Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin’s poem "Envoy from d'Aubigné" is a deeply introspective and poignant meditation on the nature of authorship, legacy, and the power of truth in the face of oblivion. The poem takes the form of a farewell or final message from a writer to their book, which is personified as a living entity sent out into the world. Through this envoy, Merwin explores the themes of mortality, the transient nature of fame, and the enduring value of truth and virtue.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the book directly: "o book, go, now I will let you. I open the grave. Live. I will die for us both." This opening line sets a tone of resignation and sacrifice. The speaker, perhaps an author, is releasing the book into the world, understanding that their own life is nearing its end. The act of "opening the grave" suggests a readiness to embrace death, while the command for the book to "live" implies that the work will continue to exist even after the author’s demise. The speaker expresses a willingness to die for the sake of the book, indicating a deep connection between the creator and the creation.

As the poem progresses, the speaker offers advice and warnings to the book. "Go but come again if you can and feed me in prison," they say, revealing a fear of being forgotten or confined to obscurity. The idea of the book returning to "feed" the speaker in prison evokes a sense of nourishment derived from the work’s continued relevance or impact. The speaker instructs the book not to boast of its creator: "If they ask you why you do not boast of me, tell them as they have forgotten, truth habitually gives birth in private." This line suggests that true creation and the birthing of truth happen in solitude, away from the public eye and the superficial accolades of fame.

The speaker’s admonition for the book to go "without ornament, without showy garment" reflects a disdain for pretension and a preference for simplicity and authenticity. The book is to be a vessel of truth, not a display of vanity. The hope that "may the good find it" indicates a desire for the book to reach those who are worthy and capable of appreciating its message, while the wish for it to be "a glass broken in their mouths" for others suggests a warning against those who would misuse or misunderstand the truth it contains.

The speaker then questions how the book will survive "with nothing but your virtue to draw around you when they shout 'die, die' who have been frightened before." This line captures the vulnerability of truth and virtue in a hostile world, where fear and ignorance often prevail. The reference to "the many" highlights the speaker’s awareness of the masses who may reject or attack the book’s message out of fear or misunderstanding.

In a moment of reflection, the speaker considers the entirety of their work: "I think of all I wrote in my time--Dew, and I am standing in dry air." The imagery of dew, ephemeral and delicate, contrasts with the "dry air," suggesting the fragility and fleeting nature of the author’s creations in the face of time and mortality. The speaker offers the book "what flowers there are, and what hope from my years, and the fire I carried with me." This gift represents the sum of the author’s life—both the beauty and the hope they have cultivated, as well as the passion or "fire" that drove their creative endeavors.

The poem concludes with the speaker urging the book to "burn what will not abide your light," signifying a call to reject falsehoods or anything that cannot withstand the scrutiny of truth. Reflecting on "the old ambitions to be on many lips," the speaker expresses a sense of disillusionment with the idea of widespread fame, recognizing that such ambitions often lead to a shallow existence. Instead, the speaker finds solace in the knowledge of who is writing this and dreams of those who "drank at the icy fountain and told the truth." The "icy fountain" likely symbolizes purity and the harsh clarity of truth, while "those who told the truth" are remembered not for their glory but for their integrity and courage in the face of adversity.

"Envoy from d'Aubigné" is a profound exploration of the relationship between an author and their work, the transient nature of fame, and the enduring value of truth. Merwin’s use of vivid imagery and introspective tone invites readers to reflect on the legacies we leave behind, the sacrifices we make for our creations, and the importance of staying true to one’s principles even in the face of inevitable oblivion. Through this poem, Merwin captures the tension between the desire for recognition and the quiet, often lonely, pursuit of truth that defines the life of a dedicated writer.

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