Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Spring" evokes a vivid, almost mythic journey, blending the renewal associated with the season of spring with an unsettling undercurrent of resurrection, identity, and the passage of time. The poem's imagery is rich with symbolic meaning, creating a layered narrative that invites readers to explore the connections between past and present, life and death, and the self's relationship with its history and lineage.

The poem begins with the image of water disturbed by the "first wind," which "Breaks it all up into arrows." This initial disruption of the natural order introduces the theme of resurrection, as the "dead bowmen buried these many years / Are setting out again." The wind, a force of change, seems to animate the buried archers, suggesting that spring, traditionally a time of rebirth, also brings with it a resurgence of past conflicts or unresolved issues. These "arrows" metaphorically point to the return of something once forgotten or buried deep within the past.

The speaker then introduces a personal element: "And I / I take down from the door / My story with the holes / For the arms the face and the vitals." Here, the speaker likens their own narrative to a garment or armor—something that can be worn and which has been marked by experiences, perhaps wounds, that have left their imprint. The "holes" suggest a life marked by trials and tribulations, through which the essence of the speaker's identity has been shaped. The act of taking down this "story" from the door, a threshold symbol, indicates a readiness to confront or engage with the next phase of their journey.

The speaker continues with an ambiguous reference to "the sights from the mantle," perhaps suggesting the removal of familiar or comforting objects—relics of the past—as they prepare to visit "my uncle the honest one / Who stole me the horse in the good cause." This uncle, described with a mix of admiration and disdain, represents a figure from the speaker's past who embodies both loyalty and moral ambiguity. The "horse" symbolizes freedom or escape, suggesting that the uncle once provided the means for the speaker to embark on a significant journey or act.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's journey becomes more surreal and symbolic. They describe themselves carrying their "bones on a drum," an image that conjures a ritualistic or ceremonial act, possibly one of self-awareness or identity. The drum, a traditional instrument associated with rhythm and communication, might symbolize the speaker's heartbeat or the passage of time. The bones, the fundamental structure of the body, suggest a deep connection to the self's core essence.

The reference to the uncle as "the dog / The croupier the old horror / The one who takes me as I am" paints a complex portrait of a figure who, despite his flaws or sins, accepts the speaker unconditionally. The uncle's association with devils and the acknowledgment that "Like the rest of the devils he was born in heaven" suggests a fallen or tarnished nature, yet also hints at a deeper, possibly divine origin. This duality reflects the poem's broader exploration of identity and morality.

The final lines of the poem, "Oh withered rain / Tears of the candles veins full of feathers / Knees in salt / I the bell's only son," combine striking imagery with a sense of foreboding. The "withered rain" and "tears of the candles" evoke images of loss, mourning, and the passage of time. "Veins full of feathers" suggests a delicate, fragile state, perhaps hinting at the vulnerability of life or the soul. "Knees in salt" may refer to pain, penance, or a grounding in the earth, while the declaration "I the bell's only son" positions the speaker as a unique inheritor of a particular legacy—one marked by sound, perhaps signaling a call to action or awareness.

The poem concludes with the speaker expressing a sense of purpose: "Having spent one day in his house / Will have your answer." This final statement suggests that the speaker, after confronting their past and engaging with this complex figure of the uncle, will emerge with a clearer understanding or resolution. The "house," a symbol of the self or the past, serves as the setting for this crucial encounter, and the "answer" implies a form of insight or revelation that the speaker seeks.

In "Spring," Merwin crafts a dense and evocative narrative that weaves together themes of resurrection, identity, and the confrontation with one's past. The poem's rich imagery and symbolic language create a mythic journey that challenges the reader to consider how the past influences the present and how identity is shaped by both inherited and personal experiences. Through the speaker's journey to meet their uncle, the poem explores the complexities of accepting oneself and understanding the legacy left by those who came before.

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