Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"To Westward" by John Ciardi is a poignant exploration of disillusionment and the erosion of the American Dream as witnessed through a journey westward across the United States. Through vivid imagery and reflective observation, Ciardi contrasts the mythic visions of the West—its vast landscapes, pioneering spirits, and legendary figures—with the stark realities encountered along the way. The poem delves into themes of lost purpose, economic decline, and the search for identity in a landscape that has failed to live up to its promises.

The poem begins with an anticipation of "reminders" and significant landmarks that mark the historical and mythological path westward, suggesting a journey not just through space but through the narratives that have shaped the American consciousness. Ciardi expects to find "milestones" and "crosses" that signify the legacy of exploration and expansion. However, what he finds instead is a landscape marked by abandonment and decay.

As Ciardi travels through the Dakotas, he encounters not the vibrant communities and lush landscapes of his expectations but "barnyards heaped high / With rusted iron" and towns "Rotting in the sun." These images serve as a metaphor for the deterioration of the pioneering spirit and the decay of the communities that were once vibrant centers of hope and opportunity.

The mention of "names of men: Clarke, Custer, Pike, Johnny Appleseed" evokes the storied past of the West, with figures who symbolize exploration, conquest, and the taming of the wilderness. However, the reality Ciardi confronts is far removed from these legends. The men he encounters are "Gray-muscled men loitering," aimless and disconnected from the dreams that once drove westward expansion.

The poem's depiction of the modern West, with its "lumber mills, smelteries, much soot" and cities divided by economic disparity, speaks to the industrial and commercial forces that have reshaped the landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. The "limousine bearing the boss away" contrasts sharply with the men "Loitering against the wall, kicking their heels," highlighting the economic inequalities and the loss of agency for the average worker.

Ciardi's journey culminates in a sense of disillusionment, captured in the image of "Men going nowhere, hands pocketed, heels kicking the wall." The poem's closing lines reflect a profound sense of disorientation and aimlessness, a "lost direction" that mirrors the broader existential crisis of a nation struggling to reconcile its mythic self-image with the realities of modern life.

"To Westward" is a powerful meditation on the gap between myth and reality, between the idealized visions of the West and the challenging truths of contemporary American life. Through his evocative portrayal of a westward journey, Ciardi invites readers to reflect on the narratives that shape our understanding of place and identity, and the ways in which those narratives are challenged by the complexities of the modern world.

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