'The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence' by W.S. Merwin

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The Moving Target1963Moored 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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Symbolism

When it comes to contemporary American poets, few can match the creativity, depth, and sheer beauty of W.S. Merwin. Born in 1927 in New York City, Merwin has been publishing poetry for more than six decades, and his work has won countless awards and accolades. One of his most celebrated poems is "The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence," first published in 1975 as part of his collection "The Carrier of Ladders." This 34-line poem is a masterpiece of imagery and symbolism, exploring themes of death, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life.

Analysis of the Poem

At its core, "The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" is a meditation on the inevitability of death and the hope of spiritual renewal. The poem opens with a vivid image of ships being prepared for a journey, but not a journey in the traditional sense. These are not ships meant to carry cargo or passengers; instead, they are vessels of the soul, transporting the dead to their final resting place. The silence that surrounds the preparation of these ships is eerie and haunting, emphasizing the solemnity of the occasion. The word "made" in the title suggests a deliberate and careful crafting, as if the ships are being created specifically for this purpose.

As the poem continues, the speaker describes the preparations in more detail. The ships are "lifted out of water," a symbol of detachment from the physical world. They are "cleaned of everything," stripped of all earthly possessions and attachments. The "masts are painted white," symbolizing purity and transcendence. The "sails are furled," indicating that the journey is not one of exploration or adventure, but of surrender and acceptance.

The next stanza introduces a new image, that of "the old moon" sinking into the sea. This lunar imagery is significant on several levels. Firstly, the moon is a symbol of femininity and the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Secondly, the moon is often associated with madness and irrationality, suggesting that the journey ahead may be difficult and disorienting. Finally, the sinking of the moon could be seen as a metaphor for the descent into the underworld, a common theme in mythology and literature.

The final stanza of the poem offers a glimpse of hope and renewal. The speaker describes "the new moon," which is "already bent / to the willow." This image of the moon bending to the willow tree suggests a sense of harmony and balance, as if the natural world is aligned with the spiritual realm. The willow itself is a symbol of mourning and grief, but also of resilience and flexibility.

The last line of the poem, "And the first / few stars / fallen," is a beautiful and haunting conclusion. The falling stars could be interpreted in several ways, but perhaps the most poignant is as a symbol of the dead themselves, returning to the earth from which they came. The fact that the stars are "first few" implies that there will be more to come, a reminder that death is a natural part of the cycle of life.

Interpretation of the Poem

"The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" is a poem that rewards careful reading and contemplation. At its heart, the poem is a meditation on the nature of life, death, and rebirth. It suggests that death is not an end, but a transformation, and that the journey of the soul continues beyond the physical realm.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of symbolic imagery. The ships, the moon, the willow tree, and the stars all carry deep meaning and significance. The ships represent the vessels of the soul, while the moon is a symbol of femininity and the cycles of life. The willow tree represents both grief and resilience, while the stars symbolize the dead returning to the earth. By using these powerful symbols, Merwin creates a rich and evocative world that invites readers to explore their own feelings about death and the afterlife.

Another important theme in the poem is the cyclical nature of life. The sinking of the old moon and the rising of the new moon suggest a continual cycle of death and rebirth, while the falling stars imply that the journey is ongoing. The ships themselves are part of this cycle, crafted specifically for the purpose of transporting the dead to their final resting place. By emphasizing the cyclical nature of life, Merwin suggests that death is not an end, but a necessary step in the journey of the soul.

Finally, the poem is notable for its sense of detachment and acceptance. The ships are stripped of all earthly possessions and attachments, and the journey is one of surrender and acceptance. There is no resistance or struggle, only a sense of inevitability and peace. This detachment and acceptance is echoed in the image of the willow tree, which bends to the will of the moon and the natural world.

Conclusion

"The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" is a remarkable poem that explores some of the deepest questions of human existence. Through its use of powerful symbolism, rich imagery, and evocative language, it creates a world that invites readers to contemplate their own feelings about death and the afterlife. Ultimately, the poem suggests that death is not an end, but a transformation, and that the journey of the soul continues beyond this physical realm. As such, it offers a sense of hope and renewal that is both comforting and inspiring.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has the power to transport us to different worlds, to make us feel emotions we never thought possible, and to inspire us to see the world in a different light. One such poem that has the power to do all of these things is "The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" by W.S. Merwin.

This poem is a masterpiece of imagery and metaphor, and it takes the reader on a journey through the process of preparing a ship for a voyage. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the ship's preparation.

The first stanza sets the scene, describing the ship as it sits in the harbor, waiting to be prepared for its journey. The opening line, "The ships are made ready in silence," sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that there is a sense of reverence and solemnity surrounding the preparation of the ship. The use of the word "made" instead of "prepared" or "readied" also adds to this sense of purposeful action.

The second line of the poem, "The harbor is still and the wind moves slowly," creates a sense of calm and stillness, as if the world is holding its breath in anticipation of what is to come. The use of the word "moves" instead of "blows" also suggests a gentle, almost hesitant movement, as if the wind is unsure of whether it should disturb the peace.

The second stanza of the poem describes the physical process of preparing the ship for its journey. The lines "The weight of the anchors is gone / At last and the cables run slack" suggest that the ship is being unburdened, freed from the weight of its moorings. The use of the word "slack" also suggests a sense of looseness and freedom.

The lines "The bay is bare and the beaches are empty / And the only noise is the splash of the wave" create a sense of emptiness and desolation, as if the world has been stripped bare in preparation for the ship's departure. The use of the word "only" also suggests that the sound of the waves is the only thing that matters, as if it is the only thing that can be trusted in a world that has been emptied of everything else.

The final stanza of the poem describes the emotional and spiritual preparation that the crew must undergo before setting sail. The lines "The sailors have taken their places in the rigging / And the ship waits for them, patient and still" suggest that the crew is ready and waiting, but that the ship itself is also waiting, as if it knows that there is still work to be done.

The lines "They have gathered their thoughts and their courage / And they have said goodbye to the land" suggest that the crew is preparing themselves emotionally and spiritually for the journey ahead. The use of the word "courage" also suggests that there is some danger or risk involved in the journey, and that the crew must be prepared to face it.

The final lines of the poem, "For a long time they look at the water / And then there is a light, and another" suggest that the crew is looking out at the vast expanse of the ocean, and that they are seeing something that is both beautiful and terrifying. The use of the word "light" also suggests that there is hope and guidance to be found in the journey ahead.

Overall, "The Ships Are Made Ready In Silence" is a powerful and evocative poem that takes the reader on a journey through the physical, emotional, and spiritual preparation that is required before setting sail on a journey. The use of imagery and metaphor is masterful, and the poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and move us.

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