Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Mark Jarman's poem "The Desire of Water" explores the inherent tension between containment and release, using the imagery of a dam and the water it holds back to symbolize the struggle between restraint and the natural inclination towards freedom. Through vivid descriptions and metaphoric language, Jarman delves into themes of pressure, potential, and the inevitability of overflow.

The poem begins by describing the water behind the dam as "Caught and composed, motionless blue," highlighting its enforced stillness and the unnatural state of being held back. This imagery sets the stage for the central conflict of the poem: the tension between the river and rain's natural desire for movement and the rigid, unyielding structure of the dam.

The water's reliance on external forces is emphasized with the lines, "relying on a passing wind / to lick them back to life," suggesting that even in its contained state, the water is subject to the influences of nature, seeking any opportunity to reanimate and reclaim its fluidity. This external force, the wind, "warps and moves their welded surfaces," but only manages to disturb the surface without altering the underlying containment.

Jarman portrays the dam as a formidable barrier: "against the sheer wall with flowing room on its other side." This "sheer wall" symbolizes the formidable obstacles that prevent the water from flowing freely. The phrase "flowing room on its other side" hints at the potential and desire for movement and expansion that lies just beyond the barrier.

Despite the splashing wavelets, the poem acknowledges their futility: "But wavelets splashing cannot turn the tide / of emptiness enforced by concrete." Here, Jarman underscores the powerlessness of small, individual efforts against a massive, immovable structure. The use of "emptiness enforced by concrete" conveys the sense of an unnatural void created by human intervention, contrasting with the water's innate desire for flow and connection.

The poem builds towards the inevitable outcome: "Shove as it might, surface water's only hope / is overflow, and that requires increasing depth." This line encapsulates the central tension—the water's persistent push against its confines and the necessity for accumulation and pressure to eventually surpass the dam's capacity.

Jarman concludes with a powerful image of accumulation and inevitability: "Gradually, the billion rain drops and bloated river combined, / realizing in their brooding blue depth the depth it takes, / rise toward the dam's lip too much for flood gates." This culmination of forces—the rain, the river, and their combined depth—represents the relentless and collective power of natural elements. The phrase "brooding blue depth" conveys a sense of contemplation and latent power, suggesting that the water's stillness is merely temporary, and its eventual rise is both inevitable and overwhelming.

"The Desire of Water" masterfully captures the struggle between containment and release, using the metaphor of a dam and the water it holds to explore deeper themes of pressure, potential, and the natural drive towards freedom. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful language, Mark Jarman invites readers to reflect on the forces that shape our existence and the inevitable moments of overflow that define our lives.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...