Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ice" by Andrew Motion is a poem that delves into themes of human will, survival, and the harsh realities of nature. It portrays a voyage to the frigid north, recounting both the physical and emotional challenges encountered by the speaker and his companions. As the poem progresses, it illuminates the human condition by contrasting the merciless environment against the fragility and resilience of human life.

The poem opens with a tone of weariness, tinged with frustration and resignation: "When friends no longer remembered / the reasons we set forth, / I switched between nanny and tartar / driving us on north." The speaker's companions have lost sight of their initial purpose, causing the speaker to oscillate between caretaker and disciplinarian roles. These lines set the stage for the challenges that the travelers will face, emphasizing the mental and emotional toll of their journey.

The second stanza exposes the raw brutality of the Arctic: "Will you imagine a human hand / welded by ice to wood? / And skin when they chip it off? / I don't think you should." These lines are striking, asking readers to picture the gruesome reality but then abruptly discouraging it. The speaker is seemingly torn between acknowledging the full extent of the human suffering and wanting to shield others from its psychological impact. This internal tension is one of the poem's most poignant aspects.

By the third stanza, the attention shifts to the "appalling loose beauty / of prowling floes" featuring lions' heads, dragons, and crucifix-wrecks. The paradox of "appalling loose beauty" captures the sublime horror of the Arctic landscape. These natural sculptures represent a world of danger and dread but also allure and fascination. Yet, the beauty remains "loose," perhaps suggesting that its allure is unfocused, misleading, and potentially deadly.

The fourth stanza introduces another set of threats: "By night the seething hiss / of killers cruising past- / the silence after each fountain-jet, / and our hearts aghast." The speaker describes the sounds of killer whales in the night and the silence that follows their spouting, casting the voyage as an existential struggle against both nature's physical threats and its emotional horrors.

The final stanza is terse: "Of our journey home and the rest / there is nothing more to say. / I have lived and not yet died. / I have sailed in the Scotia Sea." The speaker survives, but the experience has led to a profound realization of mortality and the limits of human will against the indifferent backdrop of nature.

Structurally, the poem adheres to a simple rhyme scheme and meter, which contrasts with the complexity of the subjects tackled. This could serve to underpin the notion that, despite the complexities and dangers inherent in the expedition and life itself, survival often boils down to basic, unvarnished truths.

Overall, "Ice" is a compelling narrative of an Arctic voyage that grapples with themes of human frailty, the perilous allure of nature, and the existential trials that shape our understanding of life and death. Through vivid imagery and concise language, Andrew Motion crafts a haunting tableau that stays with the reader, urging them to confront the "appalling loose beauty" and terrors of the world, as well as the resilience and vulnerabilities of human existence.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...