Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Derek Walcott’s "Never Get Used to This" is a deeply contemplative meditation on the passage of time, the inevitability of aging, and the beauty of the natural world. The poem reflects a profound awareness of the finite nature of life, while at the same time urging a heightened appreciation of the world’s fleeting beauty. Through its lush imagery and gentle tone, the poem offers a sense of peaceful acceptance of mortality, yet insists that one should never grow complacent in the face of life’s wonders. Walcott suggests that a reverence for the natural world and its transitory moments is key to living meaningfully, even in the twilight of one’s years.

The title, "Never Get Used to This," functions as both an imperative and a reminder, urging the reader—or perhaps the speaker himself—to remain in awe of the world’s beauty and mysteries, regardless of how often they are encountered. The repetition of this idea throughout the poem reinforces the notion that one should never become numb to the splendor of nature, even as it becomes familiar. The "feathery, swaying casuarinas," a recurring image in Walcott’s work, symbolize the delicate and constant motion of life, which, despite its familiarity, must be appreciated for its uniqueness. The casuarinas, gently moving in the breeze, are juxtaposed against the stillness of "the morning silent light / on shafts of bright grass," evoking a sense of tranquility and reverence for the simple, everyday moments.

The poem’s imagery of the ocean further emphasizes the theme of the sublime. The "growing Aves of the ocean" and the "white lances of the marinas" suggest both the vastness and the power of the sea, which, like life itself, is dynamic and ever-changing. The ocean’s "surf fingering its beads" creates an image of the waves playing with the shoreline in a meditative, ritualistic manner, reinforcing the idea that nature itself is engaged in an eternal, rhythmic dance. This scene of natural beauty and constancy is punctuated by the invocation of "heron and gull full of grace," suggesting that grace is found in both the grand and the minute elements of the world.

The poem gradually turns inward, reflecting on the speaker’s age and the approach of death. "That is all you need to do now at your age," the speaker reflects, recognizing that the time for grand ambitions or restless striving has passed. Instead, the speaker is focused on observing and praising the world’s beauty as it quietly unfolds. The "coming serene extinction" is likened to the "light on the shale at sunset," a metaphor that captures the calm and inevitable fading of life, as the speaker’s "gift"—perhaps his creative or poetic talent—gently fades "out of this page." This fading is not portrayed as tragic, but rather as part of the natural cycle, just as the sunset follows the day.

Walcott’s reference to the speaker’s soul "travelled the one horizon, like a quiet snail" further reinforces the poem’s theme of slow, steady progress toward the end of life. The snail, a symbol of patience and deliberate movement, represents the speaker’s journey through life, with "infinity behind it, infinity ahead of it." This image suggests that life is but a brief moment in the vastness of time, framed by the infinities of past and future. Yet, despite this smallness, the soul’s journey is meaningful because of its dedication to its "craft"—perhaps the act of observing, creating, and reflecting, which has been the speaker’s constant companion throughout life.

The poem reflects on death, but not in a fearful or morbid way. The speaker muses that death is "like a flame blown out in a / lowered lantern," a quiet and unremarkable extinguishing. This image evokes a sense of peace, as if death is simply the gentle fading of a light, leaving behind "a night, but without these stars," without the brightness and wonder of the physical world. The speaker contemplates death as "devouring oblivion," yet this stark possibility is tempered by the beauty of the stars and the "prickle of planets," which continue to illuminate the night sky. The vastness of the universe, with its "lights like a vast harbour," suggests that even in death, there is something beyond the individual’s experience, a larger, unknowable continuum.

The final lines of the poem return to the present, urging the speaker (and by extension, the reader) to remain in awe of the world’s beauty, even as it fades. "Never get used to this," the speaker insists, repeating the imperative to never grow complacent in the face of nature’s wonders. The "great moon on these studded nights" and the "stirring lion of the headland" evoke a sense of grandeur and majesty, reminding the speaker of the awe-inspiring power of the world, even in its most familiar forms. The poem concludes with a sense of gratitude for these "shudderings of thanks," which descend so often, reminding the speaker to cherish the "feathery grass" and the fading light of the marinas.

In "Never Get Used to This," Derek Walcott masterfully blends themes of mortality, aging, and the beauty of the natural world. The poem reflects on the inevitability of death while celebrating the moments of grace and wonder that make life meaningful. Through his careful attention to detail and rich, evocative imagery, Walcott encourages the reader to remain present, to appreciate the world’s fleeting beauty, and to never become desensitized to the miracles of existence, even as they grow familiar. Ultimately, the poem is a meditation on the importance of gratitude, reverence, and the quiet acceptance of life’s transience.

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