Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Gulls" by Henri Cole is a vivid and profoundly symbolic poem that navigates through layers of personal, existential, and cosmic exploration, set against the backdrop of a transformative swim. This journey from the shore into the depths of the sea becomes a metaphor for delving into the depths of the self, confronting and transcending various facets of human experience, from familial bonds and personal grief to the universal search for completeness and connection with the broader fabric of existence.

The poem opens with the speaker's visceral plunge into the "green" sea, a space that is at once inviting and alien. The immediate mention of "Mother, in her pink swimsuit, pushing out of water," situates the narrative within a deeply personal context, suggesting a complex relationship with maternal figures and the desire to both connect with and individuate from familial ties. This moment of encountering the mother's "bulky form" in the water serves as a catalyst for the speaker's deeper exploration, propelling them to kick "deeper" into the sea and, metaphorically, into the self.

The journey takes the speaker "beyond a sugar boat and Blake's Ulro and Beulah," referencing William Blake's mythical realms associated with states of despair and innocence, respectively. This passage through Blakean imagery signifies moving beyond dualities and the dichotomies that define human experience, suggesting a quest for a state of being that transcends conventional boundaries and limitations.

As the speaker swims "beyond grief, fate; fingers, toes and skin; beyond speech," the poem delves into the existential, moving beyond the physical and the articulable into realms of pure experience and emotion. This progression through layers of human experience—"plagues of the blood and flowers thrown on a coffin; beyond Eros and the disease of incompleteness"—reflects a deep yearning to transcend the inherent suffering and longing that characterize the human condition.

The act of swimming becomes a metaphor for the speaker's struggle and determination to straighten "all that I had made crooked." This imagery of swimming against the "icy, green, silvery frothing" sea evokes a sense of purification and renewal, a physical and spiritual realignment. The comparison of the speaker's movements to "the gulls aloft, touching the transparent structure of the world," imbues the narrative with a sense of liberation and connection to the natural world, highlighting the potential for transcendence and unity with the cosmos.

"Gulls" is a poignant meditation on the journey toward self-understanding and the quest for a sense of wholeness within the vast, interconnected web of existence. Henri Cole masterfully uses the metaphor of a solitary swim to explore themes of personal transformation, the desire for reconciliation with the past, and the pursuit of a deeper connection with the universal. Through this intimate and expansive narrative, Cole invites readers to consider their own journeys through the complexities of life, the potential for renewal, and the beauty of striving for a harmonious alignment with the world around us.

POEM TEXT: https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/2003-09-22/flipbook/114/

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