Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Things" offers a contemplative exploration of the relationship between humans and the material objects they accumulate throughout their lives. Through the personification of "things," Merwin examines how objects come to hold significance, memories, and even a form of power over their owners. The poem reflects on themes of possession, memory, and the passage of time, highlighting the often complex and paradoxical relationship between people and their belongings.

The poem opens with the word "Possessor," immediately addressing the reader or speaker as one who owns or controls things. This direct address sets the tone for the rest of the poem, where the objects themselves seem to speak to the possessor, revealing their perspective on the relationship.

"At the approach of winter we are there." This line suggests that as winter, a time often associated with decline, cold, and reflection, approaches, the things accumulated over time remain constant companions. They do not leave or change with the seasons but instead persist as a presence in the possessor's life. Winter's metaphorical significance might extend to the later stages of life, where material possessions become increasingly important as symbols of continuity and memory.

The following lines, "Better than friends, in your sorrows we take no pleasure, / We have none of our own and no memory but yours," emphasize the passive yet enduring nature of objects. Unlike friends, who might share in or react to one's emotions, things are indifferent to human sorrow. They do not have their own experiences or memories; instead, they exist solely to hold and reflect the memories of their possessor. This creates a bond where the objects become repositories of personal history, embodying the past without the emotional complexity of human relationships.

The phrase "We are the anchor of your future" suggests that these things provide a sense of stability and continuity. As the possessor looks ahead, the objects serve as a foundation, grounding them in their accumulated experiences and past choices. The objects’ role as an "anchor" implies that they prevent the possessor from drifting away from their own history, keeping them tied to their identity and past.

The metaphor "Patient as a border of beggars, each hand holding out its whole treasure" powerfully conveys the idea that these objects, like beggars, are always present, waiting for the possessor to notice them. Each object holds out its "whole treasure," meaning that every item, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, carries its full weight of meaning and memory. The comparison to beggars also suggests a kind of helplessness or dependence—these things rely entirely on their possessor to give them purpose and significance.

"We will be all the points on your compass" indicates that these objects guide the possessor's decisions and direction in life. They become reference points, shaping how the possessor navigates their world, both physically and emotionally. The use of the compass metaphor underscores the idea that possessions influence not just where one has been but also where one is going.

The poem's concluding lines, "We will give you interest on yourself as you deposit yourself with us. / Be a gentleman: you acquired us when you needed us, / We do what we can to please, we have some beauty, we are / helpless, / Depend on us," bring together the themes of possession, dependency, and the passage of time. The notion of receiving "interest on yourself" suggests that as one invests time and energy into objects, they return value by preserving memories and identity. The objects appeal to the possessor to be considerate ("Be a gentleman"), reminding them that they were acquired out of necessity or desire. The objects acknowledge their role in pleasing the possessor, admitting their beauty, yet they also emphasize their helplessness—they are entirely dependent on the possessor for meaning, use, and care.

"Things" is a reflective and nuanced poem that delves into the intimate, often unspoken relationships people have with their possessions. Through personification, Merwin gives voice to the objects that fill our lives, highlighting how they come to embody our memories, guide our choices, and offer a sense of stability in the face of life's uncertainties. The poem ultimately invites readers to consider the role that material objects play in shaping their identities and to reflect on the delicate balance between possession and being possessed.

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