Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Matthews' poem "The Snake" presents a vivid exploration of the serpent as a multifaceted symbol, blending physical description with metaphorical resonance. Matthews, known for his ability to weave intricate imagery with profound insight, uses the snake to evoke themes of transformation, continuity, and the inescapable passage of time.

The poem opens with a striking simile: "A snake is the love of a thumb / and forefinger." This image immediately captures the snake’s physical form while also suggesting a sense of intimacy and delicate precision. By likening the snake to the familiar grasp of fingers, Matthews imbues the creature with a tactile, almost affectionate quality. This initial comparison sets the tone for the poem's exploration of the snake as both a tangible entity and a symbol rich with meaning.

Matthews then shifts to a more extended metaphor: "Other times, an arm / that has swallowed a bicep." Here, the snake is envisioned as an arm, but one that has devoured its own strength. This imagery of consumption and internal conflict hints at the snake's dual nature—both powerful and self-consuming. The notion of the arm swallowing the bicep also evokes the idea of a cyclical, self-sustaining force, characteristic of the snake’s continuous, undulating motion.

The poem then delves into the environment surrounding the snake: "The air behind this one / is like a knot / in a child’s shoelace / come undone / while you were blinking." This simile is rich with connotations of fleeting moments and the impermanence of time. The undone knot symbolizes something once secure now unraveling unnoticed, paralleling the snake's silent, unnoticed movement. This image captures the elusive, almost mystical quality of the snake as it moves through its environment, leaving behind a sense of something subtly altered.

Matthews continues to build on the theme of motion and time with the lines: "It is bearing something away. / What? What time / does the next snake leave?" These questions introduce a sense of urgency and mystery. The snake is portrayed as a carrier of an unknown burden, perhaps representing the inevitability of change or the passage of experiences that cannot be reclaimed. The question about the next snake's departure underscores the idea of continuous cycles and the relentless march of time.

The final stanzas of the poem reinforce the snake's connection to deeper, almost spiritual themes: "This one’s tail is ravelling / into its burrow— / a rosary returned to a purse." The image of the snake’s tail disappearing into its burrow is likened to a rosary being put away, suggesting a return to a place of origin or rest. This religious metaphor imbues the snake with a sacred quality, hinting at rituals, prayers, and the cyclical nature of life and death.

The poem concludes with a profound reflection on the human condition: "The snake is the last time your spine / could go anywhere alone." This final line connects the snake to the human spine, emphasizing the shared serpentine shape and suggesting a time when humans, like the snake, moved independently and freely. It evokes a sense of nostalgia for a primal, unfettered existence, highlighting the snake as a symbol of both freedom and constraint.

In "The Snake," Matthews masterfully combines vivid imagery with layered metaphors to explore the complex symbolism of the snake. The poem’s structure—composed of concise, evocative stanzas—mirrors the snake’s own fluidity and elusiveness. Matthews' use of everyday objects and experiences to describe the snake invites the reader to see this creature in a new light, as both a physical entity and a metaphor for deeper existential themes. Through this exploration, Matthews captures the snake’s enduring presence in human consciousness, as a symbol of transformation, continuity, and the inexorable passage of time.

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