As I break apart the text into three sections such as we did in class, I see the first part representing possibly the creation of memories or something from a child’s beginning, first experiences even.
The second part I see is for the dedication to memories themselves, talking about the importance of its meaning and all the possibilities of its meaning.
What I gain of understanding from the last part of the text is coming from an older age, a sort of reflecting type deal. The poems in this last section seem to have a lot with growing old, and having life itself become a memory.
I look at the book as a whole and think maybe Merwin is trying to not only show the importance of the life cycle but deeper then that, I believe he is trying to have his readers see the importance of the life cycle of memories.
His text seem to be a bit challenging sometimes but I found that the longer I worked on a specific poem the more I realized from it. In the end after figuring it out, it was really such an amazing poem. Yes, you had to work at, but you soon realized the worth of it in the end. I think being so difficult was what he was hoping for, so you could look into it and in the end be so happy you did because the point I see Merwin making about memories is so strong.
There are a few points I wanted to mention, such as the last section. The last section seems to do a lot with the end stage of life comparing it to the season of Autumn. The resemblance between the end of life and Autumn are very similar. Earth has four seasons- first one being Spring where nature is born, second one being Summer where nature is at its peak, its full beauty, has all its strength, then we have Fall in which nature slowly comes to an end, leaves change color, and the air gets colder and then finally we have Winter where all is dead, quiet and covered by snow. But just as soon as there is nothing, the cycle begins again. Do you see how its so close of a cycle to life itself.? Autumn in this is the getting near the end, getting old and realizing what is ahead.
Over all I enjoy looking at the book in three's. It helps me have a better understanding of Merwin's purpose. I get a feeling throughout the book especially in the last section, of a calm and collective emotion.
In class Professor Case refereed to Merwin's writing style as a 'frosted class window', rather then a stained glass one or a plain one, and I strongly believe this is a perfect way of putting it.
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