Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Robert Creeley's poem "Temper," the poet presents a succinct yet profound observation about the delicate and shifting nature of emotions, likening temper to wind on the ocean and the movement of trees in wind and rain. Through this brief but evocative metaphor, Creeley captures the inherent fragility and unpredictability of one's mood or emotional state. The "temper" here is not an outburst of anger but rather a reference to the subtle, underlying mood or disposition of an individual—something that is "fragile" and easily influenced by external forces.

By associating temper with natural elements such as "wind on the ocean" and "trees moving in wind and rain," Creeley underscores the fluidity and responsiveness of emotional states. Just as the ocean's surface can change from calm to turbulent under the influence of wind, or as trees sway and bend in response to weather, so too does human temperament respond to unseen forces. This alignment with nature suggests that emotional fragility is both a natural and universal aspect of being human, shaped by forces beyond one's control.

The structure of the poem is spare, with its simplicity echoing the simplicity of the observation itself. Creeley's choice of words—"fragile," "apparently," "wants to be"—alludes to a kind of acceptance of this fragility, as though the temper "wants" to remain delicate and susceptible to change. The poet does not resist or seek to alter this state but seems instead to acknowledge it as a truth of human experience, as natural as the movements of wind and rain.

Through "Temper," Creeley reflects on the inherent vulnerability in human emotions, capturing how external circumstances shape inner moods. This brief meditation on the delicacy of one's disposition evokes a sense of acceptance and understanding, aligning the internal landscape with the rhythms of nature and inviting a contemplative approach to the ebbs and flows of one's own temperament.

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