Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Maxine W. Kumin?s "Together" is a compact yet profoundly symbolic poem that explores themes of transformation, unity, and surrender within the intimate space of a shared journey. The work draws on marine and mythical imagery to represent a deep connection between two beings who relinquish individuality to merge into one another and their environment. The poem’s brevity and lyricism invite a layered interpretation of love, metamorphosis, and the inevitable flow of life.

The opening lines, "The water closing / over us and the / going down is all," immediately establish a sense of immersion and finality. The act of submersion is both literal and metaphorical, symbolizing a surrender to forces greater than oneself, whether they are love, nature, or mortality. The water, as a recurring motif, evokes the primal and transformative aspects of existence, where boundaries dissolve, and unity becomes possible. The use of "going down" suggests not just a descent into water but also a deeper plunge into the unknown, the unconscious, or the shared space of intimacy.

Kumin’s phrase "Gills are given" signals a metamorphosis that allows the speakers to adapt to their submerged environment. The sudden acquisition of gills—organs for underwater respiration—suggests a profound transformation and an acceptance of a new way of being. This transformation, however, occurs in "a town of broken hulls / and green doubloons," imagery that evokes the remnants of past voyages and the treasures of the deep. The mention of "dead pirates" creates a bridge between the past and the present, as if the submerged world holds the echoes of those who once sought adventure, wealth, or meaning but were ultimately consumed by the depths. These figures, symbolic of failed quests or lives lost, offer a stark contrast to the poem’s protagonists, who embrace their transformation rather than resist it.

Kumin’s assertion that "There is / no salvage" underscores the irreversibility of this journey. The speakers are beyond rescue or return, and their metamorphosis is complete. The description of all knowledge being reduced to "the color / of warm caramel" simplifies and distills experience into sensory essence. "All is salt" reinforces the idea of reduction, transformation, and preservation, as salt is both a natural element of the sea and a symbol of endurance.

The physical transformation described in the lines "See how / our eyes have migrated / to the uphill side?" reflects the physiological adaptations of sea creatures, suggesting a complete shedding of human traits. This detail also alludes to evolution and the fluidity of identity, as the speakers abandon their terrestrial forms to become creatures of the sea. The "new round / mouths and no spines" highlight the pliability of their new existence, where rigidity and resistance have been replaced by softness and fluidity.

The refrain-like repetition of "letting the water cover" emphasizes the act of yielding, the acceptance of a new medium in which life must be lived differently. This surrender is not mournful but transformative, as it allows for the ultimate union described in the concluding lines: "It happens over / and over, me in / your body and you / in mine." This mutual inhabitation transcends physicality to symbolize complete emotional and spiritual fusion. The repetition of "over and over" suggests a cyclical, eternal quality to this merging, where boundaries of self dissolve perpetually.

Kumin’s use of sparse, fluid language mirrors the poem’s themes. The short, enjambed lines mimic the rhythm of waves or the flow of water, while the absence of punctuation encourages a seamless, continuous reading. The poem’s structure reflects the interconnectedness and fluidity it describes, dissolving barriers between lines and ideas as easily as the speakers dissolve into one another.

"Together" is a meditation on the transformative power of love, unity, and surrender. Through its rich aquatic imagery and lyrical form, the poem portrays an intimate journey where individuality is relinquished in favor of a shared, cyclical existence. By embracing transformation and the unknown, the speakers find a profound sense of belonging, both to each other and to the encompassing water. Kumin?s work resonates as a testament to the beauty of connection and the inevitability of change, reminding readers of the delicate balance between selfhood and unity.

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