Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin’s poem “Ascent” is a profound meditation on the journey of life, the passage of time, and the inevitable approach of mortality. Merwin, renowned for his contemplative and evocative style, uses the metaphor of climbing and the imagery of shoes to explore themes of growth, aging, and the search for meaning. The poem’s structure and language create a vivid sense of movement and reflection, drawing the reader into a journey that is both physical and existential.

The poem begins with the line, “I have climbed a long way,” immediately setting the tone of a journey that has been arduous and significant. This opening line encapsulates a sense of effort and progression, suggesting that the speaker has traversed a significant portion of their life’s path. The mention of “my shoes minute larvae” introduces a compelling metaphor. Shoes, typically associated with protection and progress, are here described as “minute larvae,” evoking a sense of smallness and vulnerability. Larvae, in their nascent stage, hint at potential growth and transformation, yet their minuteness also conveys fragility.

The “dark parents” who “will wait there looking up until someone leads them away” evoke the inevitability of death and the ancestors who have preceded the speaker. These figures are personified as waiting, suggesting a timeless presence that observes the journey of the living. The reference to them being led away when they have “got to the place that will do for their age” speaks to the natural cycle of life and death, the transition from one stage to another, and the eventual rest that comes with age.

Merwin’s imagery of the “shades drawn” and “nothing but wear between them” conveys a sense of finality and resignation. The drawing of shades suggests the end of a chapter, a retreat into darkness or privacy. The phrase “nothing but wear between them” emphasizes the weariness and erosion that comes with time, the physical and emotional toll of a long journey.

The speaker then reflects on reaching “the first of the bare meadows recognized in the air.” This line suggests a moment of recognition or revelation, a point where the journey’s purpose or endpoint becomes clearer. The “bare meadows” symbolize a place of openness and exposure, stripped of the trappings of life’s complexities. This recognition is marked by the “eyes by their blankness turned,” indicating a moment of profound understanding or realization, where the speaker feels seen and acknowledged by those who have passed before.

The poem concludes with the speaker “knowing myself seen by the lost silent / barefoot choir.” This choir represents those who have journeyed before, a collective of souls who have reached the end of their paths. Their silence and bare feet evoke a sense of humility and acceptance, stripped of earthly possessions and distractions. The speaker’s recognition by this choir signifies a communion with the past, an acknowledgment of shared experiences and the continuity of life’s journey.

Merwin’s use of imagery and metaphor in “Ascent” is both poignant and evocative. The poem’s language, with its focus on climbing, shoes, and the presence of ancestors, creates a vivid picture of a journey marked by effort, reflection, and eventual acceptance. The structure of the poem, with its flowing lines and contemplative tone, mirrors the gradual and thoughtful progression of life itself.

In “Ascent,” Merwin masterfully explores the themes of growth, aging, and mortality through a journey that is both physical and existential. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own paths, the weariness and revelations encountered along the way, and the ultimate communion with those who have gone before. Through his eloquent and introspective language, Merwin captures the essence of the human experience, the climb towards understanding, and the quiet acceptance of life’s inevitable end.

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