'For A Coming Extinction' by W.S. Merwin
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Gray whale
Now that we are sinding you to The End
That great god
Tell him
That we who follow you invented forgiveness
And forgive nothing
I write as though you could understand
And I could say it
One must always pretend something
Among the dying
When you have left the seas nodding on their stalks
Empty of you
Tell him that we were made
On another day
The bewilderment will diminish like an echo
Winding along your inner mountains
Unheard by us
And find its way out
Leaving behind it the future
Dead
And ours
When you will not see again
The whale calves trying the light
Consider what you will find in the black garden
And its court
The sea cows the Great Auks the gorillas
The irreplaceable hosts ranged countless
And fore-ordaining as stars
Our sacrifices
Join your work to theirs
Tell him
That it is we who are important
Editor 1 Interpretation
For A Coming Extinction: A Poem of Hopelessness and Despair
Are you ready for a journey through the heart of hopelessness and despair? Buckle up, because W.S. Merwin's poem "For A Coming Extinction" is not for the faint of heart. This classic piece of literature is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and it offers a unique perspective on the state of our world.
The Poem's Structure
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a moment to appreciate its structure. "For A Coming Extinction" is written in free verse, with no rhyme scheme or regular meter. This makes the poem feel raw and unfiltered, as if Merwin is speaking directly from his heart. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with eight lines. This gives the poem a sense of order and balance, despite its lack of a formal structure.
The Theme of Extinction
The central theme of "For A Coming Extinction" is, as the title suggests, extinction. Merwin is talking about the extinction of all life on Earth, and he is painting a picture of a world where nothing is left but emptiness and silence. The poem is deeply pessimistic, and it offers no hope for a better future. Merwin seems to be saying that we are all doomed, and that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.
The Tone of the Poem
The tone of the poem is one of hopelessness and despair. Merwin is not trying to inspire us or uplift us. He is not trying to give us a call to action. Instead, he is simply describing the world as he sees it, in all its bleakness and despair. The tone of the poem is somber and mournful, as if Merwin is grieving for a world that has already been lost.
The Imagery of "For A Coming Extinction"
One of the most striking features of "For A Coming Extinction" is the vivid and powerful imagery that Merwin uses. Throughout the poem, he paints a picture of a world that is slowly dying. He describes the "last days of the blue whale," the "last sight of the elephant," and the "last cry of the tern." All of these images are haunting and powerful, and they create a sense of sadness and loss.
The Message of "For A Coming Extinction"
So, what is the message of "For A Coming Extinction"? What is Merwin trying to say to us? In many ways, the poem is a warning. Merwin is warning us that we are on the brink of disaster. He is warning us that our actions are destroying the world around us, and that if we don't change our ways, we will be faced with a world of emptiness and silence. The message of the poem is a call to action, a plea for us to wake up and take responsibility for our impact on the world.
The Importance of "For A Coming Extinction"
In the end, "For A Coming Extinction" is an important poem. It is a powerful reminder of the fragility of our world, and of the urgent need for us to act to protect it. It is a warning of what will happen if we don't change our ways. But it is also a message of hope. Merwin is reminding us that we still have the power to change our course, to make a difference in the world. It is up to us to decide whether we will heed his warning, or whether we will ignore it and face the consequences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "For A Coming Extinction" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a deeply pessimistic poem, but it is also a powerful call to action. Merwin's use of vivid imagery and raw emotion creates a poem that is both haunting and beautiful. It is a reminder of the fragility of our world, and of the urgent need for us to act to protect it. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend it. It will leave you with a sense of sadness, but also with a renewed determination to make a difference in the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
For A Coming Extinction: A Poem of Reflection and Warning
W.S. Merwin’s poem, For A Coming Extinction, is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that speaks to the fragility of life and the inevitability of change. Written in 1967, during a time of great social and political upheaval, the poem is a reflection on the state of the world and a warning of the consequences of our actions.
At its core, For A Coming Extinction is a meditation on the natural world and our place within it. The poem begins with a description of a world in which “the great herds / are becoming fewer” and “the jungle is reduced to a cage.” This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a lament for the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of natural habitats.
Merwin’s use of language is particularly effective in conveying the sense of loss and despair that permeates the poem. He employs a number of poetic devices, including repetition, alliteration, and metaphor, to create a sense of urgency and to emphasize the gravity of the situation. For example, the repetition of the phrase “for a coming extinction” throughout the poem serves to drive home the point that we are on the brink of a major ecological crisis.
The metaphor of the “great herds” and the “jungle” being reduced to a “cage” is also particularly powerful. It suggests that the natural world is being confined and constrained by human activity, and that we are responsible for the destruction of the very ecosystems that sustain us. This idea is further reinforced by the image of “the sea / swallowing the land” and “the sun / turning mute” – both of which suggest a world in which the natural order has been disrupted and the balance of life has been upset.
Despite the bleakness of the poem’s message, there is also a sense of hope and possibility that runs throughout. Merwin suggests that we have the power to change our ways and to prevent the worst from happening. He writes, “let us prepare for that / which we can no longer forestall” – a call to action that urges us to take responsibility for our actions and to work towards a more sustainable future.
The poem also contains a number of references to mythology and ancient cultures, which serve to underscore the idea that the natural world is not just a resource to be exploited, but a sacred and essential part of our existence. For example, the line “the gods are leaving” suggests that we are losing touch with the spiritual and mystical aspects of nature, and that we are in danger of losing our connection to the divine.
Overall, For A Coming Extinction is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the urgent need for us to take action to protect the natural world. It is a reminder that we are not separate from nature, but a part of it, and that our actions have consequences that extend far beyond our own lives. As Merwin writes, “we are the last / of the unnumbered” – a sobering reminder that we are responsible for the fate of the planet and all its inhabitants.
In conclusion, For A Coming Extinction is a timeless and relevant poem that speaks to the urgent need for us to take action to protect the natural world. It is a call to arms that urges us to recognize the interconnectedness of all life and to work towards a more sustainable and harmonious future. As we face the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, this poem serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of our actions and the impact they have on the world around us.
Editor Recommended Sites
Knowledge Graph Consulting: Consulting in DFW for Knowledge graphs, taxonomy and reasoning systemsDeploy Code: Learn how to deploy code on the cloud using various services. The tradeoffs. AWS / GCP
LLM Ops: Large language model operations in the cloud, how to guides on LLMs, llama, GPT-4, openai, bard, palm
You could have invented ...: Learn the most popular tools but from first principles
Flutter Widgets: Explanation and options of all the flutter widgets, and best practice
Recommended Similar Analysis
I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood analysisKarma by Edwin Arlington Robinson analysis
The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy analysis
A Satirical Elegy by Jonathan Swift analysis
I like to see it lap the miles, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Night is Darkening Around Me, The by Emily Jane Brontë analysis
To A Locomotive In Winter by Walt Whitman analysis
Ode on Melancholy by John Keats analysis
If I can stop one heart from breaking, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Death is a Dialogue between by Emily Dickinson analysis