'Green Fields' by W.S. Merwin
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By this part of the century few are left who believein the animals for they are not there in the carved parts
of them served on plates and the pleas from the slatted trucksare sounds of shadows that possess no future
there is still game for the pleasure of killingand there are pets for the children but the lives that followed
courses of their own other than ours and olderhave been migrating before us some are already
far on the way and yet Peter with his gaunt cheeksand point of white beard the face of an aged Lawrence
Peter who had lived on from another time and countryand who had seen so many things set out and vanish
still believed in heaven and said he had never oncedoubted it since his childhood on the farm in the days
of the horses he had not doubted it in the worsttimes of the Great War and afterward and he had come
to what he took to be a kind of earthlymodel of it as he wandered south in his sixties
by that time speaking the language well enoughfor them to make him out he took the smallest roads
into a world he thought was a thing of the pastwith wildflowers he scarcely remembered and neighbors
working together scything the morning meadowsturning the hay before the noon meal bringing it in
by milking time husbandry and abundanceall the virtues he admired and their reward bounteous
in the eyes of a foreigner and there he remainedfor the rest of his days seeing what he wanted to see
until the winter when he could no longer forkthe earth in his garden and then he gave away
his house land everything and committed himselfto a home to die in an old chateau where he lingered
for some time surrounded by those who had lostthe use of body or mind and as he lay there he told me
that the wall by his bed opened almost every dayand he saw what was really there and it was eternal life
as he recognized at once when he saw the gardenshe had made and the green fields where he had been
a child and his mother was standing there then the wall would closeand around him again were the last days of the world
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Mystical Beauty of Green Fields: An Interpretation of W.S. Merwin's Poetry
Green Fields, a poem written by W.S. Merwin, is a masterpiece that captures the mystical beauty of nature and the human spirit. The poem is a lyrical celebration of the natural world, and it offers a profound meditation on the fragility and transience of human life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language to explore what it means to be human and to exist in a world that is both beautiful and ephemeral.
Background
W.S. Merwin was an American poet who won numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1971 and 2009, and served as the United States Poet Laureate from 2010 to 2011. His poetry is known for its deep connection to nature and its exploration of human consciousness and mortality.
Green Fields is one of Merwin's most famous poems, and it was first published in 1957 in his collection The Drunk in the Furnace. The poem has since been anthologized many times and has become a beloved classic of American poetry.
Themes
At its core, Green Fields is a poem about the beauty and fragility of life. The poem celebrates the natural world, with its "fields of light" and "green grasses," but it also acknowledges the inevitability of death and decay. The poem suggests that the beauty of nature is all the more precious because it is fleeting and fragile.
The poem also explores the relationship between humans and nature. It suggests that humans are a part of the natural world and that our fate is intimately tied to the fate of the planet. The poem expresses concern for the destruction of the natural world, and it implies that our abuse of the planet will lead to our own destruction.
Finally, the poem is about the power of memory and imagination. The speaker of the poem remembers the beauty of the natural world and imagines a future where that beauty has been destroyed. The poem suggests that memory and imagination are powerful tools for preserving the beauty of the world and for inspiring us to act in ways that will preserve it for future generations.
Structure
Green Fields is a free-verse poem with no regular meter or rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into six stanzas of varying lengths, and the lines are generally short and concise. The lack of punctuation and the use of enjambment create a sense of fluidity and movement, as though the poem is a flowing stream of consciousness.
The poem begins with a description of the natural world in its pristine state: "By this part of the century few are left who believe / in the animals for they are not there in the carved parts / of them served on plates and the pleas from slatted trucks." The tone of the poem is contemplative and mournful, as though the speaker is lamenting the loss of something precious.
The middle of the poem is a meditation on the transience and fragility of life. The speaker describes how the natural world is constantly changing and how everything is eventually consumed by time: "and everything / is overtaken by night as if / it had never been and is gone." The tone is sorrowful but also accepting, as though the speaker has come to terms with the inevitability of death.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. The speaker imagines a future where the natural world has been destroyed and urges the reader to take action to prevent that future from becoming a reality. The tone of the poem shifts from mournful to urgent, as though the speaker is pleading with the reader to act before it is too late.
