Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s poem "There Is Water" presents a powerful image of discovery and contemplation at a natural boundary, where the road meets the sea. Through this poem, Creeley explores the interplay between light, landscape, and perception, evoking a scene that feels both inviting and final. The language and imagery used capture a transient, shimmering quality of experience, creating a sense of something beautiful yet intangible, as if the moment itself resists full comprehension. The poem reflects a journey through both physical and metaphorical space, culminating in an encounter with the vast and enigmatic presence of the ocean.

The poem begins with a simple declaration, "There is water," which establishes a scene that feels both familiar and significant. Water in this context represents both a literal end point—the sea at the edge of the road—and a symbolic boundary between land and the unknown. The choice of water as the destination creates a sense of openness, fluidity, and boundlessness, as if the journey has led to a space where distinctions blur and definitions dissolve. This opening line serves as an invitation into a scene that holds promise and mystery, an experience that awaits just at the end of the path.

"At road’s end" reinforces the notion of finality, suggesting that the speaker has reached the conclusion of a journey, whether physical, emotional, or philosophical. The road symbolizes a familiar, structured path, and its end implies a transition from the known to the unknown. This arrival at the edge of the road, where one encounters the vastness of the sea, evokes a moment of contemplation, as if the speaker is pausing at the boundary between what is understood and what lies beyond. The placement of water at "road’s end" implies that reaching this destination is inevitable, a point that marks the culmination of effort and exploration.

The description "like a shimmer, / a golden opening" captures the ethereal quality of the scene. The shimmer and golden hue suggest the presence of sunlight reflecting off the water, a momentary beauty that depends on the right conditions—“if sun’s right / over trees.” This conditional phrasing emphasizes the fleeting nature of the experience, as if the sight is available only under specific circumstances. The shimmer suggests something elusive and almost dreamlike, an image that is both real and intangible, much like Dante’s descriptions of distant figures and landscapes that inspire contemplation. The "golden opening" implies an invitation, as if this spot on the horizon offers a glimpse into something sacred or transcendent, evoking a sense of wonder.

The next lines, "where the land / runs down / some hill / seeming to fall / to a farther reach / of earth," suggest a natural descent toward the water, reinforcing the idea of moving from higher, solid ground toward a lower, less stable space. This movement from land to sea can be seen as a metaphor for leaving behind the structured and predictable for the vast, open expanse of the unknown. The phrase "seeming to fall" adds a sense of uncertainty, as if this descent leads to a place beyond ordinary perception or control. The speaker observes the landscape falling away, expanding into something broader and more profound, which resonates with the feeling of reaching a point of spiritual or emotional openness.

The phrase "but / no woods left / in the surrounding / wet air" underscores a sense of departure from familiarity. Woods often symbolize shelter, comfort, and rootedness, yet here they are conspicuously absent. The surrounding air is "wet," evoking the mist or humidity that often accompanies the sea. This lack of woods, of trees or markers of the familiar landscape, amplifies the sense of exposure and openness. The absence of shelter suggests that the speaker has entered a space where comfort and security have been stripped away, leaving only the elemental presence of water and air.

The final lines, "Only the heavy / booming surf," bring the poem to a powerful conclusion. The sound of the surf is described as "heavy" and "booming," creating a sense of magnitude and force. This booming surf serves as a reminder of nature’s power and the overwhelming presence of the sea, which dwarfs any human structure or journey. The word "only" reinforces a sense of isolation, as if all else has been left behind, leaving the speaker alone with the unyielding sound of the ocean. The booming of the surf is both mesmerizing and intimidating, suggesting a finality and completeness that makes further progress impossible.

Structurally, "There Is Water" is composed of short, enjambed lines that create a rhythmic flow, mirroring the speaker’s journey and the movement of water itself. Each line contributes to the gradual build-up of the scene, leading to a crescendo with the sound of the surf. Creeley’s use of sparse language allows each word and phrase to resonate, creating a vivid mental image that is both immediate and suggestive of deeper, intangible themes.

Through "There Is Water," Creeley reflects on the experience of reaching an endpoint and confronting the vastness of the unknown. The journey through familiar landscapes leads to a liminal space where boundaries dissolve, and the shimmer of light on water evokes both beauty and transience. The poem captures the tension between awe and uncertainty, as the speaker stands at the edge of the known world, facing the boundless presence of the sea. In the end, "There Is Water" is a meditation on limits and openness, on the beauty that lies at the boundary between understanding and mystery, and on the enduring power of nature to evoke a sense of wonder and humility.

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