Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Schuyler’s poem “Sometimes” is a meditation on memory, place, and the disquieting intersection between beauty and historical trauma. The poem opens with a recollection of the synagogue in Amsterdam, a site that becomes a focal point for the poet’s reflections on history, time, and silence.

Schuyler sets the scene with a “tenderly overcast day,” immediately infusing the memory with a sense of gentle melancholy. The description of “ripe leaves” falling and floating on the cobblestones, combined with the “toned nuances of pink brick,” paints a picture of a serene and almost idyllic moment. The repetition of the word “tenderly” reinforces this mood, suggesting a softness, a careful handling of both memory and place. The visual imagery here is rich, evoking the quiet beauty of the synagogue and its surroundings, where even the effects of time and weather seem to have contributed to its refined elegance.

The poem then shifts subtly to the interior of the synagogue, where Schuyler notes the “shined brass chandeliers” and the “Quaker hush” that pervades the space. This description conveys a deep reverence, a sense of sacredness that transcends the physical details of the building. The “mute lights” and the quiet atmosphere suggest a place steeped in history, where the weight of the past is almost palpable.

However, this quietness is not just the peaceful stillness one might associate with a place of worship; it also carries with it a more somber undertone. Schuyler’s use of the word “silence” in the final lines of the poem introduces a stark contrast to the tenderness that precedes it. This silence is described as “terrible,” a descriptor that transforms the atmosphere of the poem from one of reflective peace to one of profound unease.

The “terrible silence” that Schuyler refers to is likely an allusion to the history of the Jewish people in Europe, particularly the Holocaust. The synagogue, a symbol of Jewish life and culture, also stands as a reminder of the destruction and loss that befell Jewish communities across the continent. The “tender” beauty of the scene becomes overshadowed by the historical reality that this place of worship, like so many others, is also a witness to the absence left by those who perished.

The poem’s final line, “and wonder how such terrible silence came into the world,” is a poignant reflection on the nature of evil and loss. Schuyler does not offer an answer to this wonder, leaving the question open and unresolved, much like the enduring mystery of how such atrocities could occur. The use of the word “sometimes” in the title suggests that this contemplation is not constant but emerges in moments of reflection, when the beauty of the world collides with the knowledge of its darker history.

In “Sometimes,” Schuyler masterfully intertwines the personal and the historical, creating a poem that is both a tribute to a specific place and a broader commentary on the enduring impact of history. The poem’s quiet tone and delicate imagery underscore the tension between the beauty of the world and the horrors that have marked it, leaving the reader with a deep sense of both reverence and sorrow.

NOTE: Gerald Stern: “It's a Schuyler poem, unheroic, deeply observant, tender, and detailed. No one else was like him.”

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