Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley's poem "The Late Comer" meditates on themes of regret, missed opportunities, and the enduring presence of sorrow. Through fragmented language and shifting imagery, Creeley explores the feelings of lateness and inadequacy that accompany unfulfilled desires or obligations. The tone of the poem is reflective yet unresolved, capturing the ambivalence of arriving too late to offer what was needed or to fulfill a role once expected. With his minimalist style, Creeley invites readers to consider how sorrow and failure shape human experience and leave lingering traces even in moments of beauty.

The poem opens with the phrase "(parvenue) delinquent," a descriptor that immediately suggests a sense of inadequacy or unworthiness. The word "parvenue" implies someone who has only recently arrived or ascended, often with a sense of not quite belonging. "Delinquent," on the other hand, connotes failure, irresponsibility, or a lack of fulfillment in one’s duties. Together, these words characterize the speaker—or the figure being addressed—as someone who feels out of place, guilty, or unworthy, as if they have arrived too late or failed in some essential way. This opening line sets the tone of the poem, framing the speaker's reflections as those of someone grappling with feelings of regret and inadequacy.

The line "who will now guess that this, that this is you, / as if a delinquent, a late sorrow / had arranged this" suggests a self-consciousness, as if the speaker is acutely aware of their own shortcomings and how they might be perceived by others. The repetition of "this" reinforces the sense of delayed realization, as though the speaker is only now coming to terms with their role in this situation. The phrase "a late sorrow / had arranged this" personifies sorrow as an orchestrator of events, almost as if it were an intentional force shaping the speaker’s fate. This line implies that the speaker's belatedness is not merely a matter of timing but is imbued with emotional weight—a sorrow that shapes and defines their experience.

Creeley then uses the phrase "being better this way, being better late than / never," suggesting a kind of resigned acceptance. The phrase "better late than never" is usually intended as a consolation, a reminder that arriving late is preferable to not showing up at all. However, in the context of this poem, it carries a tone of irony or self-reproach, as if the speaker is only partially convinced that their tardiness holds any value. The sentiment feels hollow, highlighting the inadequacy of this late arrival to truly compensate for what has been lost or missed. The notion of "better late" is ultimately unconvincing, revealing the speaker’s awareness that some things cannot be salvaged once they are delayed.

The imagery of "flowers there, though wilted" introduces a symbol of beauty that has faded or deteriorated over time. Flowers are often associated with freshness, life, and transient beauty; here, their wilting reflects the consequences of neglect or delay. Yet, Creeley emphasizes that "there are still flowers," as if to acknowledge that some remnant of beauty or possibility endures despite the decay. This line captures a sense of stubborn resilience—an assertion that, even in a state of imperfection, something valuable remains. The phrase "their sorrow, delinquent, as if in cool / weather" personifies sorrow as something that clings to these faded flowers, imbuing them with a sense of melancholy. The "cool weather" evokes an atmosphere of calm yet detached sadness, reinforcing the poem’s tone of reflective regret.

In the following lines, Creeley writes, "It was never this or that they / wanted," indicating that the expectations or desires of others were never specific or clearly defined. This vague dissatisfaction suggests that the speaker’s sense of failure may be rooted in a misunderstanding or a misalignment of intentions. The repetition of "this or that" underscores the ambiguity, as if the speaker is struggling to pinpoint exactly what was expected of them. This vagueness adds to the feeling of confusion and inadequacy, as though the speaker cannot fully comprehend what they were supposed to provide or achieve.

The closing lines—"so given their sorrow, or / was what they wanted yours and / would you have given them over / the flowers, the coolness, delinquent . . ."—shift the focus to the question of shared sorrow and unfulfilled desires. The phrase "given their sorrow" implies that the speaker is reflecting on whether they were responsible for alleviating this sorrow or if it was something they merely observed. The ambiguity of "was what they wanted yours" suggests a blending of identities and desires, as if the speaker is unsure whether the expectations placed on them were truly their own or imposed by others. This line blurs the boundaries between self and other, between individual sorrow and shared grief.

The ellipsis following "delinquent . . ." leaves the poem open-ended, suggesting that the speaker's reflections are incomplete or unresolved. The trailing off implies a lingering uncertainty, as if the speaker cannot fully articulate their regret or determine whether they have truly accepted their role in this sorrow. The final parenthetical "(better)" serves as an ironic echo of the earlier line "being better this way," reinforcing the poem’s sense of inconclusiveness. By leaving the poem on this tentative note, Creeley suggests that the speaker’s reconciliation with their lateness or inadequacy is still in process, if it is possible at all.

Structurally, "The Late Comer" employs fragmented lines, repetitions, and parentheses to create a sense of hesitation and introspection. The irregular syntax mirrors the speaker’s uncertainty, as if each thought is interrupted or reconsidered before it can fully settle. This fragmented style reflects the disjointed nature of regret and self-recrimination, capturing the way that thoughts and memories can circle back on themselves, never reaching a definitive resolution.

Through its delicate language and layered imagery, "The Late Comer" conveys a complex emotional landscape, where regret, sorrow, and the search for redemption interweave. Creeley explores how missed opportunities and delayed realizations shape one’s identity and understanding of self, highlighting the difficulty of reconciling with actions (or inactions) that cannot be undone. The poem’s open-ended conclusion suggests that some feelings, especially those tied to loss and unfulfilled desires, may never be fully resolved. Instead, they linger like wilted flowers in cool weather—a presence both beautiful and melancholic, a reminder of what might have been.

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