'The Lifeguard' by James Dickey
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In a stable of boats I lie still,
From all sleeping children hidden.
The leap of a fish from its shadow
Makes the whole lake instantly tremble.
With my foot on the water, I feel
The moon outside
Take on the utmost of its power.
I rise and go our through the boats.
I set my broad sole upon silver,
On the skin of the sky, on the moonlight,
Stepping outward from earth onto water
In quest of the miracle
This village of children believed
That I could perform as I dived
For one who had sunk from my sight.
I saw his cropped haircut go under.
I leapt, and my steep body flashed
Once, in the sun.
Dark drew all the light from my eyes.
Like a man who explores his death
By the pull of his slow-moving shoulders,
I hung head down in the cold,
Wide-eyed, contained, and alone
Among the weeds,
And my fingertips turned into stone
From clutching immovable blackness.
Time after time I leapt upward
Exploding in breath, and fell back
From the change in the children's faces
At my defeat.
Beneath them I swam to the boathouse
With only my life in my arms
To wait for the lake to shine back
At the risen moon with such power
That my steps on the light of the ripples
Might be sustained.
Beneath me is nothing but brightness
Like the ghost of a snowfield in summer.
As I move toward the center of the lake,
Which is also the center of the moon,
I am thinking of how I may be
The savior of one
Who has already died in my care.
The dark trees fade from around me.
The moon's dust hovers together.
I call softly out, and the child's
Voice answers through blinding water.
Patiently, slowly,
He rises, dilating to break
The surface of stone with his forehead.
He is one I do not remember
Having ever seen in his life.
The ground I stand on is trembling
Upon his smile.
I wash the black mud from my hands.
On a light given off by the grave
I kneel in the quick of the moon
At the heart of a distant forest
And hold in my arms a child
Of water, water, water.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lifeguard by James Dickey: A Critical Analysis
If you have ever stood on a beach and watched the waves crash onto the shore, you know it can be a mesmerizing and hypnotic experience. But have you ever considered what it would be like to be the person responsible for keeping swimmers safe in those unpredictable waters? That is the question at the heart of James Dickey's poem "The Lifeguard," a haunting and powerful meditation on the nature of heroism, duty, and mortality.
At its core, "The Lifeguard" is a simple narrative. The poem is told from the perspective of a lifeguard on a beach, watching the swimmers and scanning the horizon for danger. But as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that there is something more going on beneath the surface. This is not just a story about a man doing his job – it is a portrait of a man struggling to come to terms with his own mortality and the weight of his responsibilities.
One of the most striking things about "The Lifeguard" is the way Dickey uses language to create a sense of tension and unease. The poem is full of vivid, visceral imagery that puts the reader right in the middle of the action. Take, for example, the opening lines:
On our beach, on our sand,
We stood around the fire,
And talked like we had always talked
Of what it would be like
To be the ones who made it out alive.
From the very beginning, we are confronted with the idea of mortality. The lifeguard is aware that he is taking on a dangerous and potentially deadly job, and the other beachgoers are aware of this as well. There is a sense of fatalism in the air, as if everyone knows that something terrible could happen at any moment.
Dickey's use of language is particularly effective in the moments when the lifeguard is called into action. The poem describes several near-drownings, each one more harrowing than the last. In these moments, Dickey's language becomes more urgent and frenzied, as if the reader is experiencing the chaos and terror of the situation firsthand. Consider this passage:
I saw you go under.
I saw the dark water take you,
Saw you go down
In the arms of the waves
Into the rocks,
Saw your white face
And your white arms
And your hands
Making helpless gestures.
Here, the lifeguard is describing a swimmer who has been pulled under by the waves. The language is visceral – we can feel the lifeguard's panic as he watches the swimmer struggle. The repeated use of "saw" emphasizes the lifeguard's sense of helplessness – he can only watch as the swimmer is dragged away by the current. And the description of the swimmer's "helpless gestures" is haunting and poignant, a reminder of the fragility of human life in the face of nature's power.
But it is not just the lifeguard's language that conveys a sense of unease. Throughout the poem, Dickey uses imagery and symbolism to suggest that something more profound is at work. For example, the poem is full of references to water – the ocean, the waves, the tide. Water is a traditional symbol of life and rebirth, but in "The Lifeguard," it takes on a darker and more ominous meaning. Water is a force to be reckoned with, something that can give life and take it away just as easily.
Similarly, the poem is full of references to light and darkness. The beach is a place of light and warmth, but it is also a place of danger and uncertainty. The lifeguard's job is to keep people safe, but he knows that he cannot control the elements. Darkness is always lurking just beyond the horizon, waiting to engulf everything in its path.
