Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Feast Day" by William Stanley Merwin is a strikingly painful poem that presents a harsh critique of human cruelty and indifference toward the natural world. Set against the backdrop of a wedding celebration, the poem reveals the hidden atrocities committed for the sake of human amusement, thereby exposing the unsettling juxtaposition between joyous occasions and immense suffering.

The poem opens with the observation that "this is the time of the pain of the bears," a phrase that invokes a sense of urgency and current affliction. This "time" is not merely a moment but an era, emphasizing that the events in the poem are not isolated but part of a broader pattern of animal exploitation. The setting in the "mountain forests of Pakistan" anchors the narrative within a specific geographic and cultural context, but the message has universal implications about human disregard for animal welfare.

As the poem proceeds, Merwin delves into the grim specifics of the bears' mistreatment. Their "teeth are pulled out and their claws pulled out," which evokes a visceral reaction. Such grotesque details are in jarring contrast with the setting of a wedding, traditionally an occasion of love and happiness. This sharp discrepancy forces the reader to grapple with the ethical implications of deriving pleasure from suffering.

Perhaps most unsettling is the audience's reaction to the tormented bear: "the guests laugh / at the way it waves and dances." The collective laughter, seemingly innocent in the context of a wedding, becomes morally abhorrent given what we know is happening. The older guests, who have seen this horrific spectacle "many times," even go so far as to interpret the bear's "screams" as omens concerning "the children to be / born of the couple sitting there smiling." This superstitious belief adds another layer of horror; the bear's suffering is not only tolerated but is integrated into the social and cultural fabric as a form of entertainment and augury.

The closing line, "you may not believe it but the bear does," serves as a poignant indictment of human self-absorption and denial. The bear's suffering is real and immediate, and whether one chooses to believe it or not, the reality remains unchanged. The sentence also implicates the reader, questioning our own complicity in turning a blind eye to such atrocities.

In "Feast Day," Merwin doesn't merely describe a horrifying event but prompts us to reconsider our ethical frameworks and the deeply entrenched cultural practices that perpetuate cruelty. Through the stark imagery and emotional intensity, the poem serves as a powerful reminder of the suffering that can occur even amidst our celebrations, compelling us to confront the moral ambiguities that we often choose to ignore.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...