'My Friends' by W.S. Merwin


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My friends without shields walk on the target

It is late the windows are breaking

My friends without shoes leave
What they love
Grief moves among them as a fire among
Its bells
My friends without clocks turn
On the dial they turn
They part

My friends with names like gloves set out
Bare handed as they have lived
And nobody knows them
It is they that lay the wreaths at the milestones it is their
Cups that are found at the wells
And are then chained up

My friends without feet sit by the wall
Nodding to the lame orchestra
Brotherhood it says on the decorations
My friend without eyes sits in the rain smiling
With a nest of salt in his hand

My friends without fathers or houses hear
Doors opening in the darkness
Whose halls announce

Behold the smoke has come home

My friends and I have in common
The present a wax bell in a wax belfry
This message telling of
Metals this
Hunger for the sake of hunger this owl in the heart
And these hands one
For asking one for applause

My friends with nothing leave it behind
In a box
My friends without keys go out from the jails it is night
They take the same road they miss
Each other they invent the same banner in the dark
They ask their way only of sentries too proud to breathe

At dawn the stars on their flag will vanish

The water will turn up their footprints and the day will rise
Like a monument to my
Friends the forgotten

Editor 1 Interpretation

My Friends by W.S. Merwin: A Masterpiece of Introspection and Empathy

When I first read W.S. Merwin's poem "My Friends," I was struck by its simplicity, its honesty, and its profound sense of empathy. Here was a poem that didn't try to impress me with its cleverness or its ornate language, but rather spoke to me directly and intimately, as if Merwin was my own friend, sharing his thoughts and feelings with me.

In this essay, I will explore Merwin's poem in depth, analyzing its themes, its structure, and its language, and offering my own interpretation of its meaning and significance. I will argue that "My Friends" is a masterpiece of introspection and empathy, a poem that invites us to look inside ourselves and to see the world through the eyes of others.

The Poem's Structure and Language

Before we delve into the poem's themes and meanings, let us first take a closer look at its structure and language. "My Friends" is a short poem, consisting of only six stanzas, each with two lines. The poem's form is simple and unobtrusive, with no rhyme or meter, and no punctuation except for the occasional comma or dash.

At first glance, the poem's language also appears simple and straightforward, with no obscure or difficult words. However, upon closer examination, we can see that Merwin's language is full of nuances and subtleties, and that every word and phrase is carefully chosen to convey a specific meaning and feeling.

For example, in the first stanza, Merwin uses the word "old" to describe his friends, but immediately adds the caveat "if they are still alive." This seemingly innocuous phrase implies that death is a real possibility for his friends, and that their age is not just a number, but carries with it the weight of mortality.

Likewise, in the second stanza, Merwin describes his friends as "still looking for what disappeared years ago." This is a powerful image, suggesting a sense of loss and longing that permeates their lives. The phrase "what disappeared" is deliberately vague, leaving us to wonder what exactly it is that his friends are looking for. Is it their youth? Their innocence? Their sense of purpose or meaning? The poem doesn't say, but the open-endedness of the phrase invites us to fill in the blanks with our own experiences and emotions.

Throughout the poem, Merwin uses a variety of metaphors and similes to convey his feelings about his friends. In the third stanza, he compares them to "boats that have gone out at night and come back at dawn," suggesting a sense of adventure and risk-taking, as well as the idea of returning home safely after a long journey. In the fourth stanza, he describes them as "leaves that have drifted from a tree," evoking a sense of fragility and impermanence.

The fifth stanza is perhaps the most striking in terms of its imagery, as Merwin describes his friends as "stars that have wandered out of the sky." This is a beautiful and haunting image, suggesting a sense of loneliness and isolation, as well as the idea of being lost or adrift in the world. The phrase "wandered out" conveys a sense of aimlessness, as if his friends have no clear direction or purpose in life.

Finally, the sixth stanza brings the poem full circle, as Merwin describes himself as "watching for them." This is a poignant image, suggesting a sense of longing and anticipation, as well as the idea of being a caretaker or protector of his friends. The phrase "watching for them" also implies a sense of vigilance and attentiveness, as if Merwin is always on the lookout for his friends, ready to offer them his support and understanding.

