Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Envoie" by William Meredith reflects on the purpose and motivation behind writing poetry, particularly in challenging times. The poem is addressed to the poet's own book of poems, which he sends out into the world with a message for those who might question the relevance or necessity of poetry in a difficult era.

The opening line, "Go, little book," establishes a tender and affectionate tone, personifying the book as a small, cherished companion embarking on a journey. The speaker anticipates potential skepticism or confusion from readers, asking, "If anybody asks / Why I add poems to a time like this," which implies an awareness of the potential futility or luxury of poetry amidst societal or global turmoil.

The poem suggests that the act of writing poetry is driven by a compulsion to capture and express beauty that cannot be fully comprehended: "Tell how the comeliness I can't take in / Of ships and other figures of content / Compels me still until I give them names." The use of the word "comeliness" denotes beauty or attractiveness, which the poet feels overwhelmed by or unable to fully grasp. The "ships and other figures of content" symbolize the various subjects and images that inspire the poet. The act of giving them names, or writing poems, is an attempt to process and articulate this beauty, to make sense of it and share it with others.

The phrase "I give them names impatiently" suggests a sense of urgency and restlessness in the creative process. The poet compares this compulsion to someone "pull[ing] up roses by the roots / That keep him turning on his empty bed." This metaphor conveys a deep, visceral response to beauty and loss. The act of uprooting roses symbolizes a desperate attempt to capture or hold onto something beautiful, even if it means destroying it in the process. The "empty bed" suggests loneliness or a sense of incompleteness, while the "smell intolerable and thick with loss" evokes the powerful, lingering presence of beauty and the pain of losing it.

Meredith's poem captures the paradox of artistic creation: the desire to immortalize beauty and the simultaneous recognition of the transient nature of both the subject and the emotion it evokes. The closing image of the "smell intolerable and thick with loss" encapsulates the bittersweet nature of poetry—its ability to evoke powerful emotions, including the pain of knowing that beauty, like all things, is fleeting.

In "Envoie," Meredith articulates a defense of poetry's relevance, even (or especially) in difficult times. The poem suggests that the act of writing and sharing poetry is not merely a personal indulgence but a necessary response to the world's beauty and sorrow. It acknowledges the poet's role as an intermediary, translating the ineffable into words, and highlights the importance of preserving and expressing the intangible aspects of human experience. Through this small yet profound declaration, Meredith affirms the enduring value of poetry as a means of confronting and commemorating the complexities of life.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...