Separation
Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.
Commentary
A startling, compelling poem - note the inversion of the usual ‘your absence has left a hole in me’ imagery. The idea of a ‘positive’ absence is unusual, but it has a definite rightness to it, which Merwin captures brilliantly in his metaphor.
This is one of those poems about which one could quibble endlessly, wondering what exactly makes it a ‘poem’. That’s a thorny enough area, though, that to hack through it would divert attention from the poem itself, and thereby miss the point entirely. Personally, I’d rather just appreciate it.
— Martin
Links
Biography of Merwin:
[broken link] http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=124&CFID=12932983&CFTOKEN=88743333
Today’s poem is very reminiscent of Atwood - see, for instance, Poem #1093
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From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Vivian Eden · 28 October 2002
I love this too. Super for showing how a good simile works. Shouldn’t that be “stitched”?
Best,
Vivian
Julie At Seacoast · 28 October 2002
I have loved this poem for many years - I first came across it in a delightful anthology called “Half Serious” edited by William Cole. It seems to me to be a perfect poem on separation. It goes to the heart and yet is taut and exact. Maybe it is that restraint which makes it so compelling.
Nelson Bonnie · 30 October 2002
I just found this site and really like this poem. The poet as a needle–an instrument that is only useful when it is threaded. SO, this seems to be about the Absence as a oh, a motivator for useful action, the inspiration for the poet. This seems to be a tribute to the Absent one who adds real color to everything the poet does. Also, sewing seems to be a universally productive, useful thing–stitch in time, etc. Is this poem about what inspires a poet to write poems?
Luker Oliver (CORP) · 1 December 2002
while we’re talking about atwood with relationship to ‘Separation’ the poem that it immediately reminded me of was as below … a direct correlation for me with the image of the needle, additionally both poems have almost the same form.
You Fit into Me - Atwood
you fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye
Shailja Sharma · 9 September 2003
Its a beautiful poem , simple and unpretentious. I have seen poets use heavy orante poetry to describe separation, but this one is unique. Also i like this poem , for even though it talks about separation, it still is about being together (“Everything I do is stiched with its color.”). Great work!
Sunshine
Me
Roger Moffatt · 24 March 2004
Saw this on the london underground today and it described perfectly how I feel. Less truely is more when it comes to this poem. Marvellous.
pcoulagi · 3 January 2006
I read this poem years ago while still at college. I’m fascinated with idea of someone’s absence adding to and so changing everything the poet does.
To me it also seemed that the absence was so powerful that the poet could only express it in the simplest and most restrained language. There is such a strong undercurrent of longing and passion to this poem!
Priya