Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Stanley Merwin's poem "Sire" is a contemplative exploration of legacy, identity, and the haunting presence of the past. Through a rich tapestry of imagery and introspective musings, Merwin delves into the complexities of inheritance—not just of material possessions, but of traits, behaviors, and mysteries passed down through generations. The poem is suffused with a sense of uncertainty, as the speaker grapples with the intangible influences of those who came before him, particularly a grandfather whose "ways were his own."

The poem opens with the arrival of a shadow, a metaphor for something ominous or unknown that approaches without clear direction. This shadow, along with the "little wind" that is dragged "like an empty wagon through leaves," sets a tone of inevitable but aimless movement, suggesting the passage of time and the approach of night—a symbol for the end of life or a descent into the unknown.

The speaker's "ignorance" is personified as it "shuffles after them / Asking them what they are doing." This portrayal of ignorance as something that blindly follows, questioning but never understanding, reflects the speaker's struggle to comprehend the legacy he has inherited. The repeated image of footsteps—coming up behind, going ahead, and then returning—creates a sense of being surrounded by echoes of the past, yet never fully grasping their significance.

The poem's imagery becomes more vivid with the introduction of the "white-haired thistle seed stumbling past through the branches / Like a paper lantern carried by a blind man." This delicate, almost ghostly image suggests fragility and the fleeting nature of wisdom or knowledge, which the speaker associates with the lost wisdom of his grandfather. The grandfather is described as someone whose "ways were his own," a man of individuality and perhaps enigma, who died before the speaker could learn from him. The thistle seed, representing this lost wisdom, is fragile and easily dispersed, much like the knowledge that was never fully transmitted.

The speaker then addresses this "forerunner," referring to his grandfather as a "silent pilot" and "little dry death," acknowledging the mysterious and guiding influence that lingers even after death. The term "future" is also used, indicating that the speaker views his grandfather's legacy as something that shapes his own future, even if it is not fully understood. The speaker admits, "I know so little that anything / You might tell me would be a revelation," highlighting the deep sense of unknowing and the desire for insight that can never be fully satisfied.

The poem shifts to a more personal reflection on the relationship between the grandfather and a "good woman," likely the speaker's grandmother, who is imagined presenting children "like cakes" and offering small tokens of love and silence. This domestic scene is tinged with a sense of the everyday turned surreal, where endearments are flung "like rocks" or silence is compared to "a whole Sunday of bells." These images suggest that the ordinary acts of love and communication in a family can also carry weighty, unspoken emotions and expectations.

The speaker's central concern becomes clear in the question, "Which of my many incomprehensions / Did you bequeath me, and where did they take you?" This line captures the essence of the poem: the speaker's struggle to understand what has been passed down to him, not just in terms of physical inheritance but in terms of habits, thoughts, and mysteries. The "shoes of indecision" that the speaker metaphorically wears emphasize a feeling of being stuck or unable to move forward with certainty. The footsteps heard behind and ahead reinforce the cyclical nature of these inherited traits or behaviors, as the speaker feels surrounded by the unresolved legacies of his ancestors.

The speaker's contemplation of "the one with the assortment of smiles, the one / Jailed in himself like a forest, the one who comes / Back at evening drunk with despair" reflects the diverse and complex facets of the human experience that he has inherited. Each of these figures represents different aspects of the self or different paths that the speaker might take, none of which offer clear resolution or satisfaction.

The poem concludes with the speaker pondering which of these "shoes" he will find himself in "tomorrow," indicating that the search for identity and understanding is ongoing and unresolved. The "small / Deaf disappearance in the dusk" captures the ephemeral and elusive nature of these inherited traits and the uncertainty that surrounds the speaker's future.

"Sire" is a richly layered poem that delves into the intricate relationship between the past and the present, between what we inherit and what we become. Through its exploration of legacy, ignorance, and the quest for understanding, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own connections to their ancestors and the ways in which those connections shape their identities and futures. Merwin's use of vivid, sometimes surreal imagery, combined with the poem's introspective tone, creates a powerful meditation on the complexities of inheritance and the mysterious forces that guide us through life.

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