Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Wordsworths", Robert Creeley takes a quiet, contemplative look at the English Romantic poets William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy Wordsworth, capturing the landscapes that inspired their writings and memories. Through a series of vivid, impressionistic images, Creeley evokes the natural scenery of the Lake District, where the Wordsworths lived, and subtly reflects on the creative process that shaped their legacy. The poem is a meditation on time, memory, and the power of place, suggesting that these landscapes continue to hold echoes of the Wordsworths’ presence and influence.

The title, "Wordsworths", immediately signals that the poem is about both William and Dorothy Wordsworth, acknowledging Dorothy’s role alongside her more famous brother. Dorothy was not only a companion but also a writer and observer in her own right, keeping detailed journals that documented their experiences and the natural beauty around them. By using the plural, Creeley includes both siblings, suggesting a collaborative or intertwined relationship where the lines between observer and writer, sibling and companion, are blurred.

The opening lines, “The Wordsworths afoot / fresh fields’ look,” place the Wordsworths in the act of walking through “fresh fields,” immediately situating them in the natural landscape that was central to their work. The phrase “afoot” evokes the Romantic ideal of the poet as a wanderer, finding inspiration in nature and experiencing it directly through movement and observation. The freshness of the fields suggests both a literal renewal of the landscape and a metaphorical renewal of perception, as if each walk through these fields brings something new to see and understand.

The following image, “birds hop on gravestone / small lake beyond,” juxtaposes life and death, the living birds against the gravestones in a setting that speaks to the passage of time and memory. The gravestone suggests the presence of the past within the landscape, while the “small lake beyond” hints at continuity and tranquility. The lake is a common motif in the Lake District, a region known for its serene waters, and here it represents both physical beauty and a reflective space that connects past and present. The birds, small and active, bring a touch of life to the somber image of the gravestone, symbolizing the enduring presence of life even amid reminders of mortality.

“Up long dank road / Coleridge’s home” situates the poem within a broader context of Romanticism by referencing Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a close friend of William Wordsworth and a fellow poet. The “long dank road” suggests both a literal path and a journey into the past, as if visiting Coleridge’s home brings the speaker closer to the historical roots of Romantic poetry. The dampness of the road reflects the often-misty, cool climate of the Lake District, enhancing the sense of place and evoking a feeling of quiet reverence for the history embedded in these landscapes.

The poem then shifts to a more personal observation: “Out this window I see / a man turning hay.” This line moves the perspective from a historical scene involving the Wordsworths to the speaker’s own experience of observing a modern-day scene through a window. The image of a man turning hay, a timeless agricultural activity, serves as a bridge between past and present, as if the essence of rural life remains unchanged. The mention of “early sun’s edge” and “green hedge” brings a gentle warmth and color to the scene, underscoring the beauty of the morning light as it touches the landscape. This moment of observation mirrors the Romantic emphasis on the significance of small, everyday sights, suggesting that the same landscape that inspired the Wordsworths continues to offer moments of quiet beauty and reflection.

The line “a blue round of field flower / mark the fresh hour” introduces a sense of renewal, with the “blue round” of a wildflower symbolizing the passage of time marked by nature’s cycles. The simplicity of the flower contrasts with the enduring stone structures mentioned earlier, like gravestones and Coleridge’s house, reinforcing the ephemeral beauty of nature. By noting that the flower “mark[s] the fresh hour,” Creeley connects the act of observing the landscape with an awareness of time, as if each detail of nature holds within it a reminder of the present moment.

The poem’s images continue with “high spike of mullein / look over walled stone,” drawing attention to the resilience of nature as it grows alongside human structures. Mullein, a tall plant with yellow flowers, is known for its hardiness and ability to grow in difficult conditions, symbolizing endurance and the persistence of life. The “walled stone” suggests boundaries—perhaps the walls around fields or gardens in the countryside—yet the mullein’s ability to rise above the wall implies that nature cannot be entirely contained. This detail reflects the Romantic ideal of nature’s power and beauty transcending human limitations, a concept that was central to Wordsworth’s poetry.

In the closing lines, “House slope blacked roof / catches eye’s proof / returns me to day / passed far away,” Creeley describes a roof catching light, a moment that triggers a connection to the past. The “eye’s proof” suggests a moment of visual confirmation, as if the sight of the roof solidifies the speaker’s sense of being in the same landscape once inhabited by the Wordsworths. The phrase “returns me to day / passed far away” captures the power of memory and imagination to bridge past and present, allowing the speaker to feel a connection to the Wordsworths as if transported to their time.

The final line, “Dorothy took note, / William wrote,” serves as a tribute to the collaborative nature of the Wordsworths’ work and lives. Dorothy’s meticulous observations in her journals provided inspiration for William’s poetry, making her an integral part of his creative process. This line acknowledges Dorothy’s often-overlooked contribution to William’s legacy, highlighting the significance of her role as an observer and chronicler of their shared experiences. By ending on this note, Creeley honors both siblings, recognizing that Dorothy’s careful documentation and William’s poetic expression were two sides of the same creative endeavor.

In "Wordsworths", Robert Creeley creates a layered reflection on time, memory, and the enduring impact of place. Through his observations of the Lake District, Creeley draws connections between his own experience and the Romantic legacy of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, suggesting that certain landscapes hold a timeless resonance. The poem is both a tribute to the Wordsworths and an exploration of how the natural world continues to inspire reflection, linking past and present in a shared appreciation for beauty, transience, and memory.

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