11-15-2010, 05:35 AM
To the Soul
By W.S Merwin
___________________
Is anyone there
if so
are you real
either way are you
one or several
if the latter
are you all at once
or do you
take turns not answering
is your answer
the question itself
surviving the asking
without end
whose question is it
how does it begin
where does it come from
how did it ever
find out about you
over the sound
of itself
with nothing but its own
ignorance to go by
________________________
Initially, I wasn't sure, but I think it has something to do with the idea that our human soul gives us the ability to reason. Reason allows us to question, so "Is your answer the question itself " makes sense to me.
In line one, Merwin begins by asking if "anyone is there". He then goes on to ask "If so, are you real?" I'm not too sure about this line. If something is THERE, it is obviously real, no? Maybe you could assist me with this...
How did the human being come to awareness/the idea of its own soul, when the soul itself is so elusive, and can only be pursued with infinite questions? Our reason is incomplete, so we struggle with this question.
What are your interpretations?
By W.S Merwin
___________________
Is anyone there
if so
are you real
either way are you
one or several
if the latter
are you all at once
or do you
take turns not answering
is your answer
the question itself
surviving the asking
without end
whose question is it
how does it begin
where does it come from
how did it ever
find out about you
over the sound
of itself
with nothing but its own
ignorance to go by
________________________
Initially, I wasn't sure, but I think it has something to do with the idea that our human soul gives us the ability to reason. Reason allows us to question, so "Is your answer the question itself " makes sense to me.
In line one, Merwin begins by asking if "anyone is there". He then goes on to ask "If so, are you real?" I'm not too sure about this line. If something is THERE, it is obviously real, no? Maybe you could assist me with this...
How did the human being come to awareness/the idea of its own soul, when the soul itself is so elusive, and can only be pursued with infinite questions? Our reason is incomplete, so we struggle with this question.
What are your interpretations?