Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem “Blind Girl” is a vivid and haunting exploration of inner turmoil, the ceaseless pursuit of peace, and the overwhelming nature of unfulfilled desires. Through a blend of striking imagery and profound metaphor, Merwin delves into the psyche of a young blind girl, capturing her desperate flight from voices that both pursue and entrap her.

The poem begins with a powerful image: “Silent, with her eyes / Climbing above her like a pair of hands drowning.” This immediately sets a tone of urgency and struggle. The girl's blindness is portrayed as an intense inner experience, with her eyes metaphorically drowning, suggesting a sense of being overwhelmed and engulfed by something beyond her control. The physical act of running up “the tower stairs” reflects her frantic escape from the voices that chase her, voices that are persistent and unrelenting.

Merwin’s use of the tower is symbolic, representing both a place of confinement and a path to higher, possibly unattainable, freedom. As the girl ascends, “turning / In a spiral of voices that grow no fainter,” the voices remain constant, growing no quieter despite her attempts to flee. The “tiny window” she passes provides glimpses of the outside world, where “blood-shrieking starlings” add to the chaotic atmosphere. The starlings’ cries blend with the voices, creating a cacophony that underscores her sense of entrapment.

The persistence of the voices is a central theme. They are described as “ringing higher” and “towering voices” that “follow” her. These voices, which come from “each room renewed as she passes,” are relentless in their attempts to capture her attention. They echo “hopeless” entreaties and “singing their love,” blending desperation with praise, each plea becoming increasingly intense and raw. The voices' praises of her beauty and their “gross resonance” highlight a mixture of admiration and possessiveness.

The girl’s reaction to these voices is one of increasing disorientation and desperation. She is “buffeted and stunned / By their spun cries as in clambering water.” This simile emphasizes the overwhelming and disorienting effect of the voices, likening them to the chaotic movement of water. Despite her blindness, her flight is guided by a desperate need to escape these invasive cries. She has lost all memory of what she is fleeing from: “Which door among those, nor what care, crime, / Possession, name she had bolted from.” This loss of memory adds to the sense of timelessness and endless pursuit.

Her only hope lies in the belief that the voices will eventually reach their peak and collapse: “Their winding calls cannot forever / Build, but, at their shrill peak, stairs, tower, all, / Into the loose air sprung suddenly, will fall.” This belief is her sole comfort, the idea that the oppressive pursuit will ultimately self-destruct, allowing her to find “repose” that is “silent and final.” The notion of repose here is not just rest but an absolute silence and peace, free from the tormenting voices.

Merwin’s “Blind Girl” masterfully captures the inner chaos and desperate pursuit of peace within the human psyche. The poem’s imagery, from the spiraling tower to the relentless voices, creates a powerful metaphor for the struggles against internal and external pressures. The girl’s blindness symbolizes an inner vision, an intense inner life that is both a source of vulnerability and strength. Her relentless ascent and the hope for eventual silence reflect the universal quest for peace amidst the cacophony of life’s demands.

In this poem, Merwin explores profound themes of escape, memory, and the search for tranquility. Through the blind girl’s journey, he paints a vivid picture of the inner struggle against the persistent, often overwhelming forces that seek to define and confine us. Her story is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring hope for a moment of true, unassailable peace.

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