'A Distance From The Sea' by Weldon Kees

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To Ernest Brace

"And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was
about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto
me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and
write them not." --REVELATIONS, x, 4.

That raft we rigged up, under the water,
Was just the item: when he walked,
With his robes blowing, dark against the sky,
It was as though the unsubstantial waves held up
His slender and inviolate feet. The gulls flew over,
Dropping, crying alone; thin ragged lengths of cloud
Drifted in bars across the sun. There on the shore
The crowd's response was instantaneous. He
Handled it well, I thought--the gait, the tilt of the head, just right.
Long streaks of light were blinding on the waves.
And then we knew our work well worth the time:
The days of sawing, fitting, all those nails,
The tiresome rehearsals, considerations of execution.
But if you want a miracle, you have to work for it,
Lay your plans carefully and keep one jump
Ahead of the crowd. To report a miracle
Is a pleasure unalloyed; but staging one requires
Tact, imagination, a special knack for the job
Not everyone possesses. A miracle, in fact, means work.
--And now there are those who have come saying
That miracles were not what we were after. But what else
Is there? What other hope does life hold out
But the miraculous, the skilled and patient
Execution, the teamwork, all the pain and worry every miracle involves?

Visionaries tossing in their beds, haunted and racked
By questions of Messiahship and eschatology,
Are like the mist rising at nightfall, and come,
Perhaps to even less. Grave supernaturalists, devoted worshippers
Experience the ecstasy (such as it is), but not
Our ecstasy. It was our making. Yet sometimes
When the torrent of that time
Comes pouring back, I wonder at our courage
And our enterprise. It was as though the world
Had been one darkening, abandoned hall
Where rows of unlit candles stood; and we
Not out of love, so much, or hope, or even worship, but
Out of the fear of death, came with our lights
And watched the candles, one by one, take fire, flames
Against the long night of our fear. We thought
That we could never die. Now I am less convinced.
--The traveller on the plain makes out the mountains
At a distance; then he loses sight. His way
Winds through the valleys; then, at a sudden turning of a path,
The peaks stand nakedly before him: they are something else
Than what he saw below. I think now of the raft
(For me, somehow, the summit of the whole experience)
And all the expectations of that day, but also of the cave
We stocked with bread, the secret meetings
In the hills, the fake assassins hired for the last pursuit,
The careful staging of the cures, the bribed officials,
The angels' garments, tailored faultlessly,
The medicines administered behind the stone,
That ultimate cloud, so perfect, and so opportune.
Who managed all that blood I never knew.

The days get longer. It was a long time ago.
And I have come to that point in the turning of the path
Where peaks are infinite--horn-shaped and scaly, choked with

thorns.
But even here, I know our work was worth the cost.
What we have brought to pass, no one can take away.
Life offers up no miracles, unfortunately, and needs assistance.
Nothing will be the same as once it was,
I tell myself.--It's dark here on the peak, and keeps on getting
darker.
It seems I am experiencing a kind of ecstasy.
Was it sunlight on the waves that day? The night comes down.
And now the water seems remote, unreal, and perhaps it is.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Distance From The Sea: A Masterpiece by Weldon Kees

Are you familiar with the poem "A Distance From The Sea" by Weldon Kees? If not, I urge you to take a few moments to read it. This poem is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time and continues to engage readers with its haunting beauty.

The poem is about a man who has moved away from the sea and is struggling with the memories of his past. The sea, for him, represents a time of freedom and adventure, but now he is trapped in a life that he feels is mundane and unfulfilling. As he tries to come to terms with his present, he is haunted by the memories of his past and the sea that he left behind.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various themes and literary devices used in the poem, and how they contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the piece.

Themes

One of the main themes of the poem is the idea of nostalgia and the longing for a past that can never be regained. The man in the poem is filled with a sense of regret and sadness as he remembers the days when he was close to the sea. He is filled with a sense of longing for the freedom and excitement that the sea represented, but now he feels trapped in a life that he cannot escape.

Another theme that emerges in the poem is the idea of isolation and loneliness. The man in the poem is cut off from the world around him, and he feels like he is living in a world that is no longer his own. He is unable to connect with the people around him, and he feels like he is drifting further away from his own identity.

