Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Wilbur’s "Tywater" is a vivid and compact portrait of a figure steeped in violence and precision, whose life is defined by the mastery of deadly skills and whose death leaves behind a profound, enigmatic silence. The poem juxtaposes the stark realities of mortality with the fleeting beauty and brutality of human prowess, ultimately presenting a meditation on the dualities of life: action and stillness, violence and repose, vitality and death. Through its tight structure and precise language, the poem creates a haunting exploration of a life lived on the edge of destruction.

The poem opens with a cryptic invocation: “Death of Sir Nihil, book of nth.” The name “Sir Nihil” (evoking nothingness) and the reference to the “book of nth” (suggesting indeterminacy or infinitude) set the tone for a narrative that feels both archetypal and elusive. The description of the “charred and clotted sward,” devoid of “the lily of our Lord,” suggests a battlefield marked by violence and absence, where spiritual grace is conspicuously missing. The “Alases of the hyacinth” evoke both lamentation and fleeting beauty, framing the scene with a sense of loss.

Sir Nihil, or Tywater, is depicted as a figure of exceptional skill, capable of astonishing feats: “Could flicker from behind his ear / A whistling silver throwing knife / And with a holler punch the life / Out of a swallow in the air.” This image captures the precision and cruelty of his craft, as well as its startling elegance. The swallow, a symbol of grace and freedom, becomes the target of his violence, underscoring the tension between beauty and destruction that defines his character.

The second stanza continues to explore Tywater’s mastery, focusing on his skill with a lariat. The “butterfly” shape of the lariat’s loops and his “white and gritted grin” suggest a blend of artistry and ferocity. The description of “cuts of sky” rolling within the noose further emphasizes his ability to manipulate and dominate the natural world. Yet, this imagery also carries a sense of fragility, as the sky itself seems momentarily captured and then released—a fleeting assertion of control over the vast and uncontrollable.

Despite his expertise, Tywater’s death is abrupt and unceremonious: “When he was hit, his body turned / To clumsy dirt before it fell.” The transformation from a figure of precision and grace to “clumsy dirt” highlights the inevitability of mortality, reducing even the most skilled and vibrant individual to a lifeless form. This stark contrast between the vitality of his actions and the inertness of his death underscores the fragility of human life, no matter how extraordinary.

The closing lines, “And what to say of him, God knows. / Such violence. And such repose,” encapsulate the poem’s central paradox. Tywater’s life is marked by violent action and mastery, yet his death brings a profound stillness. The pairing of “violence” and “repose” invites readers to reflect on the dual nature of existence: the coexistence of destruction and peace, movement and stillness, vitality and nothingness. The phrase “God knows” suggests both the inscrutability of human lives and the ultimate judgment—or lack thereof—reserved for such figures.

Structurally, the poem’s compact quatrains and measured rhythm mirror the precision of Tywater’s actions while also creating a sense of inevitability. Wilbur’s language is exact and evocative, blending striking imagery with philosophical undertones. The use of contrasting elements—elegance and brutality, action and death—imbues the poem with a dynamic tension that reflects the complexity of its subject.

At its core, "Tywater" is a meditation on the fleeting nature of human skill and the inevitability of mortality. Through the figure of Sir Nihil, Wilbur explores themes of violence, grace, and the paradoxical beauty of destruction. The poem’s vivid imagery and reflective tone invite readers to consider the fragility of life and the ways in which action and stillness, creation and obliteration, coexist in the human experience. It is a poignant reminder of the transitory nature of mastery and the silence that follows even the most extraordinary lives.

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