Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Swimmer" by Louise Gluck employs the imagery of the ocean and the act of swimming to explore themes of distance, connection, and the restless search for something ineffable. The poem begins with the subject seated in a bathtub, a controlled environment where "No sand stirred, the dead / waited in the ocean." Here, the speaker contrasts the sterile, isolated setting of the bathtub with the vast, unpredictable sea where the dead wait-implying a deeper, emotional or existential context for the "dead."

When "tapwater / flooded over you," the colors "sapphire and emerald" evoke the ocean but in a much tamer, domestic version. This duality speaks to the human craving for the sublime, tempered by a fear of its uncontrollable aspects. In this controlled space, the person may simulate the experience of the ocean but cannot capture its true essence or its dangers, its unknowns.

As the poem moves to "the beach," it introduces the second perspective of the "I" who is "not satisfied" with the "shell and bone" found there. The dissatisfaction suggests a yearning for something more, something that mere objects can't fulfill. What satisfies the speaker is "your body," the human connection that transcends the material.

Then the perspective shifts again, distancing the speaker from the "you," who is "Far away." The phrase "the wind / moves into a human language" seems to suggest that nature itself conspires to bridge the gap, to articulate what is hard for humans to express. This line could also imply that the natural world and human emotions are intrinsically linked, each capable of "speaking" through the other.

The "darkness" and "long nights" that "pass into stationary darkness" imply a kind of emotional or existential stasis or void, which contrasts starkly with the earlier dynamism of the sea. This darkness might be emotional distance, misunderstanding, or even death, which makes the oceanic expanse and its "onyx and manganese" colors come alive as the only things that move. Yet, even this dark, restless sea has the potential for release and reconciliation: "If you are there it will release you."

The poem culminates in the image of "your worn face, / your long arms making for shore." This serves as a powerful metaphor for human struggle against the tides of life, emotions, and perhaps even death. The "waves come forward," and in this movement, there is a sense of companionship: "we are traveling together." It acknowledges a shared journey, with its trials and tribulations, its ebbs and flows.

"Swimmer" is rich in its exploration of human relationships against the backdrop of the natural world. Through its nuanced use of language and symbolism, the poem invites the reader to ponder the complexities of love, longing, and the relentless passage of time.

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