Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The After-Comers" by Robert Traill Spence Lowell reflects on the passage of time and the sense of being overshadowed by the accomplishments and experiences of those who came before. The poem explores whether the natural world and human creativity have lost their original freshness and vitality or whether contemporary life and art still possess inherent value and potential.

The poem begins with a nostalgic contemplation of the past: "THOSE earlier men that owned our earth / When land and sea and skies were newer," suggesting that the world once seemed more vibrant and untouched. The speaker questions whether the earlier generations experienced a world more intense and pure—"Sea stronger, greener land, sky bluer?"—and whether their creations in art and literature held greater worth because they were pioneers in their fields, as "bards and painters then were fewer."

Lowell evokes a sense of purity and novelty in the past: "Their daisy, oak and rose were new; / Fresh runnels down their valleys babbled." This imagery emphasizes the untouched and original state of nature and human experience, contrasting with the present, which feels more used and less exciting. The idea that "New were red lip, true eyes, fresh dew" suggests that emotions and relationships, too, were once experienced with an untainted freshness. The phrase "Nor yet the rhyming lovers' crew / Tree-bark and casement-pane had scrabbled" implies that the expressions of love and creativity had not yet become clichéd or overdone.

The poem considers whether these early experiences endowed the pioneers with a lasting advantage: "Feelings sprang fresh, to them, and thought; / Fresh things were hope, trust, faith, endeavor." The speaker suggests that these pioneers had a unique opportunity to shape the world with their "frank hearts" and creative spirits, without needing to find a "lever" to move the world, as their raw enthusiasm and originality were sufficient.

As the poem progresses, Lowell questions whether the current generation, referred to as "after-comers," is doomed to merely follow in the footsteps of the past: "Must then the world to us be stale? / Must we be only after-comers?" He ponders whether the legacy of the past leaves modern people with only "wilted green and sunshine pale," suggesting a diminished experience of life. The concern is whether contemporary expressions of life and art are merely "tricked-out mummers," implying inauthenticity or superficial imitation.

However, the poem turns to a more hopeful and assertive tone: "Oh, no! was ever life-blood cold? / Was wit e'er dull, when mirth was in it?" Lowell argues that fundamental human experiences—love, wit, joy—are timeless and can never grow old. He insists that "fresh bloom" can still be found and that life and strength are continually renewed through "endless ages."

The final stanza is a rallying cry for creativity and vitality in the present: "Yes! Life and strength forever can; / Life springs afresh through endless ages." Lowell emphasizes that true work in art, literature, or any human endeavor need not be seen as diminished or halted because it follows in the footsteps of the past. Instead, "Throw man into it! man draws man / In canvas, stone, or written pages," suggesting that human effort and expression continue to have the power to inspire and resonate across time.

The poem follows a consistent ABABCC rhyme scheme throughout the poem. This pattern can be observed in each six-line stanza, where the first and third lines rhyme, the second and fourth lines rhyme, and the fifth and sixth lines form a rhyming couplet.

"The After-Comers" asserts that while we may feel overshadowed by the past, the essence of life and creativity is an enduring force that renews itself. The poem encourages a celebration of the present and a recognition that each generation has its own unique contributions to make, even as it stands on the shoulders of those who came before.

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