Book Review- Silence in the Snowy Fields

“Silence in the Snowy Fields” by Robert Bly is a single project book, in which the author continues to use nature images to express an overall sense of depression, and hopelessness. The author often references dark images of the sea, as he refers to it in one of his poems as the “sea of death.” Many of his poems would also discuss the character as being alone, except for a tree, or blades of grass. This gave the overall sense that his loneliness was reinforced by nature, as there was a strong connection between the body and nature, due to his constant awareness of the depressing images around him.
This sense of loneliness continued throughout the book, which made each poem connect to one another. Aside from pointing out specific nature images, Bly also focused his poems around the time of day, as well as the seasons of the year. He would have a poem about the snow in the morning, and then later in the book would discuss an event at night. He also constantly made references to certain states such as Minnesota, Ohio, and Maryland. This gave the sense that the poems are based on his travels through these different locations, and was possibly reflections on his mood and how it ties to the nature around him.
Since the poems had similar patterns of nature and a certain time of day/place, they did become quiet predictable. In some way the author would make an observation and express through this observation how he felt alone or not fully alive. The few other characters he mentioned in his poems had this similar mood of depression, as the one discussed the pale women in Maryland, and the other was about a funeral of his Great Aunt.
Many of the poems also had a very similar structure. The first section of poems would have 3 or 4 short stanzas and would be separated by very distinct roman numerals between each one. These numerals seemed to serve as an exaggeration for a change in thought. For the most part, his poems were composed of short lines that were not harshly enjambed. Despite the lack of enjambment, the poems did not flow easily, as his ideas were often abstract and hard to follow. He often talked in a dream-like manner, and would personify nature in a confusing but dark manner. His poems were unrhymed, which emphasized his serious tone, and he used casual but descriptive language.
One social theme that did seem to arise was the author’s criticism for the upper class. In several of his poems, he alludes to their snobbery and lack of concern for the others around them, including nature. This ties in well with the rest of his poems, because he seems to exaggerate his focus by mentioning it in every poem.
The book seemed to come to an abrupt ending, and I did not really see much change in tone throughout his works. The last poem seems as though it could have been placed anywhere in the book and have the same effect. The fact that his poems lacked much change throughout the book and became predictable is one of the major criticisms I would have for this book. I started to loose interest towards the end, because I knew that the same idea of despair or loneliness would eventually play out.