Howard Nemerov and objective idealism

Poet Laureate from 1988 to 1990, Howard Nemerov (1920-1991) was one of the most widely honored poets in America. He remains one of the few modern American poets (perhaps comparable only to Robert Frost) who has a wide following both within and beyond the confines of the university. This appeal is due in part to Nemerov's eclectic taste, which led him to seek metaphors and themes from many seemingly nonliterary sources, including biology, mathematics, music, and philosophy. In this provocative study, Donna Potts argues that one of the most profound influences on the poetic works of Howard Nemerov was the thought of British philosopher Owen Barfield, in particular his theory of objective idealism. Objective idealism, formulated in response to Kant's subjective idealism, seeks to restore the pre-Enlightenment relationship between nature and human nature, giving greater significance to the role of individual perception. Nemerov first encountered Barfield's ideas in 1963, when he read Barfield's Poetic Diction. His letter to Barfield expressing his appreciation for the book launched a correspondence that lasted nearly thirty years. Incorporating excerpts of letters from and interviews with both writers, Potts's study reveals the full depth of Barfield's influence on Nemerov's poetic expression. Potts contends that Nemerov's belief in human perception as the agent of reality, his understanding of the role of language in formulating that perception, and his awareness of recent scientific experiments that "implicate the observer in the phenomena" have their counterparts in Barfield's objective idealism and are omnipresent in Nemerov's poetry. Potts's skillful exploration of Barfield's influence on the poetry of Howard Nemerov will enrich our understanding and appreciation of this great American poet.