Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Wallace Stevens’ “This as Including That” is a brief yet profound meditation on interconnectedness, positioning the self in relation to both the tangible world and the intangible realm of thought. The poem navigates between the physical grounding of existence and the abstract associations that bind individuals to larger, almost ineffable forces.

The opening lines establish a foundational truth: “It is true that you live on this rock / And in it. It is wholly you.” Here, the “rock” symbolizes the earth, grounding the individual in the material, physical realm. By declaring that one lives “on” and “in” the rock, Stevens emphasizes not only habitation but also integration—the self is part of this foundational world, inseparable from it. The phrase “It is wholly you” underscores the intrinsic connection between human identity and the physical world, suggesting that the self is defined, at least in part, by its relationship to the earth.

Stevens then shifts focus to thoughts that “move in the air as large as air.” This transition introduces the intangible, expansive nature of thought, which, unlike the rock, lacks fixed boundaries. These thoughts are described as “almost not our own,” highlighting their universality and independence from individual ownership. Yet, despite their elusive nature, these thoughts are not alien; they are something “to which we are related.” This sense of relation mirrors the earlier association with the rock, creating a parallel between the tangible and intangible realms. Just as individuals are part of the physical world, they are also participants in a shared mental or spiritual domain.

The final lines draw these associations closer to the speaker’s personal experience: “In an association like yours / With the rock and mine with you.” This conclusion ties the universality of thought and the physicality of the rock to interpersonal relationships. The speaker’s connection to the addressee parallels the associations described earlier, suggesting that human relationships are similarly rooted in both the tangible and the intangible. The structure of the poem thus becomes a layered exploration of connection: between self and earth, self and thought, and self and other.

Stevens’ language in this poem is deliberately simple, reflecting the universality and accessibility of its themes. The repetition of “It is true” lends the poem a declarative tone, as if establishing fundamental truths about existence. The use of natural imagery, such as “rock” and “air,” anchors the abstract concepts in the physical world, allowing readers to grasp the interplay between the concrete and the conceptual.

The poem resonates with Stevens’ broader preoccupation with the relationship between reality and imagination. Here, the rock represents reality’s grounding force, while the thoughts “as large as air” evoke the boundless possibilities of imagination and intellect. The interplay between these realms reflects Stevens’ belief that human experience is shaped by both the material and the mental, the grounded and the transcendent.

“This as Including That” ultimately invites readers to reflect on their own associations—with the earth, with thought, and with others. It suggests that identity and meaning arise not in isolation but through a web of connections, encompassing both the tangible and the intangible. In its brevity, the poem captures a profound truth about existence: that we are shaped by the worlds we inhabit, both seen and unseen, and by the relationships that bind us to those worlds and to each other.

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