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ANCESTRAL VOICES, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Ancestral Voices" offers a meditative exploration of nature's timeless rhythms and the intrinsic connection between the natural world and human perception. Through rich, evocative imagery, Merwin conveys the sense of continuity and the primal beauty of dawn as it unfolds in a valley, awakening both birds and the landscape.

The poem opens with a description of the dark, silent night: "In the old dark the late dark the still deep shadow / that had travelled silently along itself all night." This depiction sets a contemplative tone, emphasizing the stillness and depth of night, which has been moving silently and uninterrupted.

Merwin then introduces the first signs of awakening: "while the small stars of spring were yet to be seen and the few / lamps burned by themselves with no expectations / far down through the valley." These lines highlight the transition from night to dawn, with stars still visible and lamps burning, creating a sense of anticipation as the valley awaits the new day.

The voice of the blackbird serves as the herald of dawn: "then suddenly the voice / of the blackbird came believing in the habit / of the light." The blackbird's song symbolizes faith in the arrival of light, breaking the stillness of night and signaling the start of a new day. The "habit of the light" suggests a routine, a natural cycle that the blackbird trusts and relies upon.

As the ridges begin to appear, "still asleep surfacing in their / dream," the poem captures the gradual emergence of the landscape from darkness: "until the torn shadows of the ridges / that had gone out one behind the other into the darkness / began appearing again." This imagery of the ridges surfacing from their dreamlike state reinforces the idea of a slow, natural awakening.

The stars disappear, replaced by the song of the blackbird and the nightingale: "the stars all at once were gone and instead the song / of the blackbird flashed through the unlit boughs and far / out in the oaks a nightingale went on echoing / itself drawing out its own invisible starlight." The nightingale's song, echoing itself, suggests a timeless, self-referential beauty, akin to starlight that remains even after the stars have vanished.

Merwin then reflects on the ancient presence of these voices: "these voices were lifted here long long before the first / of our kind had come to be able to listen." This acknowledgment of the birds' songs predating human existence underscores the enduring and primal nature of these sounds, connecting the present moment to a distant past.

As the dawn light begins to spread, the goldfinches join the chorus: "and with the faint light in the dew of the infant / leaves the goldfinches flew out from their nest in the brambles / they had chosen all their colors for this day and they sang / of themselves which was what they had wakened to remember." The goldfinches, adorned in their chosen colors, celebrate the new day by singing of themselves, a pure expression of their existence and their role in the natural cycle.

"Ancestral Voices" by William Stanley Merwin is a profound reflection on the continuity of nature and the timeless beauty of dawn. Through its detailed imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to consider the deep connections between the natural world and human experience. Merwin's exploration of these ancestral voices underscores the idea that nature's rhythms and sounds have been present long before human beings and will continue to resonate, offering a sense of continuity and wonder.


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