Robert Lowell's poem "My Last Afternoon with Uncle Devereux Winslow" transcends the conventions of a typical elegy. Instead of simply lamenting a loss, it intricately weaves a narrative about childhood, innocence, and the inevitable intrusion of mortality. Through a child's perspective, it paints a vivid picture of a world brimming with life, gradually overshadowed by the encroaching reality of death.

The Idyllic Beginnings

The poem opens not with somber reflections but with a joyful outcry from young Lowell, "'I won’t go with you. I want to stay with Grandpa!'" It sets the stage in a realm of adventure and unfettered freedom, presided over by Grandfather Winslow. This world is richly textured, filled with "manly, comfortable" decor, which though "overbearing" and "disproportioned," echoes the grandeur of its owner. The farm becomes a sanctuary, decorated with photographs of silver mines, and glimpses of simple pleasures like "pitchers of ice-tea, oranges, lemons, mints, and peppermints, and the jug of shandygaff." Here, no death has cast its shadow in young Lowell's lifetime, allowing the boy to engage in seemingly innocent play with a "pile of black earth" and "lime," symbolizing life and death intermingled.

The Unsettling Contrast

The initial innocence soon faces disruption. The boy, now clad inappropriately, takes on the guise of a "stuffed toucan with a bibulous, multicolored beak," signaling a loss of innocence and the onset of awareness. This awkwardness is mirrored in the story of Great Aunt Sara, who despite her dedication to the piano, never reached her moment of glory at a recital. Instead, she is left playing on a "dummy" and "noiseless" instrument, hinting at dreams unfulfilled and efforts rendered silent. Meanwhile, Uncle Devereux remains forever youthful in the images that line the walls of his cottage, which he is closing "for the winter." However, the facade shatters with the stark revelation that "My Uncle was dying at twenty-nine." In defiance, Devereux embarks on a final voyage with his wife, "for Europe on a last honeymoon," an act of vibrant defiance against his impending fate, much to his parents' dismay. The child, transformed from an innocent to a silent observer, witnesses the strange, unfamilial conducts of the adults around him.

The Inevitable Decline

The poem's conclusion juxtaposes Devereux's outward appearance with his grim reality. Although he seems "as brushed as Bayard, our riding horse," he's "dying of the incurable Hodgkin’s disease." The boy's innocent activity of mixing "earth and lime" morphs into a symbolic act, a mythic portrayal of grappling with life's dualities. The once playful mixing of elements now carries an ominous tone, culminating in a child's straightforward yet profound realization: "Come winter, Uncle Devereux would blend to the one color."

The Broader Significance

"My Last Afternoon with Uncle Devereux Winslow" stands apart as an elegy by mourning not just the person lost but also an era of innocence and stability. Unlike traditional elegies that center solely on the deceased, Lowell's poem emphasizes the young boy's journey. It is a narrative about his awakening, a forced exit from an Edenic sanctuary into a world tinged with complexity and loss. In doing so, Lowell broadens the elegy's scope, making it a reflection on the observer and, by extension, the society enveloping him.