Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Nemerov's poem "Style" reflects on the elusive and often paradoxical nature of artistic ambition and the concept of style in literature. Through a contemplation of the works Flaubert never wrote, Nemerov delves into the complex relationship between substance and style, and the haunting ideal of creating art that transcends its own content.

The poem begins with a nod to Flaubert's desire to write a novel about nothing, one that would be "sustained upon style alone." This idea, radical in its pure focus on form over content, echoes Flaubert's relentless pursuit of perfection in language and his belief in the supreme importance of style. By likening this conceptual novel to "the Holy Ghost cruising above the abyss," Nemerov elevates the notion of style to a divine, almost ethereal level. The comparison to "little animals / In Disney cartoons" who defy gravity until they become aware of it injects a note of humor and acknowledges the fragility and potential absurdity of such an artistic endeavor.

Nemerov notes that Flaubert never wrote this novel, nor did he complete another ambitious project, "La Spirale," which would have juxtaposed the protagonist's rising fortunes in dreams against a disintegrating waking life. These unwritten works, existing only as ideas, embody the concept of artistic aspiration and the tantalizing allure of what might have been.

The poem's tone shifts as Nemerov expresses gratitude for these imagined books, asserting that they "can be read, / With difficulty, in the spirit alone." This suggests that while these novels do not exist in a tangible form, their conceptual existence holds a unique, ineffable value. They are compared to lost works from the Library of Alexandria and those destroyed in the Florence flood, positioning them within a lineage of irreplaceable cultural artifacts.

Nemerov then makes a critical observation about style, describing it as a "fire that eats what it illuminates." This metaphor captures the double-edged nature of style: while it can illuminate and enhance a work, it can also consume and overpower the substance, leaving behind only the form. The idea that these imaginary works are "not deformed by style" implies that their nonexistence preserves them from the potential pitfalls of style's dominance over substance.

In the poem's structure, Nemerov uses a straightforward, almost conversational tone, which contrasts with the profound and philosophical content. The lack of a fixed rhyme scheme or meter mirrors the fluidity and unpredictability of artistic creation and the inherent challenges in balancing style and substance.

"Style" is a meditation on the ideals and challenges of artistic creation, exploring the tension between the perfection of form and the essence of content. By reflecting on Flaubert's unrealized projects, Nemerov honors the aspirations and the perpetual striving for an artistic ideal that remains just out of reach. The poem underscores the enduring significance of these ambitions, even when they are never fully realized, and the complex, sometimes destructive nature of style in the creative process.

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