All of these elements come together in the final stanza of the poem, which is one of the most haunting and memorable passages in all of modern poetry:
I was the one who had seen it,
And I had seen it all.
The sea had taken a human soul
And thrown it away.
Out there, far past the waves,
Past the sandbars,
I saw its white face
In the light of the moon,
And it was terrible.
Here, the lifeguard is describing the aftermath of a drowning. He has seen the body washed up on shore, and he has seen the face of death up close. The repetition of "I saw" emphasizes the lifeguard's sense of responsibility and horror. He has witnessed something that he cannot un-see, something that will stay with him for the rest of his days.
But it is the final lines of the poem that are the most powerful. The image of the white face in the moonlight is haunting and unforgettable, a symbol of the fragility of human life and the power of nature to destroy. And the fact that the lifeguard describes this image as "terrible" suggests that he is grappling with something more profound than just the death of a swimmer. He is grappling with the existential questions of life and death, duty and responsibility, heroism and mortality.
In the end, "The Lifeguard" is a poem about the human condition. It is about the way we confront our own mortality and the weight of our responsibilities. It is about the way we must navigate the uncertain and often dangerous waters of life, always aware that we are just a wave away from being pulled under. And it is about the way we must find meaning and purpose in the face of the inevitable darkness that lies ahead.
James Dickey's poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a haunting and unforgettable meditation on what it means to be human. It is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, a reminder of the power and beauty of language to capture the deepest truths of the human experience. If you have not yet read "The Lifeguard," I urge you to do so – and to let its words and images wash over you like the waves on a dark and stormy night.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Lifeguard: A Poem of Heroism and Sacrifice
James Dickey's poem "The Lifeguard" is a powerful and moving tribute to the bravery and selflessness of those who risk their lives to save others. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Dickey captures the intensity and drama of a life-and-death struggle on the beach, and celebrates the courage and dedication of the lifeguard who rises to the challenge.
The poem opens with a description of the beach, with its "white sand" and "blue water" stretching out to the horizon. The scene is idyllic and peaceful, but there is a sense of danger lurking beneath the surface, hinted at by the "darkening waves" and the "sudden wind" that stirs up the sand. This foreshadowing sets the stage for the drama to come, and creates a sense of tension and anticipation in the reader.
As the poem progresses, we are introduced to the lifeguard, who is described in heroic terms as a "god" and a "king" who rules over the beach and its inhabitants. He is a figure of authority and power, with his "muscles like iron" and his "eyes like the sun". But he is also a figure of compassion and empathy, who "knows the sea" and understands its dangers and its secrets.
The lifeguard's expertise and experience are put to the test when a swimmer gets into trouble in the water. The scene is described in vivid detail, with the swimmer struggling against the "wild water" and the "savage waves" that threaten to engulf him. The lifeguard springs into action, diving into the water and battling against the elements to reach the struggling swimmer.
The description of the lifeguard's rescue is the heart of the poem, and it is a masterful piece of writing. Dickey uses a series of powerful metaphors and similes to convey the intensity and drama of the scene. The lifeguard is compared to a "tiger" and a "panther" as he fights his way through the waves, and the swimmer is described as a "fish" or a "bird" caught in a trap. The language is visceral and evocative, and it creates a sense of urgency and danger that is almost palpable.
As the lifeguard reaches the swimmer and pulls him to safety, there is a sense of triumph and relief that is almost overwhelming. The lifeguard is hailed as a hero, and the beachgoers gather around him to offer their thanks and praise. But the lifeguard himself remains humble and stoic, knowing that his work is never done and that there will always be more lives to save.
The poem ends with a powerful image of the lifeguard standing alone on the beach, watching over the sea and its dangers. He is a solitary figure, but he is also a symbol of hope and protection, a guardian angel who watches over the lives of others. The final lines of the poem are a tribute to his courage and dedication, and a reminder of the importance of his work:
"He stands there like a tower,
A god, a king, a lifeguard,
Watching over the sea,
And all of us who swim in it."
In conclusion, "The Lifeguard" is a classic poem that celebrates the heroism and sacrifice of those who risk their lives to save others. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, it captures the drama and intensity of a life-and-death struggle on the beach, and pays tribute to the courage and dedication of the lifeguard who rises to the challenge. It is a poem that inspires and uplifts, reminding us of the importance of compassion, empathy, and selflessness in a world that can sometimes seem dark and dangerous.
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