'The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence' by W.S. Merwin
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Moored to the same ring:
The hour, the darkness and I,
Our compasses hooded like falcons.
Now the memory of you comes aching in
With a wash of broken bits which never left port
In which once we planned voyages,
They come knocking like hearts asking:
What departures on this tide?
Breath of land, warm breath,
You tighten the cold around the navel,
Though all shores but the first have been foreign,
And the first was not home until left behind.
Our choice is ours but we have not made it,
Containing as it does, our destination
Circled with loss as with coral, and
A destination only until attained.
I have left you my hope to remember me by,
Though now there is little resemblance.
At this moment I could believe in no change,
The mast perpetually
Vacillating between the same constellations,
The night never withdrawing its dark virtue
>From the harbor shaped as a heart,
The sea pulsing as a heart,
The sky vaulted as a heart,
Where I know the light will shatter like a cry
Above a discovery:
"Emptiness.
Emptiness! Look!"
Look. This is the morning.
Submitted by Uncle Cosmo
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence is a classic poem written by renowned American poet, W.S. Merwin. This poem is an ode to the beauty and power of nature, and a reflection on the mysteries of life and death. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbolism, and language used in this poem, and try to understand the deeper meanings and messages that W.S. Merwin was trying to convey to his readers.
Background
Before we delve into the poem itself, let us first learn a little bit about the poet, W.S. Merwin. William Stanley Merwin was an American poet who was born in New York City in 1927. He was a prolific writer, and over the course of his career, he wrote over 50 books of poetry, translations, and prose. Merwin was a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and in 2010, he was appointed as the 17th Poet Laureate of the United States.
Merwin was known for his deep appreciation of nature and his commitment to environmentalism. His poetry often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human experience. He was also known for his use of vivid imagery and his mastery of language, which allowed him to evoke powerful emotions and convey complex ideas with ease.
The Poem
Now, let us turn our attention to the poem itself. The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence is a short, six-line poem that is divided into two stanzas. Here is the poem in its entirety:
The ships are made ready in silence
The earth is bare and brown
The sails gleam softly in readiness
Almost the dead leaves sigh
to think of the wind that has gone
They will come back, the ships will not.
At first glance, this poem may seem simple and straightforward. However, upon closer examination, we can see that there are many layers of meaning and symbolism that are at work here. Let us explore each of these in turn.
Theme
One of the primary themes of this poem is the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The first stanza sets the scene for this theme, as we see that the ships are being prepared in silence and the earth is bare and brown. This scene evokes a sense of stillness and anticipation, as if something important is about to happen. However, the second stanza reveals that this moment of stillness is fleeting, as the dead leaves sigh to think of the wind that has gone. This line suggests that the wind has already passed, and that the ships will soon set sail and leave the earth behind. The final line, "They will come back, the ships will not," reinforces this theme of change and impermanence, as it reminds us that everything in life is constantly moving and evolving, and that nothing lasts forever.
Symbolism
Another important aspect of this poem is its use of symbolism. Throughout the poem, we see that various elements of nature are used to represent deeper ideas and themes. For example, the ships themselves can be seen as a symbol of human ambition and the desire to explore and discover new horizons. The fact that they are "made ready in silence" suggests that they are being prepared for a great journey, one that will take them far from their home and into the unknown.
Similarly, the earth is bare and brown, which could be seen as a symbol of stagnation and inertia. However, it could also be seen as a symbol of the earth's natural state, before it was manipulated and transformed by human hands. This interpretation suggests that the earth is both beautiful and fragile, and that we have a responsibility to protect and preserve it for future generations.
Finally, the sails gleam softly in readiness, which could be seen as a symbol of hope and optimism. Despite the fact that the ships are leaving, there is a sense that they are going on a journey that will bring them to new and exciting places. The fact that the sails are gleaming suggests that the journey will be filled with light and wonder, and that there is a bright future ahead.
Language
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its language. Merwin was known for his ability to craft evocative and powerful imagery, and this poem is no exception. The language used in this poem is simple and direct, yet it is also full of nuance and depth. For example, the line "Almost the dead leaves sigh" is a powerful image that suggests a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. The fact that the leaves are "almost" sighing suggests that they are on the cusp of something, that they are about to give voice to their feelings but are not quite there yet.
Similarly, the line "They will come back, the ships will not" is a simple yet profound statement that conveys a sense of finality and inevitability. The fact that the ships will not come back suggests that they are on a one-way journey, that they are leaving the world behind and moving on to something new. This line is also a reminder that life is fleeting and that we must cherish the moments we have, because they will not come again.
