Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin’s poem “Current” is a deeply evocative meditation on the themes of identity, transformation, and the continuous flow of life, both in the natural world and within the human experience. Through rich, symbolic imagery, Merwin explores the idea of forgetting and remembering one’s true nature, the persistence of life’s current, and the mysterious forces that shape our existence.

The poem begins with the image of people lying in marshes “like dark coats,” a metaphor that suggests a state of inertia or forgetfulness: “forgetting that we are water.” This line introduces the central idea of the poem—that human beings, like all living things, are part of the natural flow of life, symbolized by water. The “dark coats” evoke a sense of heaviness and disconnection from this flow, as if the individuals have become stuck or dormant, covered in dust and weeds as they lie motionless.

The reference to “dust gathers all day on our closed lids” further emphasizes this state of stasis, where time passes but the individuals remain unaware, their eyes closed to the world around them. The “weeds grow up through us” suggests a natural reclaiming of the body by the earth, a merging with the environment that happens when one is no longer actively participating in life’s current.

However, despite this apparent stillness, the poem introduces the presence of eels that “keep trying to tell us / writing over and over in our mud / our heavenly names.” The eels represent a force of nature that persists in reminding the individuals of their true, divine identity—“our heavenly names.” This idea of something sacred and eternal being inscribed in the mud of the marshes is a powerful image of the soul’s connection to the earth and the continuous effort of nature to awaken this forgotten knowledge.

The “thin cold current” that “never sleeps” running through the marshes symbolizes the unceasing flow of life, even in places where it might seem stagnant. This current, described with “glassy feet,” moves inexorably forward, encountering obstacles like stones but continuing its journey. The stones could represent challenges or moments of clarity, where the current’s progress is momentarily halted or redirected.

The poem then shifts to a more mystical tone with the introduction of “cloud fish” that call to the current, reassuring it that “your heart is safe with us.” This suggests a nurturing, protective aspect of nature, where even the ethereal cloud fish offer solace and safety to the current, which could symbolize the soul or the spirit. The interaction between the current and the “bright fish” that touch it with their mouths, only to vanish, evokes a sense of fleeting encounters with beauty or truth—moments of connection that are brief but significant.

The final lines of the poem bring in the image of “black flukes” waving from the “Lethe of the whales.” The Lethe, in Greek mythology, is one of the rivers of the underworld, associated with forgetfulness and oblivion. By referencing the Lethe and the whales, Merwin evokes a deep, ancient connection to the mysteries of life and death, the vast and unknowable aspects of existence that lie beneath the surface. The “black flukes” waving could symbolize a farewell or a beckoning from the depths, acknowledging the inevitable pull of these forces.

“Current” is a rich, layered poem that speaks to the cyclical nature of life and the constant flow of energy that runs through all living things. Merwin’s use of water as a central metaphor captures the essence of transformation, continuity, and the deep, often forgotten, connections that bind us to the natural world. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own state of awareness, the forces that shape their lives, and the possibility of rediscovering their “heavenly names” amidst the currents of existence. Through its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, “Current” offers a profound meditation on the nature of life, memory, and the eternal flow of the universe.

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