Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Ingram Merrill's poem "Will" is an intricate and introspective exploration of the themes of mortality, legacy, and the often surreal interplay between past and present. The poem weaves together a series of fragmented yet deeply interconnected images, memories, and reflections, creating a tapestry that contemplates the nature of personal and artistic inheritance.

The poem opens with the speaker standing in a living room that is described as "both David the Wise's and not his." This paradoxical setting immediately establishes a sense of dislocation and ambiguity, reflecting the complex relationship the speaker has with his surroundings and the people in his life. The "dead of winter, wailing, bleak" outside mirrors the emotional and existential weight that hangs over the scene. The arrival of two men and a woman, dressed in black and bearing a will, introduces the theme of mortality and the formalities that come with it.

As the speaker signs the will and prepares to leave, there is a sense of detachment, as if the act of signing away his possessions—or perhaps his identity—is both necessary and surreal. The mention of packing a "canvas tote-bag" with "manuscript on either side for wadding" suggests that the speaker is carrying not just physical items, but also the weight of his literary and personal legacy. The transition from this scene to the mention of a "wedding" introduces a juxtaposition of life and death, continuity and finality.

The poem then shifts to a series of dream-like sequences, beginning with a reflection on a "person more urbane than usual" who was "heading for the Seine." This figure encounters a façade he recognizes, yet the building is unresponsive, its door marked with a mysterious "Ibis." The imagery here is both evocative and cryptic, suggesting a journey into the unknown, guided by symbols that are rich with historical and cultural significance.

The following section of the poem introduces the idea of disorientation and loss of control, as the speaker reflects on a near-miss with a carving knife and the growing sense of things "losing their grip" on him. The act of carving, which nearly resulted in the loss of a thumb, becomes a metaphor for the speaker's struggle to maintain control over his life and his creative output. This struggle is further emphasized by the reference to "Ice blue and white sestet," suggesting a cold, distant beauty that the speaker is trying to reach but cannot fully grasp.

As the poem progresses, the speaker finds himself at an airport, waiting—a place of transition and uncertainty. The "scar itches," a reminder of the recent injury, as well as the deeper wounds that time has inflicted. The speaker's thoughts turn to the past, specifically to an ibis, a funerary bird sacred to the Egyptian god Thoth, which the speaker had purchased with a check from his late father. This ibis, now intended as a gift for a young couple, becomes a symbol of the weight of inheritance, both personal and cultural.

The scene shifts again to a homecoming, where the speaker is greeted by familiar figures—his mother and elderly friends who invite him to play bridge. This domestic setting is tinged with nostalgia, yet it is quickly disrupted by the realization that the ibis, along with a manuscript, has been left in the taxi. The loss of these items triggers a deep sense of despair, as the speaker grapples with the idea of losing something irreplaceable.

In the poem's final sections, the speaker is confronted by a voice, possibly that of Ephraim, a recurring character in Merrill's work, who chastises the speaker for his decisions. This voice criticizes the speaker's actions and urges him to "disinherit" himself from the burdens of the past. The dialogue between the speaker and this voice reflects the tension between holding on to the past and the need to let go in order to move forward.

The poem ends with a meditation on the act of writing and the creative process. The speaker reflects on the difficulty of making progress in his work, but also on the moments of revelation that occasionally break through the darkness. The image of "thickskinned little suns" returning, along with the "rings exchanged for life," suggests a renewal of hope and the possibility of new beginnings, even after loss.

"Will" is a deeply layered poem that delves into the complexities of legacy, creativity, and the passage of time. Merrill uses rich, symbolic imagery to explore the ways in which we grapple with our own mortality and the legacies we leave behind. The poem's shifting scenes and fragmented narrative structure mirror the speaker's internal journey, reflecting the uncertainties and contradictions that define human experience. Ultimately, "Will" is a meditation on the struggle to reconcile the past with the present, and the role that art and memory play in shaping our understanding of both.

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