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THE WAYS AND THE PEOPLES, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Randall Jarrell's poem "The Ways and the Peoples" explores the profound themes of nature, wisdom, love, and mortality through a series of striking and enigmatic images. The poem opens with a question, "What does the storm say? What the trees wish, / If they can manage to wish it." This initial inquiry sets the tone for a meditation on the natural world's hidden languages and desires, suggesting an intrinsic connection between human experience and the environment.

The phrase "I am the king of the dead, / Says the hero strongly to his own field" introduces a mythical or legendary figure who claims dominion over death. This assertion, however, is met with silence—"Nobody hears him"—emphasizing the isolation and perhaps futility of such declarations. The hero's solitude underscores the theme of unrecognized or unacknowledged greatness, as well as the ephemeral nature of power and legacy.

Jarrell then delves into the concept of wisdom, noting that "wisdom has sorts— / ones even the intelligent / Can understand if they wish." This suggests that true wisdom is multifaceted and accessible, yet often overlooked or misunderstood. The mention of love as a limit that "approaches and approaches" introduces a philosophical reflection on the nature of love as an ever-receding horizon, an ideal that one continually strives toward but never fully attains.

The imagery of "the skinny digger" who finds a "partial shard" among the caves adds an archaeological dimension to the poem, symbolizing the search for meaning and value in the remnants of the past. This shard, depicting a leopard, is cherished more than contemporary brilliance, highlighting the enduring power of ancient art and the connection it fosters with the distant past. The leopard, with its "quick / Stare of the dead one, in that dawn, among its deer," evokes a moment frozen in time, capturing the essence of life and death in a single gaze.

The poem continues with an exploration of the natural world's complexity: "Remember, each cupful of air has its vector, / And the backward seedling can always say: / It may be so; and I certainly vary." These lines suggest that every element of nature has its direction and purpose, even if it seems random or contrary. The backward seedling's acknowledgment of variation reflects the adaptability and resilience inherent in life.

The speaker then addresses a "you," contrasting human agency with the power of natural forces: "And it's you who're taking the great wind's way— / And it knows what it says will always be taken." This implies that while humans may strive to control or direct their paths, they are ultimately subject to the whims of greater, uncontrollable forces, much like the wind.

The final lines introduce a fairy-tale-like scenario: "As the simple answer of the helpless love / Of the dwarfs in the forest for the glittering virgin / Who is dying and glass on her marvelous bier." This imagery evokes the story of Snow White, where the dwarfs' love for the beautiful, dying maiden is pure yet powerless to save her. The "glittering virgin" symbolizes unattainable beauty and purity, and her placement on a "marvelous bier" signifies the reverence and sorrow surrounding her inevitable demise.

Through this rich tapestry of images and ideas, Jarrell explores the interconnectedness of human emotions, natural forces, and mythical narratives. The poem suggests that wisdom, love, and beauty are all subjects to the same forces of time and nature that govern everything else in the world. By juxtaposing these themes with the enduring power of ancient symbols and the timelessness of myth, Jarrell invites readers to reflect on the cyclical nature of existence and the profound, often unspoken connections that bind all living things.


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