Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Roden Berkeley Wriothesley Noel’s "The Swimmer (1)" is a poem that captures the exhilaration and freedom of swimming in the ocean, emphasizing the connection between human beings and the natural world. Through vibrant imagery and rhythmic, flowing language, the poem immerses the reader in the dynamic interplay of wind, wave, and swimmer, celebrating the liberating experience of being in harmony with the sea. The poem evokes a sense of adventure, as well as the joy and release that comes from surrendering oneself to the elements.

The poem begins with a call to action: "Who would linger idle, / Dallying would lie, / When wind and wave, a bridal / Celebrating, fly?" Here, Noel challenges the reader to abandon idleness and join in the celebration of nature’s forces. The personification of the wind and waves as a "bridal" suggests a union, a marriage of the elements, full of life and movement. The use of the word "fly" further conveys the energy and dynamism of the scene, as if the wind and waves are in flight, calling out for participation rather than observation. The speaker’s question urges the reader to seize the moment and become part of this natural celebration, rather than passively watching from the shore.

The following lines continue this invitation: "Let him plunge among them, / Who hath wooed enough, / Flirted with them, sung them, / In the salt sea-trough." The speaker encourages the reader, who may have already admired or "wooed" the sea from a distance, to dive in and fully engage with its power. The playful language of "wooed," "flirted," and "sung" suggests a courtship between the swimmer and the sea, implying that there has been a period of admiration or interaction, but now it is time for full immersion. The "salt sea-trough" refers to the troughs between the waves, where the swimmer can dive and experience the sea’s raw, rhythmic energy. The imagery here highlights the intimate relationship between the swimmer and the ocean, as if the sea is a lover waiting to be embraced.

As the swimmer plunges into the water, the poem shifts to a more expansive vision: "He may win them, onward / On a buoyant crest, / Far to seaward, sunward, / Ocean-borne to rest!" The swimmer rides the waves, carried far out to sea and toward the sun, suggesting both physical and spiritual liberation. The words "buoyant crest" and "ocean-borne" convey the effortless freedom of being carried by the waves, emphasizing the sense of release and surrender to the natural forces at play. The direction "seaward" and "sunward" suggests a journey away from the constraints of land and into the open, infinite expanse of the ocean, where the swimmer can find rest and peace.

The imagery of the wind and waves continues to reinforce the idea of harmony with nature: "Wild wind will sing over him, / And the free foam cover him, / Swimming seaward, sunward, / On a blithe sea-breast!" The wind and waves are personified once again, with the "wild wind" singing over the swimmer and the "free foam" covering him. These lines evoke a sense of protection and unity with the natural world, as the swimmer is enveloped by the sea. The phrase "blithe sea-breast" suggests the sea as a nurturing, joyous presence, further emphasizing the idea that the swimmer is at one with the elements, free from the burdens of the land.

In the next stanza, the poem introduces the image of a sea-bird: "On a blithe sea-bosom / Swims another too, / Swims a live sea-blossom, / A grey-winged sea-mew!" The sea-mew, or seagull, becomes a companion to the swimmer, both of them moving freely through the water. The comparison of the bird to a "live sea-blossom" highlights the beauty and vitality of the creature, as if it were a flower blooming in the ocean. This connection between the swimmer and the sea-mew further reinforces the idea of harmony between humans and nature, as both are part of the same joyful, living world.

The final lines of the excerpt return to the imagery of the waves: "Grape-green all the waves are, / By whose hurrying line / Half of ships and caves are / Buried under brine." The color "grape-green" suggests the richness and depth of the sea, while the "hurrying line" of the waves conveys their constant motion. The mention of "ships and caves" buried under the brine reminds the reader of the sea’s power and its ability to engulf and hide even the largest human creations. This closing image of the waves’ unstoppable force serves as a reminder of the vastness and mystery of the ocean, which, while it can be a source of joy and freedom, also holds immense and untamable power.

In "The Swimmer (1)", Noel captures the exhilaration of swimming in the ocean, emphasizing the connection between human beings and the natural world. The poem celebrates the freedom and joy that come from surrendering to the sea’s power, while also acknowledging the ocean’s vastness and mystery. Through rich, rhythmic language and vivid imagery, Noel conveys the sense of adventure and liberation that comes from immersing oneself in the elements, making the poem a powerful ode to the beauty and dynamism of nature.

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