Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Erosion" offers a contemplative and evocative exploration of the inevitability of change, decay, and the passage of time, using the metaphor of coastal erosion to reflect on the fragility of human existence and relationships. The poem intricately weaves together natural imagery and human experience, emphasizing the persistent, inexorable forces that shape our lives, often unnoticed until the effects are undeniable.

The poem begins with a direct statement: "We are slowly / undermined." This line sets the tone for the entire piece, introducing the central theme of gradual, almost imperceptible decline. The use of "Grain by grain... / inch by inch... slippage" reinforces the idea that this erosion happens incrementally, subtly, and continuously, emphasizing that the forces at work are both natural and unavoidable. The ellipses suggest a slow, drawn-out process, one that is happening right before our eyes but often escapes our notice until it's too late.

Pastan vividly describes the process of erosion with the image of waves as "a long row of scythes" moving over the beach. The scythe, traditionally associated with harvest and, symbolically, with death, underscores the destructive power of the sea as it gradually consumes the land. This imagery conveys a sense of inevitability and danger, highlighting the tension between the beauty of the natural world and its capacity for destruction.

The poem then shifts to the quiet persistence of time, likened to an hourglass where "sand is running out." This comparison emphasizes the idea of time slipping away, much like the land eroding into the sea. The shift from a clock, which marks time in a more structured and visible way, to an hourglass, which measures time through the slow, constant flow of sand, enhances the theme of imperceptible change. The sand, representative of time and the physical world, is slipping away, underscoring the transience of all things.

Pastan captures the paradox of beauty and destruction with the line "Implacably lovely is this view / though it will swallow us whole." The view, likely of the sea and the eroding shoreline, is described as both beautiful and relentless, embodying the dual nature of the natural world. The inevitability of being "swallow[ed] whole" by the forces of nature emphasizes the vulnerability of human efforts to resist or control these forces.

The poem touches on the futility of human attempts to prevent this erosion: "We have tried a seawall. / We have tried prayer." The seawall, a physical barrier meant to protect the land, and prayer, a spiritual plea for protection, are both depicted as ultimately ineffective against the power of nature. The mention of "small tentacles, hooks of green" that "catch on nothing" further illustrates the futility of these efforts. The planted grasses, meant to hold the soil in place, are no match for the wind and water that "does its sure work." This reflects the idea that despite our best efforts to hold on to what we value—be it land, time, or relationships—certain forces are beyond our control.

The poem takes a poignant turn with the image of the house becoming "an ark," filled with animals and children pressing "their faces to the glass as if the windows were portholes." This evokes the biblical story of Noah's Ark, a vessel meant to preserve life in the face of a great flood. However, in this context, the ark symbolizes a last refuge against the inevitable, with the windows serving as a thin barrier between safety and the encroaching sea. The "gulls [that] will follow our wake" suggest that even in leaving, there is a trace, a path that others will follow, emphasizing the ongoing cycle of life and death, preservation and loss.

The closing lines return to the central metaphor of erosion, as the speaker reflects on their relationship with a loved one: "We are made of water anyway, / I can feel it in the yielding of your flesh, / though sometimes I think that you are sand, / moving slowly, slowly from under me." Here, the speaker acknowledges the inherent transience of human bodies and relationships, likening the loved one to sand that is slipping away, much like the land eroding into the sea. This metaphor poignantly captures the sense of loss and the impermanence of even the most intimate connections.

In "Erosion," Linda Pastan masterfully uses the imagery of coastal erosion to explore the themes of time, loss, and the fragility of human existence. The poem reflects on the inevitable forces that shape our lives, emphasizing the tension between our desire to hold on to what we love and the natural processes that slowly but surely take those things away. Through its rich, evocative language and deep emotional resonance, the poem invites readers to contemplate the impermanence of all things and the quiet, persistent erosion that defines the human experience.

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