Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Christopher Okigbo's poem "Watermaid" is a richly evocative piece that explores themes of beauty, ephemerality, and the mystical allure of the natural world. The poem presents a figure of the "Watermaid," who is depicted with both regal and ethereal qualities, embodying a brief, almost otherworldly presence that leaves a lasting impression on the speaker.

The poem opens with the striking image of the Watermaid, described as "Bright with the armpit dazzle of a lioness." This comparison to a lioness immediately conveys a sense of power and majesty, while the "armpit dazzle" suggests an intimate, almost hidden brilliance that only reveals itself in certain moments or angles. The lioness, a symbol of strength and grace, is further elevated by her association with light—she "answers, wearing white light about her." This imagery places the Watermaid in a realm of purity and luminosity, making her a figure of both natural beauty and spiritual significance.

The waves that "escort her" add to the mystical atmosphere of the poem, positioning the Watermaid as a creature of the sea, moving gracefully with the natural rhythm of the water. The repeated reference to her as "my lioness" indicates a personal connection or admiration from the speaker, who views her with a sense of awe and reverence. The waves, crowned with "moonlight," reinforce the idea that the Watermaid is tied to the cycles of nature, particularly the moon, which has long been associated with femininity, mystery, and change.

However, the poem also emphasizes the fleeting nature of the Watermaid's presence. Her appearance is "so brief," likened to a "match-flare in wind's breath." This simile captures the suddenness and impermanence of her presence, as a match's flame is quickly extinguished by the wind. The brevity of her visit is further underscored by the phrase "so brief with mirrors around me," suggesting that her image or the experience of her presence is quickly reflected and multiplied, but also quickly lost. The mirrors may symbolize the fleeting, fragmented nature of memory or perception, where the Watermaid's image is captured momentarily but cannot be held onto.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more somber. The Watermaid is "distilled" by the waves, her essence reduced and carried away by the sea. She is described as a "gold crop sinking ungathered," a metaphor that evokes a sense of loss and missed opportunity. The idea of a "gold crop" sinking without being harvested suggests that something precious and valuable has been lost, emphasizing the transitory nature of beauty and life. The Watermaid, like the crop, is something that should have been cherished or preserved, but instead, she slips away, leaving only the memory of her presence.

The final lines of the poem, "Watermaid of the salt emptiness, grown are the ears of the secret," deepen the sense of mystery surrounding the Watermaid. The "salt emptiness" evokes the vast, barren expanses of the sea, where the Watermaid resides—a place that is both beautiful and desolate. The phrase "grown are the ears of the secret" suggests that the knowledge or awareness of this mystical figure has matured or expanded, possibly implying that the speaker or those who encounter the Watermaid have gained a deeper understanding or insight, but at a cost. The "secret" may refer to the hidden truths of life, beauty, and loss that the Watermaid embodies, truths that are now fully realized and cannot be ignored.

In "Watermaid," Christopher Okigbo crafts a poem that is both lyrical and haunting, capturing the fleeting nature of beauty and the deep, often painful, realization that accompanies it. The Watermaid, as a symbol of ethereal beauty and mystery, serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the things we hold dear. Through his use of rich imagery and symbolism, Okigbo invites the reader to reflect on the moments of beauty that pass through our lives, leaving behind only the echoes of their presence and the secrets they carry.

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