offering explanations for life's ultimate questions.

The Next Room of the Dream: Seeking Human Truths

In The Next Room of the Dream, which includes poems and verse plays like Cain and Endor, Nemerov pursues the “great primary human drama.” These works explore biblical themes to express a humanitarian vision and an ongoing search for truth. However, the plays provide no spiritual resolution, reflecting the emptiness of contemporary beliefs.

“Nothing Will Yield,” a poem from this collection, encapsulates Nemerov’s view on human helplessness against reality, suggesting that art doesn’t resolve despair but allows poets to speak a "holy language." As Nemerov’s style evolved, his later works grew simpler and more compassionate.

The Blue Swallows: Minimal Affirmation

Twenty years after his first collection, The Blue Swallows reflects...

(This entire section contains 1005 words.)

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Nemerov’s evolving philosophy of “minimal affirmation.” Symbolism abounds in this work, with images of gulls and swallows embodying humanity’s paradoxical nature—helpless yet indomitable. The collection explores the division between science-reality and art-faith, emphasizing humanity’s resilience amid life’s absurdities.

“Beyond the Pleasure Principle” delves into this theme, highlighting the strange resilience of humankind, a central tenet that resonates throughout Nemerov's work.

The Masterpiece: “Runes”

Nemerov’s poem “Runes” is often hailed as his finest work, capturing the theme of mutability while recognizing life's mystery. It combines external and internal reflections to resolve its central paradox, using brilliant imagery of water, seed, and thought. The poem avoids nihilism, instead affirming the stillness within motion and exploring creation's mystery.

Bartholomay, a noted critic, underscores Nemerov’s capacity to blend pessimism with philosophical, lyrical, and mystical elements, adding depth to his otherwise urbane wit.

Gnomes and Occasions: Wisdom Literature

Gnomes and Occasions comprises epigrams and meditations that reflect on origins and ends. The collection echoes wisdom literature, rich in biblical and natural references. It is characterized by Nemerov’s hallmark wit and irony, with poems such as “Creation Myth on a Moebius Band” exploring the absurdity and beauty of creation.

Nemerov's engagement with nature continues in this collection, where his sharp observations translate into irony and melancholy.

The Collected Poems and Sentences: A Retrospective Look

The publication of The Collected Poems of Howard Nemerov in 1977 prompted a critical reassessment of his work. Phoebe Pettingell noted the unified perspective that permeates this collection, which raises recurrent questions about the nature of reality and poetry's role in revealing deeper truths. The volume showcases the depth and breadth of Nemerov’s insights, emphasizing the coherence art provides amidst life’s chaos.

Sentences takes this idea further, positing poetry as an intermediary between God and humanity. Nemerov applies his theory of the Incarnation, where poetry becomes a spiritual exercise aimed at reconnecting humanity with the universe.

Inside the Onion and War Stories: A Metaphysical Exploration

Nemerov’s later work, Inside the Onion, humorously engages with his subjective-objective duality, blending the ordinary with introspective observations. War Stories further explores metaphysical themes, linking spiritual musings with everyday experiences. Poems within this collection delve into themes of fate, existential musings, and the human condition.

The collection's metaphysical richness is grounded in contemporary events and scientific speculation, with Nemerov’s language drawing from historical and literary references to create a resonant poetic landscape.

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