JOURNAL ARTICLE

On Nostalgia: Ever Cleaner, Ever More Pillowy.

  • Published In: Poetry, 2026, v. 228, n. 2. P. 177 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Dralyuk, Boris 3 of 3

Abstract

The article explores the complex emotional nature of nostalgia, tracing its origins as a medical diagnosis for intense homesickness and examining its dual character as both a painful longing and a sweetened memory. It discusses how nostalgia can obscure harsh realities by idealizing the past, making it challenging to portray honestly in poetry. Through reflections on poets such as Edwin Arlington Robinson, Marina Tsvetaeva, and Donald Justice, the article highlights varied poetic approaches to nostalgia—from satirical to deeply personal—emphasizing the tension between resisting and yielding to its allure. The piece underscores nostalgia as a "hard feeling" that intertwines memory, loss, and identity, especially poignant for those shaped by displacement or exile. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Poetry. 2026/05, Vol. 228, Issue 2, p177
  • Document Type:Nonfiction Work
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0032-2032
  • Accession Number:192468173
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