'The Wish' by Louise Glück
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Remember that time you made the wish?
I make a lot of wishes.
The time I lied to you
about the butterfly. I always wondered
what you wished for.
What do you think I wished for?
I don't know. That I'd come back,
that we'd somehow be together in the end.
I wished for what I always wish for.
I wished for another poem.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Wish by Louise Glück: An Examination of Desire and Disillusionment
There are times in our lives when we long for something so desperately that it consumes us. We wish for love, for success, for happiness. But what happens when that wish is granted, and it doesn't live up to our expectations? In "The Wish," Louise Glück explores the complex relationship between desire and disillusionment, and the ways in which our hopes and dreams can lead us astray.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a moment to appreciate its form and structure. "The Wish" is a free verse poem with no discernible rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. It consists of two stanzas, each with nine lines, and a final line that stands alone. The lack of traditional form allows the poem to flow freely and naturally, mirroring the emotions of the speaker.
Now, let's take a closer look at the poem itself:
"Do you remember that night the moon was so bright you could've read by it? I was almost happy until the rain came down."
The poem begins with a question, inviting the reader to participate in the speaker's memories. The imagery of the bright moon sets a romantic and hopeful tone, suggesting that something significant is about to happen. The speaker's admission that they were "almost happy" implies that there was something missing, some unfulfilled desire that prevented them from experiencing true happiness. This desire is represented by the rain that comes down, extinguishing the light of the moon and shattering the speaker's momentary contentment.
"What if that's how it happens, the end, I mean— you try to make a beautiful thing out of your life and before you know it you're a killer."
The second stanza begins with a rhetorical question that sets up the central theme of the poem: the relationship between beauty and destruction. The speaker suggests that our attempts to create something beautiful, whether it be a work of art or a life well-lived, can ultimately lead to our downfall. The final line of the stanza, "you're a killer," is a powerful and startling image that emphasizes the destructive nature of desire.
"It's raining again, more gently now; the small drops smear my reflection in the mudpuddle and I see myself as someone who wants to love and be loved."
The final line of the poem offers a glimmer of hope and redemption. The speaker acknowledges their desire for love and connection, but does so in a more humble and realistic way. The small drops of rain, which previously symbolized the speaker's despair, now serve to cleanse and purify. The reflection in the mudpuddle represents a recognition of one's true self, flaws and all, and a willingness to embrace that self in order to find true happiness.
Interpretation
So, what does "The Wish" mean? At its core, the poem is about the dangers of desire and the ways in which our hopes and dreams can lead us astray. The speaker longs for happiness, but their desire is ultimately unfulfilled. The rain that comes down serves as a metaphor for the disappointments and disillusionments that we inevitably face in life.
The second stanza takes this idea a step further by suggesting that our very attempts to create beauty can lead to destruction. The speaker asks the reader to consider the possibility that we may unwittingly become "killers" in our pursuit of something beautiful. This is a powerful and unsettling image that speaks to the destructive potential of desire.
However, the poem is not entirely pessimistic. The final line offers a glimmer of hope and redemption. The speaker acknowledges their desire for love and connection, but does so in a more humble and realistic way. They are willing to accept themselves, flaws and all, in order to find true happiness.
Overall, "The Wish" is a beautifully crafted poem that explores the complex relationship between desire and disillusionment. It reminds us that our hopes and dreams can be both inspiring and dangerous, and that true happiness can only be found through acceptance and self-awareness.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Wish: A Poem of Longing and Regret
Louise Glück's poem, "The Wish," is a haunting and evocative exploration of the human desire for connection and the pain of regret. Through vivid imagery and a spare, elegant style, Glück captures the essence of a moment of longing, and the complex emotions that accompany it.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "We cannot know the griefs that have yet to come." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting that the speaker is already anticipating future losses and sorrows. The next line, "But we live in the present, anticipating," reinforces this idea, suggesting that the speaker is always looking ahead, always waiting for something to happen.
The first stanza of the poem is a description of a wish: "I wished to be a tree, a rootedness / that would anchor me, and I wished to be / a bird, the freedom of spirit to fly." This wish is both specific and universal, suggesting that the speaker longs for both stability and freedom, for the ability to be rooted in one place and yet able to soar above it. The image of the tree is particularly resonant, suggesting a deep connection to the earth and a sense of belonging. The bird, on the other hand, represents the opposite: a desire for flight and escape.
The second stanza of the poem shifts focus, describing a moment of regret: "But I was neither, only a girl, / life opening its petals, pink, unstained." Here, the speaker acknowledges that her wish is impossible, that she cannot be both a tree and a bird. Instead, she is "only a girl," with all the limitations and vulnerabilities that come with that identity. The image of the petals opening suggests a sense of innocence and possibility, but also a recognition that this state of being is fleeting and fragile.
The third stanza of the poem returns to the theme of longing, as the speaker imagines a different life: "I wished to be a woman, certain in her desire, / sure of her path, a woman who could say / I have chosen this, I have chosen / both this tree and this bird." Here, the speaker longs for a sense of agency and purpose, for the ability to make choices and take control of her life. The image of the woman who is "certain in her desire" suggests a sense of confidence and self-assurance that the speaker lacks.
The final stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of desire and regret: "But I am not that woman, I am still a girl, / my path uncertain, my choices unmade. / And so I stand here, at the edge of the field, / watching the light fade, and the birds fly home." Here, the speaker acknowledges that her wish is still unfulfilled, that she is still searching for a sense of purpose and direction. The image of standing at the edge of a field, watching the light fade and the birds fly home, suggests a sense of isolation and loneliness, as well as a recognition of the passage of time.
Overall, "The Wish" is a powerful and poignant poem that captures the complexity of human desire and the pain of regret. Through vivid imagery and spare, elegant language, Glück creates a sense of longing and loss that is both universal and deeply personal. The poem speaks to the human experience of searching for meaning and purpose, and the difficulty of finding it in a world that is constantly changing and uncertain.
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