Monday, February 5, 2007

The Waking

by Theodore Roethke (p.45)

This poem has an interesting feel to it. It seems to be about taking everything in step as they come. This idea seems emphasized by a line that is repeated throughout the poem "I learn by going where I have to go." The relaxed nature of the poem seems to characterize the mindset that is setup by the title "The Waking." The images and feelings that the poem describes are very natural, and seem to point to a very dreamlike awareness.
Another take on the poem could be the acceptance of an inevitability that may not be desirable, such as death. The poet writes "I feel my fate in what I cannot fear." this seems to be an acceptance of the inevitability, and later in the poem he writes "This shaking keeps me steady" as if to say that although he may fear death, he also lives for an end so that he can make more of himself while living. This is implied by the indications of taking thing in turn, an not trying to rush ahead. If each action is dealt with individually there is no need to fear an ending. In the repeated line "I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow." The author suggest everything that lives must die, so why not take waking, living, slow. Also by referencing "Great Nature" the poet seems to reference the cycle of life to be beyond the control of man, fate is something much larger than himself. To further the impression of the cyclic manner of things he write "What falls away is always." which seems like a manner of saying that even after death, which can be related to falling away, it is always contained in the cycle.

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