Poem Analysis - The Widower In The Country

A Portrait of Solitude

Les Murray's "The Widower In The Country" paints a stark and poignant picture of grief and solitude following the loss of a spouse. The poem is imbued with a quiet melancholy, detailing the mundane routines of a man attempting to navigate life alone on a rural Australian property. The tone is initially one of quiet acceptance, bordering on resignation, but subtle shifts occur as the speaker reflects on his memories and present reality. The poem is less about explosive grief and more about the persistent, gnawing ache of absence.

The Weight of Loneliness

One of the central themes is isolation. The widower's daily activities are solitary – splitting wood, making tea, watching the landscape. He is surrounded by nature, yet utterly alone. The vastness of the "Christmas paddocks aching in the heat" emphasizes his isolation, as the landscape reflects the emptiness he feels. Furthermore, the image of the house "away below" when he stands on the hill suggests a distance, not just physical but emotional, from his former life and happiness. He is an observer of his own existence, separated by grief.

Memories as Fleeting Visions

The theme of memory and loss is explored through the image of the sun reflecting off the roof. This reflection "makes my eyes / water and close on bright webbed visions smeared / on the dark of my thoughts to dance and fade away." These fleeting visions suggest memories of his wife, or perhaps of happier times, which are now intangible and ephemeral. The phrase "dance and fade away" reinforces the transient nature of these memories, highlighting the widower's struggle to hold onto them in the face of his grief.

Resignation and Acceptance

The poem also touches on the theme of acceptance, or perhaps more accurately, resignation to his new reality. The lines "Then the sun will move on, and I will simply watch, / or work, or sleep. And evening will come on," convey a sense of passivity. The widower is not actively fighting his grief; he is simply existing, allowing time to pass. This is further emphasized by the predictable routine described throughout the poem – a cycle of waking, working, eating, and sleeping. This monotonous cycle suggests an attempt to find structure and stability in a life that has been fundamentally altered.

The Silent House and the Noisy Roof

The image of the house itself functions as a powerful symbol. During the day, it reflects the sun, offering those fleeting memories. At night, however, it is simply a silent backdrop to his solitary meal. The final stanza introduces a jarring contrast: the sudden sound of the possum on the roof. "Last night I thought I dreamed – but when I woke / the screaming was only a possum ski-ing down / the iron roof on little moonlit claws." The unexpected noise pierces the silence, perhaps mirroring the unexpected pangs of grief that still disrupt his carefully constructed routine. The poem ends not with resolution, but with the unsettling sound of the possum, reminding the reader of the persistent presence of the unexpected in a life now defined by loss.

Final Reflections

"The Widower In The Country" is a moving portrayal of grief and isolation. It explores the quiet struggle of a man attempting to navigate life after loss, finding solace in routine while haunted by fleeting memories. The poem’s power lies in its simplicity and its refusal to offer easy answers or resolutions. Instead, it presents a raw and honest depiction of the enduring impact of loss on the human spirit, captured within the vast and unforgiving Australian landscape.