Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Randall Jarrell's "The Dream of Waking" is a deeply poignant and haunting exploration of trauma, comfort, and the fragile boundary between sleep and wakefulness. Through vivid and emotive imagery, Jarrell captures the essence of a nightmare transitioning into a waking moment, highlighting the persistence of memory and the longing for reassurance in the face of suffering.

The poem begins with a harrowing image: "in the bottom of a boat, badly wounded, crying and stroking the face of the other, who was dying; and saying, 'Come on now, you'll be all right. You'll be all right.'" This scene sets the tone for the poem, presenting a raw depiction of pain and desperate comfort. The repeated assurance, "you'll be all right," underscores the human need to console and be consoled, even when reality seems bleak.

The transition from the nightmare to the waking world is marked by a shift in tone and imagery. The narrator describes a familiar scene at home: "And teacher here at home / Curled fast on the quilt like Kitten, saying Come / You'll be all right, you'll be all right—is gone." This moment of domestic tranquility, where a comforting presence reassures the speaker, is abruptly interrupted, mirroring the disruption caused by the traumatic memory.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more surreal and dreamlike: "And the water trembles upward into light, / And the light's smile breaks, is laughter—it is me / And the room and the tree: oh, morning, morning." The transition from night to morning is depicted with a sense of wonder and renewal, as the light and the familiar surroundings become symbols of hope and continuity. The repetition of "morning, morning" emphasizes the relief and clarity that daylight brings.

Jarrell's use of imagery to describe the morning is particularly evocative: "And the frost is starry, like the sun between my eyes / In my lashes so they open: and the white / Is the breath the night breathed, there like mine." The frost and the breath are intertwined, symbolizing the connection between the natural world and the speaker's inner experience. The "starry" frost suggests a magical, almost celestial quality to the morning, contrasting with the darkness of the nightmare.

The poem then returns to the theme of comfort and reassurance: "My clouds are cover and my nightgown and the breath / That prints me on the window; and my sun / Is gold all mixed with air, is my own." Here, the speaker finds solace in the familiar objects and sensations of the morning, which provide a sense of grounding and personal ownership.

However, the peace is fleeting, as the speaker reflects on the lingering impact of the nightmare: "So he wakes? No, wakes from; and the teacher cat / Is the nurse of the world, his clouds are plaster brown with blood." The mention of "plaster brown with blood" abruptly shifts the tone back to the reality of trauma and loss, suggesting that the wounds from the past are still present and unresolved.

The poem concludes with a powerful return to the initial scene of suffering: "And he is back for good: the boat is bodies / And the body broken in his broken arms / And the voice, the old voice: Please don't die— / His life and their death: oh, morning, morning." The repetition of "morning, morning" here takes on a more somber tone, reflecting the inescapable presence of past pain even in the new day. The contrast between life and death, hope and despair, is poignantly captured in the juxtaposition of the waking world and the nightmare.

In "The Dream of Waking," Jarrell masterfully blends the surreal with the real, creating a powerful meditation on the enduring impact of trauma and the fragile nature of comfort and hope. Through his vivid and emotive language, he invites readers to reflect on the complex interplay between memory, suffering, and the moments of grace that help us navigate the journey from night to morning.

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