Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Merrill's poem "Who Guessed Amiss the Riddle of the Sphinx" is a haunting meditation on loss, memory, and the mysterious forces that shape our lives. The poem, steeped in mythological imagery, explores the complex emotions that arise when something familiar and cherished is suddenly lost, leaving behind an unsettling void.

The poem opens with a dramatic event: "In the night my great swamp-willow fell." This line immediately sets a tone of sudden loss and destruction, as the swamp-willow, likely a symbol of stability and life, is unexpectedly uprooted. The use of "great" emphasizes the significance of the tree, both in size and perhaps in emotional importance to the speaker.

The speaker returns home early, to find not just the physical space altered but also a metaphysical presence—the "young sphinx"—sweeping the hearth bare "by the lazy thrashing of her tail." The sphinx, a creature from mythology known for its enigmatic nature, adds a layer of mystery and foreboding to the scene. The fact that the sphinx’s tail has swept the hearth bare suggests a kind of casual, yet powerful, destruction—something ancient and wise, yet indifferent to human concerns.

As the speaker is awakened by "a scraping on my window," they find themselves confronting the fallen tree, its "roots aghast in air." This image of the roots, usually hidden and grounding, now exposed and "aghast," symbolizes a reversal of the natural order, a disquieting revelation of what lies beneath the surface. The speaker questions the cause, asking "of wind, of rottenness," indicating a search for reasons behind this loss, whether they be natural (the wind) or internal decay (rottenness).

The speaker then reveals a crucial detail: the memory of the sphinx, described with striking imagery—"Her yellow gaze unwinking, vertical pupil, / Stiff wing, dark nipple, firelit paws." This vivid description evokes a sense of the sphinx as both a guardian and a mysterious, almost sinister figure. The "vertical pupil" and "firelit paws" suggest a creature of the night, one that is both watchful and otherworldly.

The scent of the speaker's palm brings back memories of the sphinx, "Hiding my face, beside the boughs / Whose tall believed exuberance fallen." Here, the speaker reflects on the joy and life that the tree once represented, now reduced to a memory. The tree’s fall is not just a physical event but a symbolic one, representing the collapse of something vital and exuberant in the speaker's life.

As the poem progresses, there is a sense of things unraveling: "Bug goes witless, liquors lack, / Profusion riddled to its core of dream / Dies, whispering names." This passage suggests the breakdown of life and vitality, as the very essence of growth and abundance ("profusion") is reduced to mere whispers, remnants of a dream now fading. The "names" whispered might be those of the things or people lost, as the speaker grapples with the aftermath of the tree's fall.

The sphinx, however, "only from the dead flames rose," a creature that transcends the destruction, yet remains aloof and unattainable. The sphinx's rejection of "sweet milk" after licking the speaker’s fingers signifies a refusal of comfort or sustenance, underscoring the harsh, enigmatic nature of this mythical being.

The poem closes on a note of finality and resignation: "Henceforth, bareness extreme, / No more this hand has branchings of a tree." The "bareness extreme" suggests a profound emptiness, a stark contrast to the previous richness and vitality associated with the tree. The speaker’s hand, once connected to life and growth ("branchings of a tree"), is now stripped of this connection, symbolizing a loss of creativity, fertility, or emotional connection.

"Who Guessed Amiss the Riddle of the Sphinx" is a poem that delves into the themes of loss, memory, and the unknowable forces that govern our lives. Merrill's use of mythological imagery, particularly the figure of the sphinx, adds a layer of complexity and mystery, suggesting that some losses are beyond understanding or consolation. The poem captures the disorientation and sorrow that accompany the sudden collapse of something beloved, leaving the speaker—and the reader—to confront the emptiness that remains.

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