Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's "Waves in August" is a poetic meditation on the passage of time, the inevitability of change, and the persistent human desire for stability amidst uncertainty. The poem also serves as an exploration of the complex relationship between the personal and the universal, emphasizing how one's inner world often stands in stark contrast with external realities-symbolized here by the distant war that seems to inch ever closer.

The poem opens with the lines, "There is a war in the distance / with the distance growing smaller," immediately framing the narrative within a backdrop of impending conflict. This 'distance' is metaphorical as much as it is literal, perhaps referring to the inevitable struggles that lie ahead in life, that no set of 'field glasses' can ultimately keep at bay. The speaker initially deludes himself into thinking he can manipulate perspective and distance through the field glasses, only to find that this is an illusion of control, a futile attempt to negotiate with time and fate.

As the speaker navigates the existential tensions of wanting to 'be somewhere else' while also wishing to 'be alive here,' Merwin captures the common human conundrum of discontentment coupled with a desperate yearning for presence. It's as though the speaker has matured enough to understand the value of the present moment but is also honest enough to acknowledge the childhood wish for a different reality. This duality underscores the eternal tension between acceptance and desire, between what is and what could be.

The poem takes a nostalgic turn when the speaker recalls a youthful memory of hiding a boat under the bushes by the water. This boat symbolizes the hopes and dreams, those little lifeboats that we all, at some point, hide away, thinking we can return to them at a more convenient time. However, life and its ongoing war have other plans. The boat is gone when the speaker returns, and in its place is the "sound of the water / with its whisper of vertigo / terror reassurance an old / old sadness." These conflicting emotions-vertigo, terror, reassurance, sadness-all converge to evoke a deep sense of existential uncertainty that underscores the human condition.

The closing lines provide a sobering reminder that the education in parting, in saying goodbye either to people, dreams, or stages of life, is never complete; "we have to go on learning / as long as there is anything." The existential war rages on, bringing with it new challenges, teaching us new lessons.

"Waves in August" offers readers an intimate view into the human psyche, characterized by an oscillation between the desperate need for stability and the unceasing change that life invariably brings. And in this pendulum swing, Merwin captures the poignancy, the complexity, and the beautiful sadness of human existence.

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