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GARDENS OF VERSAILLES, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

William Stanley Merwin’s poem “Gardens of Versailles” is a reflective exploration of the tension between human ambition and the enduring forces of nature. Through the lens of the iconic gardens of Versailles, Merwin meditates on the impermanence of human constructs, the legacy of power, and the persistent, unyielding presence of the natural world. The poem’s intricate language and structure underscore these themes, creating a dialogue between the artificial and the natural, the ephemeral and the eternal.

The poem begins by questioning the exact moment when the “grand stillness of this symmetry” can be said to occur. This symmetry refers to the meticulously designed and geometrically perfect gardens of Versailles, a symbol of human mastery over nature. Merwin’s use of “grand stillness” evokes a sense of awe and timelessness, suggesting that the gardens represent a moment frozen in time, where human intervention has seemingly tamed the wildness of nature into something orderly and symmetrical.

Merwin continues by exploring the idea that this symmetry’s horizons “become the horizon,” indicating the expansive nature of the gardens, which appear to extend infinitely. This illusion of endlessness is a testament to the ambition of their designers, whose work was intended to reflect and magnify the glory of the king they served. The phrase “whose designer’s name seems to be Ours” hints at the collective effort and the shared sense of ownership or pride in this monumental achievement, even though the individuals responsible have long since vanished.

The poem then touches on the transience of power, noting that the king, once called “The Sun” in his day, is now “nobody again.” This reflects the inevitable decline of even the most powerful figures and the fleeting nature of human glory. Yet, despite the disappearance of both the designer and the king, the gardens remain, continuing to assert their “vast claim / to have been true forever as the law / of a universe in which nothing appears / to change.” This assertion of permanence is ironic, as it contrasts with the reality that nothing human-made is truly eternal.

Merwin contrasts this artificial permanence with the “defects of Nature” that existed before the gardens were constructed—“a waste of marshes / a lake a chaos of birds and wild things.” This chaotic, undirected natural world stands in stark contrast to the order imposed by human hands. The “river making its undirected / way” represents the natural flow of life, untamed and unregulated, which was transformed by human intervention into the controlled beauty of the gardens.

The poem then reflects on the immense human effort required to create and maintain this vision of order, noting that “thirty six thousand men / and six thousand horses for more than three / decades” were needed to divert the water into the gardens’ fountains. This immense labor highlights the scale of the ambition behind Versailles, yet it also underscores the temporary nature of such efforts. Once the laborers and horses were gone, the poem suggests, the water continued to flow, indifferent to the human will that once controlled it.

In the closing lines, Merwin returns to the image of water, noting how “the sound / of water falling echoes in the dream / the dream of water.” This repetition of “dream” suggests the illusory nature of human attempts to impose order on the natural world. The avenues of the gardens, which once symbolized control and symmetry, are ultimately likened to “the river on its own way,” returning to their natural state, guided by the inherent motion of water.

“Gardens of Versailles” is a powerful meditation on the ephemeral nature of human achievement and the enduring presence of the natural world. Merwin’s use of vivid imagery and reflective tone invites readers to contemplate the legacy of human ambition and the ways in which nature, despite being shaped and redirected by human hands, ultimately remains the dominant and eternal force. The poem captures the tension between the desire for permanence and the reality of change, reminding us of the limits of human power and the quiet, unstoppable flow of time and nature.


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