Interpretation
So, what does all of this mean? What is W.S. Merwin trying to say with this poem? At its core, The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence is a meditation on the human experience and our place in the world. The poem reminds us that we are all on a journey, that we are all moving forward and leaving things behind. It also reminds us that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of the time we have.
The ships in this poem can be seen as a metaphor for our own lives. We are all on a journey, whether we realize it or not, and we are all headed towards something new and unknown. The fact that the ships are made ready in silence suggests that this journey is something that we must prepare for, that we must be mindful of our choices and our actions if we want to reach our destination.
The dead leaves in this poem can also be seen as a metaphor for our own mortality. The fact that they sigh to think of the wind that has gone suggests that they are aware of their own impermanence, that they know that their time is limited. This is a reminder to us that life is short, and that we must make the most of the time we have.
Finally, the fact that the ships will not come back suggests that we must embrace change and move forward with courage and determination. We cannot hold on to the past or cling to what is familiar, because everything in life is constantly moving and evolving. The only way to move forward is to let go of what is holding us back and set sail for something new.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that reminds us of the beauty and power of nature, and the mysteries of life and death. Through its use of symbolism, language, and themes, W.S. Merwin invites us to reflect on our own journey through life, and to embrace the changes and challenges that lie ahead. This poem is a testament to Merwin's mastery of language and his deep understanding of the human experience, and it will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence: A Masterpiece of Poetry
W.S. Merwin's poem "The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human existence in a few lines. The poem is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. It is a meditation on the human condition and the fragility of our existence. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line "The ships are made ready in silence," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The ships represent the journey of life, and the silence represents the solemnity and seriousness of the occasion. The ships are being prepared for a voyage, and the silence suggests that this is a significant event. The ships are not just any ships; they are the ships of life, and they are being made ready for a journey that we all must take.
The next line, "The earth is still and waiting," reinforces the sense of solemnity and anticipation. The earth is waiting for something to happen, and the stillness suggests that this is a moment of great importance. The earth is a symbol of life, and the fact that it is waiting suggests that something significant is about to happen.
The third line, "The ocean is silent and dark," introduces the theme of darkness and uncertainty. The ocean is a symbol of the unknown, and the fact that it is silent and dark suggests that we are entering into a realm of uncertainty. The darkness represents the unknown, and the silence suggests that we are entering into a realm of mystery.
The fourth line, "The hills wait for morning," introduces the theme of time. The hills represent the passage of time, and the fact that they are waiting for morning suggests that time is moving forward. The hills are waiting for the dawn of a new day, and this suggests that life is a journey that moves forward, whether we like it or not.
The fifth line, "The air is charged with a sense of expectancy," introduces the theme of anticipation. The air is charged with a sense of expectancy, suggesting that something significant is about to happen. This anticipation is a reflection of the human condition, as we are always anticipating what will happen next.
The sixth line, "The ships are made ready in silence," repeats the opening line, reinforcing the sense of solemnity and seriousness. The repetition suggests that this is a significant event, and that we should pay attention to what is happening.
The seventh line, "And all that we can do is wait," introduces the theme of helplessness. We are powerless in the face of the journey of life, and all we can do is wait for what will happen next. This sense of helplessness is a reflection of the human condition, as we are often at the mercy of forces beyond our control.
The eighth line, "For dawn and our journey together," introduces the theme of companionship. We are not alone on this journey, and we are all in it together. The fact that we are waiting for dawn suggests that there is hope for a new beginning, and that we are not alone in our journey.
The ninth line, "And the ships are made ready in silence," repeats the opening line once again, reinforcing the sense of solemnity and seriousness. The repetition suggests that this is a significant event, and that we should pay attention to what is happening.
The final line, "And we wait for the dawn," reinforces the sense of anticipation and hope. We are waiting for a new beginning, and the fact that we are waiting for dawn suggests that there is hope for a brighter future. The poem ends on a note of hope, suggesting that even though life is uncertain and transitory, there is always the possibility of a new beginning.
In terms of imagery, the poem is rich in symbolism. The ships represent the journey of life, the earth represents life itself, the ocean represents the unknown, the hills represent the passage of time, and the air represents the anticipation of what is to come. The use of these symbols creates a sense of depth and meaning, and reinforces the themes of the poem.
The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but also poetic and evocative. The repetition of the opening line reinforces the sense of solemnity and seriousness, while the use of imagery creates a sense of depth and meaning. The language is also musical, with a rhythm and flow that adds to the overall effect of the poem.
In conclusion, "The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human existence in a few lines. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, and it is a reflection on the human condition and the fragility of our existence. The use of symbolism, imagery, and language creates a sense of depth and meaning, and reinforces the themes of the poem. The poem ends on a note of hope, suggesting that even though life is uncertain and transitory, there is always the possibility of a new beginning.
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