Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The One Who Was Different" by Randall Jarrell is a poignant exploration of individuality, mortality, and the inherent strangeness of life and death. Through the lens of a eulogy, Jarrell examines the life and passing of a unique individual, capturing the complexities of their character and the profundity of their demise.

The poem begins by referencing the deceased's extensive travels: "Twice you have been around the world / And once around your life." This juxtaposition of physical and existential journeys sets the stage for reflecting on the person's distinctiveness. The phrase "Now I'll make my short trips" contrasts sharply with the earlier adventures, suggesting a shift towards more introspective or final endeavors. The speaker questions whether the current journey—death—is a long trip, a short trip, or no trip at all, highlighting the ambiguity and finality of death.

The deceased is described as someone who embraced their differences, even relishing them. The affectionate yet bemused tone in "You queer thing; you who cooked / Straight through the cookbook" underscores their unconventional approach to life. The imagery of the person dressed in a "great lead-lined cloak / Of ferns and flowers" paints a picture of someone who was eccentric and vibrant, yet now lies still, adorned in the natural beauty that symbolizes both life and death.

The speaker's grief is palpable as they address the deceased directly, "Ah, Miss I—, / Hold not thy peace at my tears." The biblical allusion to "the earnest expectation of the creature" and the passage from Corinthians, "We shall not all sleep, but in a moment, / In the twinkling of an eye, / We shall be changed," evokes the hope of resurrection and the triumph over death. These words offer a sense of comfort and closure, yet the speaker's grief remains profound and personal.

The poem transitions into a reflection on the nature of the deceased's smile, once a simple and endearing expression, now a vanished trait. The comparison of a smile to life—"A way things look for a while, / A temporary arrangement of the matter"—is a meditation on the transient nature of existence. This contemplation leads to the realization that life, much like a smile, is a fleeting, impermanent state.

Jarrell's use of Wordsworth as a reference point for simplicity and profundity, "I feel like the first men who read Wordsworth: / It's so simple I can't understand it," underscores the bewildering clarity with which death reveals itself. The universe, created by something more than human for something less than human, suggests an existential pondering of humanity's place within the cosmic order.

The poem's tone shifts to introspection as the speaker identifies with the deceased, someone with whom "there's something wrong," and reflects on the universal inevitability of death. The presence of a child's eager eyes, "Too young to have learned yet / What's seen and what's obscene," serves as a stark contrast to the adult's awareness of mortality and the rituals surrounding it. The child's innocent curiosity about the "secret that the grown-ups have" highlights the divide between those who understand death's gravity and those who have yet to comprehend it.

The speaker's musings on the possibility of avoiding death by sheer willpower—"If a man made up his mind / About death, he could do without it"—is a poignant reflection on the powerlessness humans feel in the face of mortality. This longing for control over death is juxtaposed with the reality of the deceased's state, encapsulated in crystal, eternally mortal in the speaker's imagination.

In the final lines, Jarrell imagines a future where the deceased might have been remembered as "The oldest man that ever didn't die," had they somehow defied death. This fantasy underscores the deep sense of loss and the wish that the unique individual could have continued their extraordinary existence indefinitely.

"The One Who Was Different" is a meditation on the uniqueness of the individual, the inevitability of death, and the deep, often confusing emotions that accompany loss. Through vivid imagery, personal reflection, and philosophical musings, Jarrell captures the essence of mourning someone who was truly different, leaving readers to ponder the mysteries of life and death.

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