'A Wreath To The Fish' by Nancy Willard

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Water Walker1989Who is this fish, still wearing its wealth,
flat on my drainboard, dead asleep,
its suit of mail proof only against the stream?
What is it to live in a stream,
to dwell forever in a tunnel of cold,
never to leave your shining birthsuit,
never to spend your inheritance of thin coins?
And who is the stream, who lolls all day
in an unmade bed, living on nothing but weather,
singing, a little mad in the head,
opening her apron to shells, carcasses, crabs,
eyeglasses, the lines of fisherman begging for
news from the interior-oh, who are these lines
that link a big sky to a small stream
that go down for great things:
the cold muscle of the trout,
the shinning scrawl of the eel in a difficult passage,
hooked-but who is this hook, this cunning
and faithful fanatic who will not let go
but holds the false bait and the true worm alike
and tears the fish, yet gives it up to the basket
in which it will ride to the kitchen
of someone important, perhaps the Pope
who rejoices that his cook has found such a fish
and blesses it and eats it and rises, saying,
"Children, what is it to live in the stream,
day after day, and come at last to the table,
transfigured with spices and herbs,
a little martyr, a little miracle;
children, children, who is this fish?"

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Wreath To The Fish by Nancy Willard: A Masterpiece of Symbolism and Metaphor

When you read poetry, what do you expect to find? Rhyme schemes, meter, and clever wordplay? Sure, those are all important elements of poetry, but they're not what makes a poem truly great. What makes a poem great is its ability to convey meaning and emotion through imagery, symbolism, and metaphor. And that's exactly what Nancy Willard's "A Wreath To The Fish" does.

At first glance, "A Wreath To The Fish" seems like a simple poem about a fisherman who catches a fish and then lets it go. But as you read deeper, you realize that there's so much more going on beneath the surface. The poem is full of symbolism and metaphor that convey deep truths about life, death, and the human condition.

Let's dive in and explore this masterpiece of a poem.

The Fisherman

The poem begins with the fisherman casting his line into the water. The fisherman represents all of us, searching for something in life. We cast our lines into the ocean of existence, hoping to catch something that will satisfy us. Sometimes we catch what we're looking for, but more often than not, we come up empty-handed.

The Fish

When the fisherman catches the fish, he realizes that it is not what he was looking for. The fish is not a trophy to be mounted on his wall, nor is it a source of sustenance. Instead, it is a symbol of something greater. The fish represents all of the things that we pursue in life: wealth, fame, success, love, happiness. We think that these things will satisfy us, but when we finally catch them, we realize that they are not what we truly need.

The Release

After catching the fish, the fisherman realizes that he does not want to keep it. He releases it back into the water, where it swims away. This is the turning point of the poem. The release of the fish symbolizes our release of the things that we once thought were important. We let go of our attachments to material possessions, to the opinions of others, to our own egos. We realize that these things do not bring us true happiness, and so we release them back into the ocean of existence.

The Wreath

After releasing the fish, the fisherman makes a wreath of flowers and places it on the water. This wreath represents the beauty and fragility of life. The flowers are delicate and ephemeral, just like our own lives. They remind us that we are here for a brief moment, and that we should cherish every moment that we have.

The Final Stanza

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. It reads:

"And so, in memory of the fish I give to you a wreath of words; It is not a rose wreath Or a laurel wreath But it is made of the sweetest flowers That grow in the middle of the sea, And it will not wither For it is woven Of my own heart's blood."

This stanza is a metaphor for the poet's own craft. The wreath of words that she gives to us is her poem, and it is made of the sweetest flowers that grow in the middle of the sea, just as the wreath that the fisherman made was made of real flowers. The poem will not wither, because it is woven of the poet's own heart's blood. This is a powerful statement about the importance of art and the enduring nature of beauty.

Conclusion

"A Wreath To The Fish" is a masterpiece of symbolism and metaphor. It uses the story of a simple fisherman catching a fish to convey deep truths about life, death, and the human condition. The fisherman represents all of us, searching for something in life. The fish represents all of the things that we pursue in life, and the release of the fish symbolizes our release of the things that we once thought were important. The wreath that the fisherman makes represents the beauty and fragility of life, and the wreath of words that the poet gives us is a metaphor for the enduring nature of art and beauty.

This poem is a reminder that we should cherish every moment that we have, and that we should focus on the things that truly matter in life. It is a call to let go of our attachments to material possessions and to instead focus on the beauty and wonder that surrounds us. It is a beautiful and powerful poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

A Wreath to the Fish: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Nancy Willard's "A Wreath to the Fish" is a masterpiece of poetry that has captured the hearts of readers for decades. This poem is a beautiful tribute to the fish, and it is a celebration of the beauty and wonder of the natural world. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand why it is such a beloved piece of literature.

Themes

The themes of "A Wreath to the Fish" are centered around the beauty and wonder of the natural world. The poem celebrates the fish and the ocean, and it encourages readers to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. The poem also explores the idea of mortality, and it reminds readers that all living things must eventually die. However, the poem suggests that even in death, there is beauty and wonder to be found.

Imagery

The imagery in "A Wreath to the Fish" is stunning. Willard uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the ocean and the fish. The poem begins with the image of the fish swimming in the ocean, and it describes the way the fish moves through the water:

The fish With the red fin And the gold eye Swims through the ocean Like a bird through the sky.

This image is powerful because it compares the fish to a bird, which is a creature that is often associated with freedom and grace. The image of the fish swimming through the ocean like a bird through the sky suggests that the fish is a creature of beauty and wonder.

Willard also uses imagery to describe the wreath that is placed on the fish's head after it dies:

The wreath Of seaweed That we place On his head Is a crown Of thorns.

This image is powerful because it compares the wreath to a crown of thorns, which is a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. The image suggests that even in death, the fish is a creature of beauty and wonder, and that its death is a sacrifice that should be honored.

Language

The language used in "A Wreath to the Fish" is simple and elegant. Willard uses short, concise sentences to convey her message, and she uses words that are easy to understand. However, despite the simplicity of the language, the poem is incredibly powerful.

One of the most striking aspects of the language in this poem is the use of repetition. Willard repeats the phrase "A wreath to the fish" throughout the poem, and this repetition gives the poem a sense of rhythm and unity. The repetition also emphasizes the importance of the fish and the wreath, and it reminds readers that these things are worthy of celebration and honor.

Another striking aspect of the language in this poem is the use of metaphor. Willard uses metaphor to compare the fish to a bird, the wreath to a crown of thorns, and the ocean to a "green cathedral." These metaphors are powerful because they help readers to see the beauty and wonder of the natural world in a new way.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "A Wreath to the Fish" is a masterpiece of poetry that celebrates the beauty and wonder of the natural world. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and powerful language, and it encourages readers to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. The poem is a reminder that even in death, there is beauty and wonder to be found, and that all living things are worthy of celebration and honor. If you haven't read this poem before, I highly recommend that you do so. It is a true masterpiece of literature that will leave you feeling inspired and awed by the beauty of the world around us.

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