'Return' by Robinson Jeffers
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A little too abstract, a little too wise,
It is time for us to kiss the earth again,
It is time to let the leaves rain from the skies,
Let the rich life run to the roots again.
I will go to the lovely Sur Rivers
And dip my arms in them up to the shoulders.
I will find my accounting where the alder leaf quivers
In the ocean wind over the river boulders.
I will touch things and things and no more thoughts,
That breed like mouthless May-flies darkening the sky,
The insect clouds that blind our passionate hawks
So that they cannot strike, hardly can fly.
Things are the hawk's food and noble is the mountain, Oh noble
Pico Blanco, steep sea-wave of marble.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Return by Robinson Jeffers: A Masterpiece of Nature Poetry
Robinson Jeffers is one of the most celebrated nature poets of the 20th century, and his poem "Return" is a shining example of his mastery of the genre. Composed in 1940, during the height of World War II, the poem is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life and death, and the eternal beauty of the natural world. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and imagery of "Return," and examine how Jeffers uses language to evoke a sense of wonder and awe in his readers.
Summary of the Poem
"Return" is a short, eight-stanza poem that describes the return of the Seabird, a migratory bird that visits the California coast every year. The poem opens with a description of the Seabird's arrival, and the joy that it brings to the poet:
As those that watch the starved and mutinous sea When the moon is full and the cold tide comes creeping Into creeks and bays to cast up treasures Knowing it will be bitter and salt, but that soon The bitter and the salt will grow sweet, And floodtide and ebbtide will bring fish
The Seabird is described as a messenger of hope, a creature that brings with it the promise of plenty and abundance. The poet marvels at the bird's beauty and grace, and imagines it soaring through the air with "a heart that has never been broken."
However, the mood of the poem soon changes, as the poet reflects on the cycle of life and death that governs the natural world. He imagines the Seabird's eventual death, and the way that its body will be returned to the sea, to be broken down and consumed by other creatures:
And not only this Seabird Returns in its time, but the torn dead bodies Of seals, and the torn dead bodies of fish, Sharks, and the heads of whales with the ivory Tusks still in them. And sometimes a man.
This vision of death and decay is stark and brutal, and stands in stark contrast to the beauty and vitality of the Seabird's arrival. However, the poet suggests that this cycle of life and death is not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced:
He is not here, but far away the cold And genial water of the Pacific grows sweet And the sun shines on the land, and the sea-birds Fly through the warmth of it rejoicing.
The poem concludes with a sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world, and a recognition that life and death are simply part of a larger, eternal cycle.
Themes and Symbols in "Return"
At its core, "Return" is a meditation on the cycle of life and death that governs the natural world. The Seabird serves as a symbol of this cycle, arriving each year to bring with it the promise of abundance and vitality, but also representing the inevitability of death and decay. The poem suggests that this cycle is not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced, as it is an essential part of the larger rhythm of nature.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of transformation. The Seabird's body is transformed after it dies, becoming food and nourishment for other creatures. This transformation is presented as both beautiful and necessary, a natural part of the cycle of life and death.
Finally, the poem explores the relationship between humans and the natural world. The poet suggests that humans are just one part of a larger ecosystem, and that they must learn to live in harmony with the other creatures and forces of nature. This idea is particularly relevant in the context of World War II, as the poem was written at a time when humans were engaged in a global conflict that threatened to destabilize the natural world.
Imagery and Language in "Return"
One of the most striking features of "Return" is its vivid imagery and rich language. Jeffers uses words and phrases that evoke a sense of wonder and awe in the reader, painting a picture of the natural world that is both beautiful and brutal.
For example, the opening lines of the poem describe the Seabird's arrival in terms of a "starved and mutinous sea," creating a sense of tension and anticipation. The imagery of the "cold tide" creeping into "creeks and bays to cast up treasures" is both haunting and beautiful, suggesting that even the most brutal forces of nature can contain hidden beauty and wonder.