Finally, the poem also explores the idea of change and the passage of time. The man in the poem is struggling to come to terms with the changes in his life, and he is unable to accept the fact that he can never go back to the way things were. He is constantly reminded of the passage of time, and he is forced to confront the fact that he is growing older and that his life is slipping away from him.

Literary Devices

One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is the use of imagery. The man's memories of the sea are vividly described, and the reader can almost feel the salt spray on their face as they read the poem. The use of imagery helps to create a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the reader is transported back to the man's memories of the sea.

Another literary device that is used effectively in the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "a distance from the sea" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and structure that helps to draw the reader in. The repetition also serves to emphasize the man's sense of loss and longing, as he continues to distance himself from the sea.

The use of symbolism is also prominent in the poem. The sea is a powerful symbol for the man, representing freedom, adventure, and a sense of identity that he feels he has lost. The sea also serves as a metaphor for the passage of time, as the man is forced to confront the fact that his memories of the sea are becoming more distant and faded with each passing day.

Interpretation

So, what is the meaning of the poem? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human experience and the struggle to come to terms with the passage of time. The man in the poem represents all of us, as we try to make sense of our lives and our place in the world. We all have memories that we hold dear, and we all struggle to let go of the past and embrace the present.

The poem also speaks to the universal human desire for freedom and adventure. We all long for a life that is filled with excitement and possibility, but sometimes we find ourselves trapped in a life that feels small and unfulfilling. The man in the poem is struggling to come to terms with this, and he is searching for a way to reclaim the sense of freedom and adventure that he once felt.

Finally, the poem is a reminder of the importance of connection and community. The man in the poem is isolated and cut off from the world around him, and he is struggling to connect with the people around him. We all need to feel like we belong and that we are part of something larger than ourselves. The man's struggle to connect with others serves as a warning to us all, a reminder that we need to nurture our relationships and foster a sense of community wherever we can.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "A Distance From The Sea" is a powerful and haunting poem that speaks to the universal human experience. The themes of nostalgia, isolation, and the passage of time are explored through the use of vivid imagery, repetition, and symbolism. The poem is a reminder of the importance of connection and community, and it serves as a warning to us all to never lose sight of the things that are truly important in life. If you haven't read this masterpiece by Weldon Kees, I urge you to do so. It is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

A Distance From The Sea: A Poem That Explores the Human Condition

Weldon Kees’ poem, A Distance From The Sea, is a classic piece of literature that explores the human condition. The poem is a reflection on the human experience, and it delves into the themes of isolation, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life. In this analysis, we will explore the poem’s structure, language, and themes to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

Structure

The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the speaker’s location and the environment around him. The second stanza introduces the theme of isolation and loneliness, while the third stanza concludes the poem with a reflection on the human condition.

Language

The language in the poem is simple and straightforward, but it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. The first stanza, for example, describes the speaker’s location as “a town like any other,” but it also includes the image of “the smell of salt in the air.” This image immediately transports the reader to a coastal town, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The second stanza is where the language becomes more metaphorical. The speaker describes himself as “a stranger in this place,” and he talks about “the distance from the sea.” These lines suggest that the speaker feels disconnected from his surroundings, and that he is searching for something that he cannot find.

The third stanza is where the language becomes more philosophical. The speaker reflects on the human condition, and he suggests that we are all searching for something that we cannot find. He says, “We are all strangers in this place,” and he concludes the poem with the line, “We are all a distance from the sea.”

Themes

The poem explores several themes, including isolation, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life. The theme of isolation is introduced in the second stanza, where the speaker describes himself as “a stranger in this place.” This line suggests that the speaker feels disconnected from his surroundings, and that he is searching for a sense of belonging.

The theme of loneliness is also present in the poem. The speaker describes himself as “alone in this town,” and he talks about “the silence of the streets.” These lines suggest that the speaker feels isolated and alone, and that he is searching for human connection.

The theme of the search for meaning in life is perhaps the most prominent theme in the poem. The speaker suggests that we are all searching for something that we cannot find. He says, “We are all strangers in this place,” and he concludes the poem with the line, “We are all a distance from the sea.” These lines suggest that we are all searching for something that we cannot find, and that we are all searching for a sense of purpose in life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Weldon Kees’ poem, A Distance From The Sea, is a classic piece of literature that explores the human condition. The poem is a reflection on the human experience, and it delves into the themes of isolation, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life. The poem’s structure, language, and themes all work together to create a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

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