The sea

 The pull is so strong we will not believe

the drawing tide is meant for us,

I mean the gift, the sea,

the place where all the rivers meet.

Easy to forget,

how the great receiving depth

untamed by what we need

needs only what will flow its way.

Easy to feel so far away

and the body so old

it might not even stand the touch.

But what would that be like

feeling the tide rise

out of the numbness inside

toward the place to which we go

washing over our worries of money,

the illusion of being ahead,

the grief of being behind,

our limbs young

rising from such a depth?

What would that be like

even in this century

driving toward work with the others,

moving down the roads

among the thousands swimming upstream,

as if growing toward arrival,

feeling the currents of the great desire,

carrying time toward tomorrow?

Tomorrow seen today, for itself,

the sea where all the rivers meet, unbound,

unbroken for a thousand miles, the surface

of a great silence, the movement of a moment

left completely to itself, to find ourselves adrift,

safe in our unknowing, our very own,

our great tide, our great receiving, our

wordless, fiery, unspoken,

hardly remembered, gift of true longing.

David Whyte

Analysis (AI): 

The poem focuses on the allure of the sea as a metaphor for the human experience. The speaker contemplates the irresistible pull of the unknown, represented by the sea, while acknowledging the human tendency to resist it due to fear and insecurity.

The poem's imagery establishes a stark contrast between the boundless, untamed nature of the sea and the limitations and anxieties of human life. It explores themes of surrender, acceptance, and the search for meaning in the face of uncertainty.

In comparison to the author's other works, it shares a preoccupation with themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. However, it stands out for its evocative language and the use of rhythmic repetition to create a sense of ebb and flow, reflecting the cyclical nature of both the sea and human life.

The poem resonates strongly with the time period, marked by a sense of alienation and longing for connection. It offers a powerful reminder of the enduring human desire for transcendence and the importance of embracing the unknown, even in the midst of modern life's complexities.