|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
“Wells” by Donald Hall is rich in symbolism and vivid imagery, encapsulating themes of isolation, fear, growth, and emergence. The narrative describes a journey from confinement to freedom, marked by transformative experiences. The opening line, "I lived in a dry well under the rank grass of a meadow," immediately establishes a sense of confinement and desolation. The dry well represents a place devoid of life-sustaining water, suggesting a period of barrenness or emotional drought. The "rank grass" implies neglect and overgrowth, further emphasizing the isolation of the narrator. "A white ladder leaned out of it but I was afraid of the sounds of animals grazing." Here, the ladder symbolizes a potential escape or a path to freedom. However, the narrator's fear of the "sounds of animals grazing" indicates a reluctance to rejoin the world above, perhaps due to anxiety or the perceived dangers of the unknown. "I crouched by the wall ten years until the circle of a woman's darkness moved over mine like a mouth." The act of crouching by the wall for ten years highlights a prolonged period of stasis and fear. The "circle of a woman's darkness" can be interpreted as a profound connection or influence that disrupts the narrator's isolation. The imagery of the darkness moving "like a mouth" suggests an intimate and consuming presence that ultimately catalyzes change. "The ladder broke out in leaves and fruit hung from the branches." This line marks a significant transformation. The ladder, once a simple escape tool, now embodies growth and vitality. The emergence of leaves and fruit signifies renewal, fertility, and the promise of sustenance. It suggests that the previously barren path has become a source of nourishment and hope. "I climbed to the meadow grass." The act of climbing indicates an active decision to leave the well and embrace the world above. This ascent represents overcoming fear and embracing growth and change. "I drink from the well of cattle." The final line depicts the narrator engaging with the natural world, drawing sustenance from the same source as the animals previously feared. This act symbolizes a reconciliation with nature and a newfound acceptance of life’s cycles and rhythms. In summary, “Wells” describes a profound journey from isolation and fear to renewal and integration with the natural world. The transformation is facilitated by an external influence, symbolized by the "circle of a woman's darkness," which prompts the narrator to embrace growth and emerge into a world of life and sustenance. The vivid imagery and symbolic elements create a rich tapestry of meaning, capturing the essence of personal evolution and the interconnectedness of all living things.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WATER TOWER by ANDREW MOTION ABBA JACOB IN THE WELL by MARILYN NELSON ONCE MORE BREVITY by ROBERT FROST PERSONAL HELICON; FOR MICHAEL LONGLEY by SEAMUS HEANEY THE WELL OF ST. KEYNE by ROBERT SOUTHEY VERSES OCCASIONED BY THE SUDDEN DRYING UP..ST.PATRICK'S WELL by JONATHAN SWIFT DESERTED DERRICK by MARY ELIZABETH BRANTLEY THE VILLAGE WELL by ALEXANDER BROWN |
| |