Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Metaphysical Sonnet" by William Meredith reflects on the contrasting states of the living (the "quick") and the dead, exploring themes of movement, purpose, and the nature of existence. The poem delves into the metaphysical concepts of life and death, considering how each state relates to the forces of gravity and desire. The sonnet form, with its structured rhyme and meter, provides a formal framework for these profound contemplations.

The poem begins with a paradoxical observation: "More concert than the quick have, have the dead / Whose centripetal journeys are as one." Meredith suggests that the dead possess a greater unity and coherence than the living, as they are drawn inward ("centripetal") in a singular, unified motion. In contrast, the living are described as yearning "to the several quarters of the sun," indicating a more scattered, varied pursuit of different desires and directions. The inclusion of "the moon besides, and the stars, are in our heads" emphasizes the expansive and diverse aspirations of the living, who are constantly seeking fulfillment in various realms.

The speaker questions, "And how do we follow whither we are led?" highlighting the uncertainty and fragmentation in the paths of the living. Unlike the dead, who are moved uniformly by the force of gravity ("whom gravity alone / Moves as a unit, heart and hand and tongue"), the living are led by conflicting desires and impulses. The phrase "partially, now this, now that ahead" captures the indecisiveness and inconsistency in human actions and decisions.

The sonnet delves deeper into the tension between intention and action: "Against the thing not willed, the act is done, / Against the thing undone, the words are said." This line suggests a dissonance between what is desired or intended and what actually occurs. It reflects the human condition, where actions and words often fail to align perfectly with inner intentions or external circumstances.

Meredith then contemplates the nature of existence, describing it as "a stuff that cannot come to rest / For it owns ties to heaven and to the ground." This imagery encapsulates the dual nature of human life, which is bound by earthly desires and physical existence ("the ground") while also aspiring towards higher, spiritual goals ("heaven"). The "achings in the lodestone flesh" refer to the physical and emotional pains inherent in being alive, suggesting that these discomforts drive the living to seek change and movement.

The poem concludes with a powerful contrast between the living and the dead: "Still will the quick move out and the dead move down." This final line succinctly captures the fundamental difference between the two states. The living ("the quick") are characterized by their restlessness and movement outward, constantly seeking, striving, and changing. In contrast, the dead are depicted as moving downward, signifying their final return to the earth and the cessation of their life's journey.

"Metaphysical Sonnet" by William Meredith beautifully captures the existential divide between the living and the dead. The poem meditates on the restless nature of life, driven by conflicting desires and the inevitability of action, contrasted with the unity and finality of death. Through its contemplative tone and precise language, the sonnet explores profound metaphysical questions about the nature of existence, purpose, and the ultimate peace that eludes the living but is found in death.

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