Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Well Water," Randall Jarrell takes the mundane-what a girl calls "the dailiness of life"-and elevates it to a subject worthy of poetic exploration. The poem begins by capturing the monotony and triviality of daily chores and errands. The narrator speaks of being a "means to / A means to a means to," underscoring the relentless, seemingly purposeless cycle of day-to-day tasks. This endless loop is likened to water pumped from "an old well at the bottom of the world," a striking metaphor that adds an existential layer to the poem.

The well and the rusty pump stand as metaphors for life itself, perhaps even for the futility of human effort. The pump is described as "rusty / And hard to move and absurd," echoing the Sisyphean absurdity of daily existence. The simile of a "squirrel-wheel / A sick squirrel turns slowly" adds a sense of futile labor to the mundane routine. This labored turning of the wheel might evoke an image of a hamster in a wheel, endlessly running but going nowhere, a visual representation of the exhausting repetitiveness of life.

Yet, just when it seems that the poem is about to be consumed by its own pessimism, it takes a turn. Suddenly, "the wheel turns of its own weight," and the rusty pump produces "clear / Water, cold, so cold!" This water is immediately consumed; it's "gulped" from cupped hands, providing some form of unanticipated relief or gratification. The cold water becomes a rejuvenating elixir, offering a moment of pause and refreshment amidst the monotony.

This surprising moment is filled with an awareness of the value within the mundane, the extraordinary within the ordinary. Despite the hardships and the continuous cycle of errands and chores, there are instances, however rare, when life offers something refreshing and gratifying. These instances might be simple and small, but they become significant because they break the endless cycle of monotony, providing, even if briefly, a sense of purpose or happiness.

The title "Well Water" thus becomes emblematic of both the relentless drudgery and the occasional joys of life. The water is drawn from deep within the earth, pumped through rusty metal by weary hands; yet, in its essential form, it is "clear," "cold," and life-sustaining. In this dichotomy, Jarrell encapsulates the complexity of human existence. The "dailiness of life" is both a burden and a blessing, a sequence of mundane activities that, every so often, delivers something beautiful and essential. By embracing both aspects, the poem arrives at a balanced, albeit hard-earned, understanding of what it means to live.

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