Similarly, the language used to describe the Seabird is rich and evocative, with descriptions like "graceful," "beautiful," and "majestic." The image of the bird soaring through the air with "a heart that has never been broken" is particularly powerful, suggesting a sense of freedom and vitality that is both inspiring and elusive.
As the poem progresses, the language becomes darker and more foreboding, with images of torn bodies and decay. However, even in these darker moments, Jeffers' language maintains a sense of reverence for the natural world. The image of the "cold and genial water of the Pacific" growing sweet is a particularly striking example of this, suggesting that even in death and decay, the natural world contains beauty and wonder.
Conclusion
"Return" is a masterpiece of nature poetry, a meditation on the cycle of life and death that is both beautiful and brutal. Through vivid imagery and rich language, Robinson Jeffers evokes a sense of wonder and awe in the reader, painting a picture of the natural world that is both inspiring and elusive. The poem is a powerful reminder of the essential role that nature plays in our lives, and the need for humans to live in harmony with the larger ecosystem of which we are a part.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Return: A Poem of Nature and Human Connection
Robinson Jeffers’ poem “Return” is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the themes of nature, human connection, and the cycle of life and death. Written in 1916, the poem is a reflection on the beauty and power of the natural world, and the ways in which humans are both a part of it and separate from it. In this analysis, we will explore the poem’s structure, language, and imagery, and examine how it speaks to the human experience of living in a world that is both wondrous and dangerous.
Structure and Language
“Return” is a free-verse poem that is divided into three stanzas of varying length. The first stanza is the longest, with 16 lines, while the second and third stanzas have 6 and 8 lines, respectively. The poem is written in a conversational tone, with simple language and a direct style that belies its complex themes. Jeffers’ use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase across multiple lines, gives the poem a flowing, natural rhythm that echoes the movement of the sea and the wind.
The poem’s language is rich in sensory detail, with vivid descriptions of the natural world that evoke a sense of wonder and awe. Jeffers uses metaphors and similes to compare the sea to a “great green beast” and the wind to a “wild horse,” creating a sense of the power and unpredictability of nature. He also uses personification to give the sea and the wind human qualities, such as “laughing” and “whistling,” which further emphasizes their connection to the human experience.
Imagery and Themes
The poem’s imagery is centered on the sea and the wind, which are portrayed as both beautiful and dangerous. In the first stanza, Jeffers describes the sea as a “great green beast” that “roars” and “laughs” as it crashes against the shore. This image conveys the power and majesty of the sea, but also its potential for destruction. The wind is similarly portrayed as a force of nature that is both wild and free, but also capable of causing chaos and destruction.
Despite their potential for danger, the sea and the wind are also sources of beauty and wonder. Jeffers describes the sea as “a thousand colors” and “a thousand moods,” suggesting its ever-changing nature and its ability to evoke a range of emotions in those who witness it. The wind is similarly portrayed as a force that can bring both joy and sorrow, as it “whistles” and “sighs” through the trees.
The poem’s themes are centered on the relationship between humans and nature, and the ways in which we are both a part of it and separate from it. Jeffers suggests that humans are connected to the natural world through our emotions and our senses, which allow us to experience its beauty and power. However, he also suggests that we are separate from nature in our ability to reason and to control our environment.
This tension between connection and separation is reflected in the poem’s title, “Return,” which suggests a cyclical nature to life and death. Jeffers suggests that just as the sea and the wind return to their natural state after a storm, so too do humans return to the earth after death. This idea is reinforced by the poem’s final lines, which describe the “white bones” of the dead that are “buried deep” in the earth.
Conclusion
In “Return,” Robinson Jeffers has created a powerful meditation on the beauty and power of the natural world, and the ways in which humans are both a part of it and separate from it. Through his use of vivid imagery, simple language, and a flowing rhythm, Jeffers has created a poem that speaks to the human experience of living in a world that is both wondrous and dangerous. Whether we are watching the sea crash against the shore or feeling the wind whistle through the trees, we are reminded of our connection to the natural world, and of the cycle of life and death that we all must eventually face.
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