Blog Post #13

Cassie Sloan

To Myself by W.S. Merwin

     This poem was very odd the first time I read it. I honestly hated it. I had to read it about 8 times! The way to stanzas are organized is so odd, you have to really focus because when you think the idea of the sentence is over it just keeps going. I personally feel like the theme of this poem is that he is trying to find himself again. For example look at the poem carefully and try to point out one word that is repeated. When I look at it I notice the word you. At first when I read it I thought it may be about a loved one but then I realized it's about himself. As the poem goes on it talks about how he used to remember someone who he used to know. Then the 11th line down there is a clear split between the theme. After that line you start to see the author remember that old person he used to be. For example to line ,"..who pretend to be time but you are not time and who speak in words but you are not what they say who are not lost when I do not find you." This line specifically tells us that he remembers that old person but can't find him. This poem really makes you think and at first I didn’t like that but by the end of the poem I liked how I could solve the mystery of the poem.