Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Late Subterfuge", Robert Penn Warren reflects on the passage of time, the weight of decisions made or avoided, and the moral complexities that accompany both action and inaction. The poem, set in a somber and reflective mood, contemplates the end of a year and what it signifies—the slow fading of opportunities, the acceptance of mistakes, and the justifications we offer ourselves for the compromises we’ve made. Through stark natural imagery and quiet introspection, Warren examines how people reconcile their choices and seek strength, even in the face of unresolved emotions and the inevitability of life’s uncertainties.

The poem opens with a reference to the changing seasons: "The year dulls toward its eaves-dripping end." This image of the year coming to an end, marked by the sound of water dripping from eaves, conveys a sense of gradual decline, a slowing down, as time moves toward winter. The imagery of dripping eaves evokes a melancholy tone, as if the energy of the year is seeping away. The speaker reflects on the outcomes of the year: "We have kept honor yet, or lost a friend." This line introduces the moral ambiguity that runs through the poem, suggesting that while the speaker may have maintained their integrity, it might have come at the cost of a personal relationship. The "inherited defect" hints at flaws or burdens passed down through generations—perhaps tendencies toward error or imperfection that are unavoidable. Yet the speaker quickly dismisses the notion of perfection, acknowledging, "what man is perfect?"

The next lines evoke the migration of grackles, a species of bird that "fly / To the ruined ricelands south, leaving empty our sky." The image of the birds leaving for a desolate, ruined place underscores the sense of loss and abandonment that accompanies the year’s end. The sky, once full of life, is now empty, just as the year has been emptied of its opportunities and moments. This departure serves as a metaphor for the inevitable changes and departures that mark the passage of time, leaving behind a void.

The speaker then shifts to a more introspective tone: "This year was time for decision to be made." The repetition of "this year is time" suggests a sense of urgency, a recognition that time is finite and that action is necessary. However, there is also a sense of resignation in the following lines: "Our grief can be endured, / For we, at least, are men, being inured / To wrath, to the act unjust, if need, to blood." These lines reflect the speaker’s belief that hardship and suffering are inevitable and that they have been hardened by life’s challenges. The acceptance of "wrath" and "the act unjust" implies a moral flexibility, a willingness to endure injustice or even violence if necessary. Yet this justification is tempered by the hope that "from evil bloometh good," suggesting a belief in redemption or that the ends may justify the means.

The natural imagery in the following lines deepens the poem’s mood of quiet reflection and resignation: "Our feet in the sopping woods will make no sound, / The winter's rot begun, the fox in ground, / The snake cold-coiled, secret in cane the weasel." These lines evoke a sense of stillness and decay, as the natural world succumbs to the onset of winter. The "sopping woods" are silent, the fox has burrowed underground, and the snake has curled up in the cold. Even the weasel, a creature of stealth and secrecy, is hidden in the cane. This imagery of animals retreating or lying dormant reflects the speaker’s own sense of withdrawal and quiet acceptance of the inevitable.

The poem’s final lines capture the human need for connection and the quiet rituals through which people seek solace: "In pairs we walk, heads bowed to the long drizzle— / With women some, and take their rain-cold kiss." The image of people walking in pairs, heads bowed, suggests a sense of companionship in the face of adversity or grief. The "rain-cold kiss" is an intimate yet chilly gesture, symbolizing both connection and the emotional distance that persists even in moments of closeness. The speaker concludes with a note of self-deception: "We say to ourselves we learn some strength from this." This line suggests that, despite the speaker’s attempts to find meaning or strength in these small gestures, there remains a lingering doubt. The "strength" learned from enduring grief, hardship, and compromise feels fragile, perhaps even illusory, as if the speaker is trying to convince themselves that their suffering has not been in vain.

In "Late Subterfuge", Warren examines the complexities of moral compromise, the inevitability of time’s passage, and the quiet ways people attempt to find meaning in difficult circumstances. The poem’s natural imagery of birds migrating, animals retreating into the earth, and a landscape succumbing to winter mirrors the speaker’s own sense of loss, resignation, and the desire for strength in the face of hardship. The speaker reflects on the choices made throughout the year, acknowledging the imperfect nature of life and the justifications offered for actions that may have been morally ambiguous. Ultimately, the poem captures the tension between enduring grief and seeking solace, and the ways people navigate the spaces between honor, loss, and quiet acceptance.

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