Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Still Waters" by Dick Allen is a serene and contemplative poem that explores themes of reflection, redemption, and the search for inner peace. The poem invites the reader to pause and consider the quiet depth of still waters, both as a literal landscape and as a metaphor for the mind's capacity for calm and introspection amidst life's tumult.

Allen begins by acknowledging the potential dangers and the dark history that waters can hold—"how many have drowned in them, thinking their lily pads green stepping stones upon the face of time." This serves to remind us of the deceptive nature of appearances and the risks inherent in misjudging the depth and dangers beneath the surface. Yet, he quickly shifts focus to the invitation these waters extend to the weary soul, urging the reader to set aside their burdens and find solace in the natural world.

The poem emphasizes the act of discarding one's sketchpad, symbolizing the letting go of attempts to capture or control the world through art or intellect. Instead, Allen suggests that true understanding and peace come from immersion and presence within the moment. The reference to the sound of rapids being as distant as "deer feet on the leaves in an old maple forest" further underscores the sense of being removed from the chaos and noise of life, finding a sanctuary in nature's embrace.

Allen weaves in allusions to biblical, artistic, and literary figures and themes—Moses's cradle hidden in the rushes, Monet's palette, the frog prince, the dragon raking heaven for rain, and Ophelia's tresses among the weeds. These references enrich the poem's tapestry, suggesting that still waters run deep with cultural and spiritual significance, holding within them stories of transformation, beauty, tragedy, and the eternal quest for meaning.

The poem's invitation to "take off your sandals, lie on your back, breathe deeply, but with no purpose in mind" is a call to mindfulness and surrender, to experience the world without the need to analyze, categorize, or understand. This state of being—like "a sparrow's wing" or "a psalm"—is one of pure existence and connection to the divine or the universal.

In the closing lines, "Beside the still waters, you will be restored," Allen encapsulates the poem's essence, echoing the 23rd Psalm's promise of renewal and guidance. "Still Waters" is a gentle reminder of the restorative power of nature and the profound peace that comes from simply being, from allowing oneself to be cradled by the world's stillness and beauty. Through this poem, Allen offers a meditative refuge, encouraging the reader to find their own still waters within and without, where the soul may find its restoration and solace.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=38300

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