Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Tendril in the Mesh: 3" by William Everson is a vivid and tumultuous exploration of the elemental forces of nature as metaphors for human passion, desire, and the cyclical processes of life and renewal. The poem captures the intense, almost primordial connection between two lovers against the backdrop of a storm sweeping in from the sea, evoking themes of destruction, creation, and the inseparable bond between humanity and the natural world.

The poem opens with a dramatic scene of environmental upheaval: floats are smashed, ships are wrecked on rocks, and the wind ravages the landscape. This chaos mirrors the inner tumult and awakening the speaker feels, a "wild rejoicing of heart" in response to the storm’s ferocity. The storm serves as a catalyst, sweeping away "casual loves" and revealing a bond as "stark as the tooth," primal and unyielding.

Everson skillfully intertwines the violence of the storm with the fervor of human connection. The lovers' search for each other "under the pelt of the storm" signifies a quest for authenticity and depth in their bond, one that matches the intensity and rawness of the natural forces surrounding them. This connection is so profound that even the "spatter of hail on a house" or the breaking of trees cannot distract them from their shared experience of the hurricane's howl.

The imagery of the lovers watching the light on Point Reyes, "hum like an axehead held to the stone," further emphasizes the sharpening, honing nature of their experience together, one that is both dangerous and illuminating. The act of crawling to each other, seeking warmth and solace amid the "rain on your face" and "lightning forks," symbolizes a merging of their beings with the elemental power of the storm.

The poem reaches its climax with the depiction of the sea as a woman in the throes of birth, her "spilth like the gasp of stallions" and her "vulva tilts thwart the wind's wide lip." This powerful imagery suggests a creative force at work, a birthing of something new and vital from the chaos and tumult of the storm. The sea, despite being "fouled of bad weather," is never devoid of love, embodying the relentless drive for life and connection even in the harshest conditions.

Everson concludes the poem with a tender moment of repose, urging the "little newt, little mite of the water" to sleep and awaken rejuvenated in the spring. This closing passage evokes a sense of hope and renewal, the promise of rebirth following the outpouring of passion, and the enduring cycle of life that continues despite the temporary devastations wrought by nature or human emotion.

"Tendril in the Mesh: 3" is a masterful blending of the erotic with the ecological, exploring the depths of human desire and the indomitable spirit of nature. Through its intense imagery and passionate narrative, the poem invites readers to reflect on the power of love to transcend the chaos of existence, forging connections that are as enduring and transformative as the forces that shape the natural world.

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