Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Nails" is a deeply reflective exploration of loss, regret, and the complexities of memory. Through its evocative imagery and poignant language, the poem delves into the emotional turmoil of trying to grasp something that has slipped away—whether it be a person, an opportunity, or a sense of self. The poem captures the speaker's struggle to come to terms with this loss, reflecting on the elusive nature of understanding and the pain of unmet needs or unspoken truths.

The poem begins with the lines, "I gave you sorrow to hang on your wall / Like a calendar in one color." This metaphor of sorrow as a monochromatic calendar suggests that the speaker has given someone a burden, a persistent and unchanging sadness that marks the passage of time. The imagery of a calendar, typically used to track days and months, emphasizes the permanence of this sorrow—something that is ever-present, marking the days with its singular, unvarying hue.

The speaker then shifts to a personal reflection: "I wear a torn place on my sleeve." This torn place on the sleeve symbolizes a visible wound or vulnerability that the speaker carries with them. The phrase "It isn't as simple as that" introduces the complexity of the situation, suggesting that the pain and loss being described are multifaceted and not easily resolved or understood.

As the poem progresses, the speaker grapples with a sense of disorientation: "Between no place of mine and no place of yours / You'd have thought I'd know the way by now / Just from thinking it over." This suggests a feeling of being lost between two undefined or unreachable places—perhaps a metaphor for emotional states or relationships that are no longer accessible. Despite having thought deeply about these issues, the speaker remains stuck, "turning / Like a mirror on a string," which conveys a sense of being suspended, reflecting back what is seen but unable to move forward.

The speaker acknowledges the unpredictability of loss: "Loss has a wider choice of directions / Than the other thing." This line suggests that loss is more varied and multifaceted than its opposite—perhaps referring to gain, love, or fulfillment. Loss can take many forms and lead to unexpected outcomes, making it harder to navigate or predict.

The poem continues with the speaker's introspective search for understanding: "As if I had a system / I shuffle among the lies / Turning them over, if only / I could be sure what I'd lost." Here, the speaker seems to be sorting through memories or thoughts, attempting to discern the truth or the nature of what has been lost. The mention of "lies" implies that the speaker may be grappling with self-deception or the difficulty of distinguishing reality from falsehood in the aftermath of loss.

The imagery of "uncover[ing] my footprints" and "poking them till the eyes open" suggests a desperate attempt to recall or revive the past. However, the footprints do not remember "what it looked like," emphasizing the difficulty of recapturing a clear memory or understanding of what has been lost. The speaker's confusion is further highlighted in the lines, "Was it like a ring or a light / Or the autumn pond / Which chokes and glitters but / Grows colder?" These metaphors—of a ring, a light, and a cold pond—suggest different possibilities for what has been lost, each with its own associations of unity, clarity, and beauty that fades over time.

The speaker's sense of disorientation culminates in the realization that "Nothing seems to bring it back to me." This acknowledgment of the inability to recover or fully understand the loss is poignant and speaks to the inevitability of moving forward without resolution.

The poem takes a darker turn as the speaker describes witnessing "Your hands as trees borne away on a flood," a vivid and surreal image that suggests the irreversible passage of time and the washing away of what was once vital or connected. The repetition of a "film over and over" reinforces the idea of being trapped in a cycle of memory or regret, watching the same scenes play out without the ability to change the outcome.

The poem's closing lines are particularly powerful: "The lightning has shown me the scars of the future. / I've had a long look at someone / Alone like a key in a lock / Without what it takes to turn." This image of a key that cannot turn in a lock symbolizes potential that cannot be realized, a future that is marked by the same wounds as the past. The speaker acknowledges the futility of trying to unlock or change what has already been set in motion.

The final reflection on "the nails... kissing the fingers good-bye" and the speaker's "only / Chance... bleeding from me" captures the essence of the poem's sorrow. The nails and fingers, traditionally associated with crucifixion, evoke a sense of sacrifice and irreversible loss. The speaker's inability to "speak either truth or comfort" because they "have no more tongue than a wound" powerfully conveys the depth of their emotional pain, rendering them speechless and unable to offer solace or clarity.

"Nails" is a deeply moving exploration of the complexities of loss and memory. Through its rich imagery and introspective tone, Merwin captures the sense of being caught in a cycle of reflection and regret, unable to fully grasp or articulate the nature of what has been lost. The poem invites readers to consider their own experiences of loss and the ways in which these experiences shape their understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...