Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"We Continue" by William Stanley Merwin is a poignant reflection on mortality, continuation, and the essence of human endeavor. The poem opens with a vivid image of rust-"a little pile of western color"-that stands as a symbol of decay and endings. It once was part of "our instrument," but now it is "no longer," suggesting that human lives and creations inevitably break down and change form. This also serves as a metaphor for the limitations of human influence; our tools, arts, and even our bodies eventually give way to the inexorable processes of time and decay.

The poem's second stanza abruptly challenges this notion of inevitable decline with the line, "Those who believe / In death have their worship cut out for them." This seems to assert that believing in death as a finite end narrows one's perspective and limits the capacity for deeper understanding. Here, Merwin contends with one of the most fundamental human questions: what becomes of us after death? His answer is a form of resistance against the finality that many ascribe to death: "As for myself we / Continue."

This continuation is not simplistic or naive; it is fraught with difficulty and complication, "an old / Scar of light our trumpet." The scar of light, perhaps a symbol for enduring human spirit or consciousness, serves as a trumpet-a call to action or a rallying cry for human endeavor. This phrase encapsulates the poem's simultaneous sense of urgency and melancholy.

"Pilgrims with thorns / To the eye of the cold / Under flags made by the blind / In one fist," Merwin describes human beings as pilgrims, always on a journey often marked by pain ("thorns") and blinded idealism ("flags made by the blind"). The poem suggests that life is a pilgrimage fraught with challenges, yet it is a journey that humans are bound to take.

"Their letter that vanishes / If the hand opens" indicates the fleeting nature of human deeds and words. This could imply that the actions and beliefs we hold tightly are ephemeral, disappearing as soon as we try to grasp them fully or claim them as definitive truths.

The final lines, "Charity come home / Begin," evoke a sense of return and renewal. While "charity" often implies a form of kindness or aid given to others, its original meaning in the context of Christian theology is akin to an all-encompassing love. This call for charity to "come home" and to "Begin" is a plea for renewed love and compassion as a way to counteract the inescapable facts of decay and death.

In its quiet, meditative way, "We Continue" reflects on life's transience while simultaneously asserting the vital human urge to keep going, to keep creating meaning even in the face of mortality. The poem presents a dialectic between decay and endurance, between the limitations of human existence and the boundless capacity for renewal. With characteristic eloquence, Merwin encapsulates these complex, often contradictory aspects of human experience, leaving the reader with a sense of both the sorrow and the beauty inherent in our mortal journey.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...