Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin’s poem “Beginning of the Plains” is an evocative exploration of transitions, both physical and existential, capturing the shift from the urban to the rural, from the known to the unknown. Merwin, celebrated for his introspective and vivid imagery, crafts a narrative that reflects on movement, homecoming, and the inherent challenges that accompany these journeys. Through the lens of a traveler crossing city bridges, the poem delves into themes of displacement, memory, and the visceral experience of encountering new yet familiar landscapes.

The poem opens with the striking image of "city bridges steep as hills," immediately setting a tone of arduous transition. These bridges, acting as both literal and metaphorical thresholds, symbolize the crossing from one realm to another. The phrase "I change countries" suggests a significant transformation, perhaps indicating a return to a place of origin or a journey into a different state of being. The speaker’s movement is described as "according to the promise," hinting at a preordained or long-anticipated journey, imbued with a sense of destiny or obligation.

The concept of home is introduced with an intriguing ambiguity: "this according to the promise is the way home / where the cold has come from with its secret baggage." The cold, personified and carrying "secret baggage," evokes a sense of mystery and foreboding. It suggests that home is not merely a place of warmth and comfort, but also one that holds hidden histories and unspoken truths. The "white sky" and "light flickering like the flight of a wing" further enhance this atmosphere of ethereal and transient beauty, reflecting the fleeting nature of the moment and the delicate balance between light and darkness.

As the speaker approaches the edge of the city, the imagery shifts to a more desolate and sparse environment: "nothing to be bought in the last dim shops / before the plain begins." The dim shops, likely remnants of a fading urban landscape, represent the last vestiges of familiarity before entering the vast openness of the plains. The mention of "few shelves kept only by children and relatives there for the holiday who know nothing" underscores a sense of abandonment and disconnection, suggesting that those left behind are unaware or unconcerned with the traveler’s journey.

The "wind without flags marching into the city to the rear" conveys a sense of relentless, directionless movement, as if the wind itself is a force of nature that disregards human constructs. This image of the wind, unanchored by flags, marching into the city, symbolizes the inevitability of change and the encroachment of the natural world upon the urban environment.

The poem culminates with the recognition of "the first hunger as the plains start under my feet." This hunger, both literal and metaphorical, signifies a deep, primal yearning that arises as the speaker steps onto the plains. It reflects a longing for sustenance, understanding, and connection in the face of vast, open landscapes that offer both promise and peril. The plains, starting underfoot, represent a new beginning, a blank canvas that is both daunting and exhilarating.

Merwin’s masterful use of imagery and metaphor in “Beginning of the Plains” creates a rich, immersive narrative that captures the essence of transition and homecoming. The poem’s tone, marked by a blend of anticipation and apprehension, mirrors the complexities of returning to a place that is both familiar and alien. The journey described is not merely physical but deeply existential, reflecting the universal human experience of seeking and confronting the unknown.

Through its vivid language and evocative scenes, “Beginning of the Plains” invites readers to contemplate their own journeys, the thresholds they cross, and the landscapes—both external and internal—they navigate. Merwin’s poignant exploration of movement, memory, and the inexorable pull of home resonates deeply, offering a profound meditation on the nature of change and the enduring quest for belonging.

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