Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Blue Nap," William Matthews delves into the serene and introspective moments that arise from a deep, dreamless sleep, drawing parallels between personal experience and the broader, cosmic landscape. The poem opens with a familiar expression, "slept 'like a stone,'" which Matthews extends to "that vast / stone-shaped building, the planetarium." This comparison sets the tone for the poem, suggesting a profound stillness and a connection to the universe.

The speaker describes their sleep as devoid of dreams, with the night's sky represented as a "dark unbroken blue / on which the stars will take / their places." This imagery evokes a calm, pre-dawn tranquility, with the stars likened to "bright sheep / grazing the sparse sky." The metaphor of stars as sheep reinforces the theme of peacefulness and the orderly passage of time, as if the universe is a quiet, expansive field.

The poem then transitions to the speaker's waking life, marked by a "cloudy" night that suggests a grogginess, perhaps reflecting the speaker's own state upon waking. The mention of the "lights of Longmont" wavering hints at the disorienting effects of waking from deep sleep and the blurred boundary between rest and reality. As the speaker begins to "re-invent / my life," mundane actions such as "turning on lights" and "grinding some coffee beans" symbolize a reengagement with the material world. The coffee beans, described as "French roast, / dark enough to shine," suggest a sensory richness that contrasts with the previous emptiness of sleep.

The speaker reflects on the experience of missing out on an evening they might have spent with friends or playing basketball, stating they were "so tired I slept through / an evening I'd have given to basketball / and friends." This admission underscores a common human experience of exhaustion overriding social desires, hinting at the speaker's need for rest and the balancing act between social life and personal well-being.

As the scene shifts to the early morning, the poem describes the aftermath of a snowstorm, with snow "as dry / as confectioners' sugar." The delicate comparison to sugar evokes a sense of lightness and purity. The speaker takes their dog for a walk, experiencing the quiet beauty of the snowy landscape. The phrase "To him / it's not midnight. It's dark and snow" highlights the difference in perception between the speaker and the dog; for the dog, the walk is simply an exploration of the present moment, unconcerned with time.

"The Blue Nap" captures the intimate, quiet moments following a deep sleep, juxtaposing the tranquility of the night sky with the practicalities of waking life. Matthews explores the interplay between cosmic stillness and everyday existence, using rich imagery and metaphors to illustrate the beauty of these fleeting moments. The poem reflects on the simplicity of being present, whether in sleep, in the calm of a snowy night, or in the routine of preparing for a new day. It suggests a peaceful acceptance of the passage of time and the small rituals that ground us in our daily lives.

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