Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Transport" by William Meredith explores themes of longing, transformation, and the unyielding nature of the sea. The poem uses the imagery of gulls following a ship to delve into deeper reflections on the human condition, particularly focusing on aging, rejection, and hope.

The poem opens with a striking image: "Now seven days from land the gulls still wheel / High and astern." This line sets the scene far from any shore, emphasizing isolation and the relentless nature of the journey. The gulls, typically seen near land, continuing to follow the ship "seven days from land" suggests a persistence driven by necessity or instinct, in this case, hunger. The line "Quiet but fierce with hunger / They follow the fantail" highlights the relentless pursuit of sustenance, drawing a parallel to the persistence of human desire and need.

Meredith then introduces a metaphor, comparing the gulls' pursuit to a violin following a high voice "in desire and anger." This comparison suggests a tension between beauty and dissonance, desire and frustration. The violin, thin and sharp, mirrors the steel-like persistence of the gulls, as well as the emotional intensity often found in music and human experience.

The poem continues to describe the ship's journey: "Her slow stern rolling to the sea, the ship / Travels with no bird's blessing, and burns her waste." The ship moves steadily through the ocean, its progress marked by the rhythmic rolling of the waves. The mention of "no bird's blessing" implies a lack of natural harmony or approval, perhaps suggesting a disconnect between human endeavors and the natural world. The burning of waste indicates the ship's consumption and production of refuse, hinting at the environmental impact of human activities.

Meredith uses the motion of the gulls and the ship to illustrate the vast, indifferent expanse of the ocean: "Bird and hull describe the rise and dip / Of heavy ocean where there is no trust." This line emphasizes the constant movement and instability of the sea, a place where trust is absent, and survival is paramount. The ocean becomes a metaphor for the uncertainty and unpredictability of life.

The poem then shifts to a more reflective tone, proposing "a new myth": "The strength having gone out of certain old men, / Formerly terrible, they are changed to gulls / And follow over endless ocean hulls / Of their rejecting states, wishing for them / Catastrophe." Here, Meredith imagines a transformation where once-powerful old men, now weakened and diminished, become gulls. These gulls follow the ships of the nations that have rejected them, possibly representing a loss of power, relevance, or dignity. The idea of these transformed men wishing "catastrophe" upon the ships suggests a bitterness or desire for retribution, perhaps a response to their rejection or the loss of their former status.

The poem concludes with a note of resilience and hope: "But we shall prosper yet." Despite the bleakness of the preceding imagery—the relentless pursuit of the gulls, the untrustworthy ocean, and the disempowered old men—this final line expresses an enduring optimism. It suggests that, despite challenges and uncertainties, there is a belief in the possibility of success or survival.

"Transport" by William Meredith is a rich, metaphorical exploration of the journey of life, the transformations we undergo, and the complexities of our desires and struggles. The poem's imagery of gulls and ships on the open sea serves as a powerful metaphor for the persistence of need, the passage of time, and the resilience of the human spirit. Meredith's work invites readers to reflect on the nature of change, the loss of power and relevance, and the enduring hope that sustains us through the uncertainties of existence.

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