Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Money" cleverly uses the example of a 1936 nickel to explore the symbolic nature of currency and its broader implications. Through a detailed examination of the coin's imagery and inscriptions, Nemerov delves into themes of history, culture, and the disconnection between symbols and their real-world counterparts.

The poem begins with the speaker introducing the topic of symbolism, specifically in the context of money. The nickel is presented as an artifact rich with symbolic meaning: "Icons and cryptograms are written all over / The nickel." This sets the stage for a deeper analysis of the coin's imagery, highlighting its function as a symbol rather than a mere object of value.

On one side of the nickel is a "hunchbacked bison," which Nemerov describes as bending to fit the coin's circular shape. The bison is surrounded by the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM," the latter being a Latin phrase meaning "Out of many, one." This phrase, as Nemerov wryly notes, "appears to mean / An indeterminately large number of things / All of which are the same," pointing to the paradox and ambiguity often inherent in symbols.

The inscription "FIVE CENTS" beneath the bison provides a grounding sense of value, yet the poem emphasizes the disconnect between the coin's imagery and its practical use. On the other side of the nickel is the profile of an American Indian, accompanied by the date "nineteen-thirty-six" and the word "LIBERTY." The Indian's downcast gaze and the word "LIBERTY" seemingly falling from the sky highlight the irony and historical tragedy encapsulated in the coin: "To notice it, indeed, would be shortsighted of him."

Nemerov then contextualizes the imagery of the nickel within a broader historical and cultural framework. He points out the nickel's growing rarity and its diminished purchasing power, as well as the grim histories of the American Indian and the bison. The Indian, representative of a people largely destroyed or confined to reservations, and the bison, nearly driven to extinction, both symbolize lost or endangered parts of America's past.

The poem humorously references John Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" to underline the disjunction between the static, symbolic world of the coin and the dynamic, often harsh realities it represents. This comparison suggests that just as the Grecian urn captures an idealized, unchanging scene, the nickel captures a static, nostalgic, and problematic vision of American history.

Nemerov concludes with a series of observations about the symbolic relationships between the Indian and the bison on the coin: they can never see each other, they look in opposite directions, and they are upside down to one another. These details further emphasize the disconnection and opposition inherent in the symbols, as well as the absurdity of their placement and relationship on the coin. The final observation, that the bison has a human face "Somewhat resembling that of Jupiter Ammon," adds a mythological layer to the symbolism, suggesting a blend of cultures and meanings that are far removed from their original contexts.

"Money" by Howard Nemerov offers a rich and layered exploration of the symbolism embedded in a common object. Through the detailed analysis of the 1936 nickel, Nemerov highlights the complexities and contradictions of cultural symbols, inviting readers to reflect on the broader implications of what we choose to memorialize and value. The poem underscores the importance of understanding the deeper meanings behind symbols, particularly those related to history and identity, and the often ironic disconnections between symbols and the realities they represent.

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