Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Wilbur’s "Mayflies" is a contemplative reflection on the ephemeral beauty of life and the human role in perceiving and appreciating the natural world. Through vivid imagery and philosophical musings, the poem contrasts the brief yet harmonious existence of mayflies with the speaker’s sense of human separateness and mortality. Wilbur ultimately arrives at a meditation on the transcendent purpose of observation, emphasizing the importance of joyfully recognizing the inherent beauty and order in existence.

The poem begins with a tranquil setting: "In sombre forest, when the sun was low, / I saw from unseen pools a mist of flies / In their quadrillions rise." The "sombre forest" and the setting sun create a mood of quiet introspection, while the "mist of flies" introduces a dynamic, almost magical transformation. The sudden emergence of the mayflies from the pools infuses the scene with life and light, animating the patch of forest with "glittering" movement. This imagery evokes both wonder and transience, as the flies’ brief lives contrast with the timeless forest.

Wilbur likens the shimmering flies to a "crowd / Of stars" that appear "Through a brief gap in black and driven cloud." This celestial comparison elevates the mayflies, aligning their fleeting beauty with the grandeur of the cosmos. The "arc of their great round-dance" further emphasizes their collective harmony and purpose, transforming their seemingly random movements into a cosmic pattern. This interplay between the minute and the vast underscores the interconnectedness of all life, no matter how brief or small.

The speaker observes that the mayflies’ movements are not chaotic: "It was no muddled swarm I witnessed, for / In entrechats each fluttering insect there / Rose two steep yards in air." The use of "entrechats," a term from ballet, likens the flies to dancers performing intricate and graceful steps. This comparison imbues their movements with artistry and intention, suggesting that even the most fleeting forms of life participate in a larger, ordered design. The "manifold / And figured scene" created by the mayflies evokes the image of a "cloth of gold" or "some bright machine," both metaphors highlighting the precision and splendor of their collective existence.

As the scene unfolds, the speaker reflects on their own life: "Watching those lifelong dancers of a day / As night closed in, I felt myself alone / In a life too much my own." Here, Wilbur contrasts the harmonious unity of the mayflies with the speaker’s sense of isolation. The phrase "a life too much my own" suggests a burden of individuality, a self-awareness that separates the speaker from the natural harmony observed in the mayflies. This sense of separateness heightens the speaker’s awareness of their mortality, as they perceive their existence as more fragmented and solitary than the brief, communal lives of the flies.

The speaker, however, finds solace in a possible purpose: "Unless, I thought, I had been called to be / Not fly or star / But one whose task is joyfully to see / How fair the fiats of the caller are." This shift introduces a sense of transcendence, as the speaker considers their role as an observer and appreciator of beauty. The "caller" is an implicit reference to a divine or creative force, whose "fiats" (decrees or creations) are seen as inherently beautiful and purposeful. By embracing their role as one "called to see," the speaker transforms their sense of isolation into an acknowledgment of a higher purpose—one rooted in the joyful recognition of life’s order and splendor.

Structurally, the poem’s measured quatrains mirror the rhythmic dance of the mayflies, while its alternating patterns of observation and reflection create a sense of balance between the external world and the speaker’s inner thoughts. Wilbur’s language is precise and evocative, blending the scientific with the poetic to capture the intricate beauty of the mayflies’ movements and the philosophical depth of the speaker’s musings.

"Mayflies" is ultimately a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the enduring significance of perception. Through its vivid imagery and reflective tone, the poem celebrates the harmonious order found in even the briefest lives, while offering a profound commentary on the human capacity to find meaning and joy in the act of seeing. Wilbur’s exploration of the natural world as both a source of wonder and a mirror for existential reflection makes this poem a resonant and timeless reflection on life, mortality, and purpose.

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