Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Next" is a haunting meditation on mortality, identity, and the inevitable passage of time. The poem weaves together surreal imagery, introspective musings, and a narrative that oscillates between the surreal and the profoundly personal. The speaker reflects on death, the cycle of life, and the complex emotions tied to these themes, all while grappling with the inevitable reality of what comes next.

The poem begins with a vivid and unsettling image: "The funeral procession swinging empty belts / Walks on the road on the black rain / Though the one who is dead was not ready." This opening sets a somber tone, highlighting the inevitability of death and the unpreparedness that often accompanies it. The "empty belts" suggest a lack of finality or closure, as if the procession itself is incomplete or hollow, marching through the "black rain"—a metaphor for grief and mourning.

The lines "In the casket lid the nails are still turning" introduce a surreal element, where the image of nails continuing to turn despite the casket being closed suggests a sense of unfinished business or the restless nature of death. The procession is followed by "the bearers / Of tires and wet pillows and the charred ladder," items that evoke a sense of ruin and destruction, as if these remnants of life are being carried alongside the body. The "unrollers of torn music and a picture of smoke" further contribute to this atmosphere of decay and loss.

The poem introduces a mysterious boy "trailing the long / String cut off clean," followed by a voice questioning the choice of a "white one / When a red one would have done just as well." This moment hints at a deeper, possibly symbolic meaning—perhaps the arbitrary nature of life and death, or the choices made by those left behind. The casket's scratched-out number "with signs of haste" suggests a hurried or careless approach to the dead, reinforcing the poem's theme of uncertainty and the lack of control over death.

As the scene shifts to "the parlor of the house of The Next," the speaker becomes more introspective. The phrase "house of The Next" implies a place where the future is decided, where the next to die is determined. The speaker reflects on the previous dead, trying to recall who it was—"Could it have been my friend the old man / With the wet dog and the shed where he / Slept on a ladder till the whole place burned?" This memory underscores the theme of loss and the passage of time, with the past fading into a haze of forgotten details.

The poem presents a figure, "The Next," who is "upstairs," surrounded by friends, enjoying "the secret of safety." This figure represents the person who believes they are safe from death, shielded by the comforts of life. However, the speaker knows that "Downstairs it is not yet known / Who will go instead of him this time," highlighting the randomness of death and the illusion of safety. The laughter that "keeps time on the stairs" serves as a chilling reminder of the detachment and ignorance of those who believe they are secure.

The speaker's insistence—"We must go up there we must go up there and You / Are The Next we must tell him"—reveals a desperate need to confront the reality of mortality, to break through the illusion of invincibility that "The Next" and his friends maintain. Yet, the "persuaders" who accompany the speaker are resigned, their voices unheard as they acknowledge the futility of their efforts.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's thoughts turn more personal and fragmented, reflecting on their own mortality and experiences. The lines "With your destinations written in your shoelaces / And your lies elected" suggest a life predetermined by choices and deceptions, with each step leading closer to an inevitable end. The speaker laments the hollow promises and the inevitable passage of time—"Goodbye what we may never see."

In the closing stanzas, the poem becomes more abstract and lyrical, as the speaker bids farewell to various aspects of life—memory, love, distance, and even their own body. The repetition of "goodbye" reinforces the sense of finality and loss, while also acknowledging the speaker's acceptance of the inevitable. The poem concludes with a deeply personal farewell to "My love," a poignant acknowledgment of the end of a connection that transcends life and death.

"Next" is a complex and deeply introspective poem that explores the inevitability of death, the illusions of safety, and the profound sense of loss that accompanies the passage of time. Through its rich imagery and shifting narrative, Merwin delves into the existential questions that haunt us all, ultimately offering a meditation on the fragile and transient nature of life. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own mortality and the ways in which they confront—or avoid—this inescapable reality.

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