Language
The language of Green Fields is poetic and evocative, with vivid imagery that brings the natural world to life. The poem is full of metaphors and similes that compare the natural world to other things and create a sense of unity and interconnectedness.
One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the comparison of the natural world to a body: "the bones of the never known / animals have dissolved in the shales / or turned into coal and maybe / that is what the coal is now that we / are burning." This metaphor suggests that the natural world is a living organism that is being consumed by human greed and destruction.
The language of the poem is also infused with a sense of nostalgia and longing. The speaker remembers the beauty of the natural world and mourns its loss, but at the same time, the language of the poem is full of hope and optimism. The poem suggests that there is still time to act to preserve the beauty of the world, and that memory and imagination are powerful tools for doing so.
Conclusion
Green Fields is a beautiful and profound poem that captures the mystical beauty of nature and the human spirit. The poem is a meditation on the fragility and transience of life, and it suggests that the beauty of the natural world is all the more precious because it is fleeting and fragile. The poem also explores the relationship between humans and nature, and it implies that our abuse of the planet will lead to our own destruction.
The language of the poem is poetic and evocative, with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors that create a sense of unity and interconnectedness. The poem is a call to action, urging the reader to take steps to prevent the destruction of the natural world and to preserve its beauty for future generations.
In the end, Green Fields is a reminder of the power and beauty of nature, and of the need for us to act to preserve it. It is a poem that inspires us to imagine a better future and to work towards making it a reality.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Green Fields: A Timeless Poem by W.S. Merwin
W.S. Merwin, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his profound and thought-provoking poetry. His poem "Green Fields" is a timeless masterpiece that captures the essence of nature and the human experience. In this article, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The poem "Green Fields" is a beautiful and evocative piece that transports the reader to a world of lush greenery and natural beauty. The poem begins with the speaker describing the green fields that stretch out before him. The fields are described as "endless" and "unbroken," giving the impression of a vast and unspoiled landscape. The speaker is clearly in awe of the beauty of the fields, and this is reflected in the language he uses to describe them.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the nature of life and the passing of time. He notes that the fields have been there for centuries, and will likely remain long after he is gone. This realization leads him to contemplate the transience of human life, and the fleeting nature of our existence. He notes that "the grasses remember," suggesting that even though we may be gone, the natural world will continue to bear witness to our passing.
The theme of transience is further explored in the second stanza of the poem. The speaker notes that the fields are "never the same," and that they are constantly changing and evolving. This is a powerful reminder that nothing in life is permanent, and that everything is subject to change. The speaker also notes that the fields are "always the same," suggesting that even though they may change on the surface, their essence remains the same. This is a powerful metaphor for the human experience, and the idea that even though we may change on the surface, our core identity remains the same.
The imagery in "Green Fields" is particularly striking, and helps to create a vivid and evocative picture in the reader's mind. The fields are described as "rolling," "undulating," and "rippling," giving the impression of a landscape that is alive and dynamic. The grass is described as "tall," "lush," and "swaying," creating a sense of movement and vitality. The use of sensory language, such as "fragrant," "warm," and "soft," also helps to create a rich and immersive experience for the reader.
The poem also makes use of powerful symbolism to convey its message. The fields themselves can be seen as a symbol of nature and the natural world. They represent the timeless beauty and power of the natural world, and the idea that even though we may come and go, the natural world will continue to endure. The grass can also be seen as a symbol of life and vitality, representing the energy and vitality of the human experience.
The poem's title, "Green Fields," is also significant. The color green is often associated with growth, renewal, and vitality. It is a color that represents life and energy, and is often used to symbolize the natural world. By using the color green in the title of the poem, Merwin is emphasizing the importance of nature and the natural world in our lives.
In conclusion, "Green Fields" is a timeless poem that captures the essence of nature and the human experience. Through its vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and evocative language, the poem explores the themes of transience, change, and the enduring power of the natural world. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that continues to resonate with readers today, and is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us.
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