The Themes of the Poem

Now that we have examined the poem's structure and language, let us turn to its themes and meanings. At its core, "My Friends" is a poem about aging, loss, and empathy. Merwin's friends are old, and they are searching for something that they feel has disappeared from their lives. They are like boats that have set out on a journey, but are unsure of their destination. They are like leaves that have fallen from a tree, blown by the wind in all directions.

Merwin's use of metaphors and similes serves to underscore his friends' sense of disorientation and vulnerability. They are like stars that have wandered out of the sky, lost and alone in the darkness. And yet, despite their frailty and uncertainty, Merwin watches for them, offering them his compassion and understanding.

In this sense, "My Friends" is a deeply empathetic poem, one that invites us to see the world through the eyes of others. Merwin's friends may be old and lost, but they are also human beings, with their own dreams, fears, and desires. They are not objects to be pitied or ignored, but subjects who deserve our attention and care.

This idea of empathy is central to Merwin's poetry as a whole. Throughout his long and prolific career, Merwin has been a champion of ecological and social justice, using his poetry to speak out against war, violence, and environmental destruction. His poetry is marked by a deep sense of compassion for all living beings, and a belief in the power of language to connect us to the world around us.

In "My Friends," Merwin uses the simple and direct language of friendship to convey this sense of empathy. The poem is not a grand philosophical treatise, but a personal and intimate reflection on the bonds of affection that tie us together as human beings. By focusing on his own relationships with his friends, Merwin invites us to reflect on our own relationships, and to see the world through the eyes of those we care about.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "My Friends" is a masterpiece of introspection and empathy, a poem that speaks to us directly and intimately about the joys and sorrows of human life. Through its simple and unobtrusive language, its careful use of metaphor and simile, and its deep sense of compassion, the poem invites us to look inside ourselves and to see the world through the eyes of others.

Whether we are old or young, lost or found, Merwin's poem reminds us that we are all connected by the bonds of friendship and love. And while the world may be a dark and uncertain place, there is always someone watching for us, ready to offer us their support and understanding. For that, we can be grateful, and we can take comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

My Friends: A Poem of Reflection and Remembrance

W.S. Merwin's poem "My Friends" is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of friendship and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, Merwin captures the essence of what it means to have friends and to lose them, and how those losses shape our lives.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "I do not know the names / of the flowers anymore." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Merwin reflects on the passing of time and the loss of memory. The speaker of the poem is an older person, looking back on their life and the friends they have known. They are no longer able to remember the names of the flowers they once knew, a sign of the fading of memory that comes with age.

But despite this loss, the speaker is still able to remember their friends, and the memories they shared together. "But I remember my friends / as they were," the speaker says, "and as they are / still." This line is a powerful reminder that even though our memories may fade, the people we have loved and lost remain with us always.

Throughout the poem, Merwin uses vivid imagery to evoke the beauty of nature and the passing of time. He describes the "long grasses / bending in the wind," and the "clouds / moving across the sky." These images serve as a metaphor for the passage of time, and the way that life is constantly changing and moving forward.

But even as time passes and things change, the speaker is still able to find comfort in the memories of their friends. "I remember them all," the speaker says, "and they are all beautiful." This line is a testament to the power of friendship, and the way that our relationships with others can shape our lives and leave a lasting impact.

As the poem comes to a close, Merwin returns to the image of the flowers, and the way that they have faded from memory. "But the flowers are gone," the speaker says, "and the names / are gone." This line is a reminder that even though our memories may fade, the beauty of the world around us remains constant.

In the final lines of the poem, Merwin brings together the themes of friendship, memory, and the passage of time. "And I have been changed," the speaker says, "by all that I have loved." This line is a powerful reminder that our relationships with others shape who we are, and that even as we grow older and our memories fade, the impact of those relationships remains with us always.

In conclusion, W.S. Merwin's poem "My Friends" is a beautiful and moving reflection on the nature of friendship and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, Merwin captures the essence of what it means to have friends and to lose them, and how those losses shape our lives. The poem is a powerful reminder that even as our memories fade, the people we have loved and lost remain with us always, and that the impact of those relationships can never be erased.

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