Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Bread and Butter" is a contemplative reflection on memory, obligation, and the act of confronting one's past and future with a sense of personal responsibility and resolve. Through the use of vivid imagery and introspective musings, the poem explores themes of abandonment, self-forgiveness, and the determination to live authentically without being bound by old rituals or forgotten debts.

The poem opens with the speaker addressing a "letter / To the gods of abandon," an act that immediately evokes the idea of relinquishing control or letting go of something. The speaker is in the process of tearing up this letter, indicating a rejection of whatever sentiments it may have contained. This gesture of destruction suggests a refusal to continue engaging with or honoring these "gods of abandon"—forces or entities that may have once held power over the speaker's life.

The speaker acknowledges, "Having lived in your shrines / I know what I owe you—," but then quickly questions this knowledge: "I don't, did I ever?" This shift in tone reveals a sense of uncertainty or confusion about the obligations or debts the speaker feels they might owe. The repetition of "I've forgotten, I keep / Having forgotten" emphasizes the speaker's struggle to recall these debts or to make sense of them. This forgetfulness could symbolize a broader theme of letting go of the past, of moving beyond old burdens that no longer have relevance in the speaker's life.

The declaration "I'll have no such shrines here" marks a decisive break from the past. The speaker refuses to establish any place of worship or reverence for these forgotten gods or debts, symbolically rejecting the idea of holding onto past obligations that no longer serve a purpose. The image of not bowing "in the middle of the room / To the statue of nothing / With the flies turning around it" reinforces this rejection. The "statue of nothing" suggests an empty, meaningless object of worship, surrounded by decay (the flies). The speaker refuses to give power or attention to something that lacks substance or significance.

In a powerful assertion of agency, the speaker declares, "On these four walls I am the writing." This line suggests that the speaker is now the author of their own life, the one who inscribes meaning and direction onto their surroundings. The walls, traditionally seen as blank or passive, become a canvas for the speaker's identity and intentions. This metaphorical act of writing on the walls indicates a reclaiming of power, a decision to take control of one's own narrative.

The speaker then questions the impulse to write the letter in the first place: "Why would I start such a letter?" This rhetorical question invites reflection on the motivations behind holding onto past grievances or debts. Instead of dwelling on what was or what might have been, the speaker urges themselves to "Think of today, think of tomorrow." This shift in focus from the past to the present and future signals a desire to live in the moment, to be present in one's own life without being bogged down by old obligations or regrets.

The lines "Today on the tip of my tongue, / Today with my eyes, / Tomorrow the vision, / Tomorrow" emphasize the immediacy and importance of the present, while also acknowledging the role of the future. The repetition of "today" and "tomorrow" underscores the speaker's commitment to being mindful of both the current moment and what lies ahead. The imagery of "the broken window" and "The broken boats" suggests that the future may bring challenges or remnants of the past, but the speaker is ready to face them.

The arrival of "The life boats / Waving their severed hands" is a striking image that evokes a sense of survival and rescue, despite the damage or loss symbolized by the "severed hands." These life boats represent the possibility of salvation or renewal, even in the face of hardship. The final lines, "And I will love as I ought to / Since the beginning," conclude the poem with a resolution to live authentically, guided by love and a sense of purpose that has always been present, even if it was previously obscured or forgotten.

"Bread and Butter" is a poem about the act of letting go of the past, rejecting empty rituals or obligations, and embracing the present and future with clarity and resolve. Through its introspective tone and rich imagery, Merwin invites readers to reflect on their own lives, to consider the ways in which they may be bound by forgotten or meaningless debts, and to find the courage to live authentically in the moment. The poem ultimately speaks to the power of self-forgiveness and the importance of reclaiming one's own narrative, free from the weight of the past.

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