Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Wind" by John Updike is a deeply evocative and contemplative poem that explores the nature of the wind as a powerful, omnipresent force. Updike uses vivid imagery and metaphor to delve into the physical and psychological impacts of the wind, presenting it as both a natural phenomenon and a symbol of larger existential themes.

The poem opens with a profound assertion: "If God has any voice it is the wind." This line sets the tone for the spiritual and metaphysical exploration that follows, suggesting the wind as a divine messenger or manifestation, an omnipotent voice that speaks through its movements and effects.

Updike then shifts to the human experience of the wind, particularly focusing on women’s reactions to it: "Women hate / this seeking of a vacuum, / it gets their edges up, / they cannot sleep." The wind is described as unsettling and invasive, disrupting calm and stirring anxiety. The imagery of "Boreas impregnating primeval Night" and "skirts rudely lifted in funhouses" enhances the sense of the wind as a force that penetrates privacy and stirs chaos, invoking ancient myths and modern discomforts alike.

The wind’s power and omnipresence are further developed through the line "It is death made loud: / nowhereness bellowing." Here, the wind embodies the void, the nothingness that roars into existence, a sound of the universe that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring. The description transitions through various manifestations—along eaves, through trees, over water—highlighting the wind's ability to transform and interact with different elements of the environment.

The repeated lines, "Wind carves. It makes mesas / and heaps up waves as a rich man plays / with remote corporations that swallow and shift / poor fish by the thousand," draw a parallel between the natural sculpting power of the wind and the manipulative forces of wealth and power in human society. This metaphor extends the theme of the wind to include human economic and social dynamics, suggesting a critique of how human actions can mimic natural forces, often with little regard for the vulnerable.

The poem concludes with a personal reflection from the speaker: "I lie here listening." This simple statement of stillness and attention contrasts with the dynamic descriptions of the wind, suggesting a moment of contemplation amid the chaos. The final metaphor, "In its mouth my body tastes like stale milk," is haunting and visceral, encapsulating a feeling of being consumed and diminished by the overwhelming presence of the wind.

Overall, "Wind" by John Updike is a rich and layered poem that captures the essence of the wind as a force of nature and a metaphor for divine presence, human discomfort, and societal forces. It invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with the wind and the broader implications of being at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

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