Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"On the Way to the Island" by David Ferry is a captivating and surreal poem that explores themes of escape, transformation, and the profound depths of both the ocean and human experience. Through vivid imagery and a sense of wonder, Ferry transports the reader into a moment of discovery and awe, suspended between the familiar and the fantastic.

The poem begins with a scene of departure: "After we fled away from the shuddering dock, / The sea upheld us, would not let us go / Nor drown us." This introduction sets a tone of urgency and relief, as if the speakers are escaping from something unsettling or confining. The sea is personified as a supportive force that both sustains and protects them, suggesting a transition from a state of fear to one of liberation.

The notion of dancing "all night in the dark" conveys a sense of unrestrained joy and abandon, with the darkness of the night providing a backdrop that emphasizes the isolation and intimacy of this experience. This image of dancing also introduces a dreamlike quality to the narrative, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

The revelation that the deck was "made of glass, / All glass," marks a pivotal moment of transformation in the poem. This unexpected discovery turns the ship into a fragile and transparent structure, exposing the vastness beneath them. This glass deck serves as a metaphor for vulnerability and clarity, offering an unobstructed view into the depths below.

The description of looking down "Say a hundred miles, say a million years" dramatically expands the scope of their vision, intertwining spatial and temporal dimensions to emphasize the profundity and timelessness of what they observe. This hyperbolic distance suggests that they are not merely seeing into the physical depths of the ocean but also peering into the very essence of existence, or the primordial past.

Below them, the appearance of the fish—"huge, gaping, motionless, flashing / Their innocent frightening scales in the dark"—strikes a contrast between their immensity and stillness and the luminous, eerie beauty they display. The fish are described as both "innocent" and "frightening," capturing the dual nature of the deep sea as a place of both natural splendor and underlying menace. Their scales flash in the dark, illuminating the otherwise obscure waters with their presence.

Overall, "On the Way to the Island" by David Ferry uses a journey at sea as a powerful metaphor for exploring the unknown territories of life and the depths of the human psyche. The poem weaves together elements of fear, wonder, and revelation, inviting readers to contemplate the vast, unseen layers of reality that lie beneath the surface of everyday existence. Ferry's vivid imagery and the transformative setting create a mesmerizing narrative that resonates with the mysteries of the natural world and the inner realms of human emotion.

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