Theodore Roethke’s “The Waking”: An Enlightenment to Appreciate Life through Death

The Waking

Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.   

I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.   

I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?   

I hear my being dance from ear to ear.   

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?   

God bless the Ground!   I shall walk softly there,   

And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?   

The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;   

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do   

To you and me; so take the lively air,   

And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.   

What falls away is always. And is near.   
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

Theodore Roethke’s poem is known by its inherent rhythm, and imagery (Rukhaya, 2014). Those elements also appear in one of his poems that written in 1953 entitled “The Waking” (Ningtyas, n.d). Some readers may think that this poem evokes confusion mood. Meanwhile, I believe that the poem has succeeded to transfer its enlightenment to me as a reader. The poem tells about a contemplation of the speaker about life cycle. The poem’s symbols and sounds communicate serenity mood which will be explained more in this essay.

The lines “I wake to sleep and take my waking slow” and “And I learn by going where I have to go” may be the major theme that the author wants to convey since they are repeated in almost every stanza. It is symbolized by the word wake and sleep that perhaps can be interpreted as opposite relationship symbol of life and death. The speaker reminds the reader that the nearest thing in human’s life is the death, so we have to be aware of that. However, he also suggests living life to the fullest by saying “take my waking slow”. It is strengthen by the line 3 when he says that he is not afraid about the future. When commonly people fear uncertain thing like future or mysterious thing like death, the speaker tries to calm himself in enjoying every moment that he face.

The poem goes on to talk about how human’s mind and intuition can help to understand surrounds better. The poem implies that deep in every one’s heart, they follow the sounds of their heart because they “think by feeling” (4). In the third stanza, the author involves the reader by addressing the word “you” which gives an impression that the speaker is not the only one who faces this situation in life. Besides, he also mentions some natural imagery such as ground, tree, worm, and air that describe the nature as a part on his life’s journey.

The first line in the last stanza, “This shaking keeps me steady. I should know” (16) betrays that the speaker has no fear at all. On the contrary, the speaker still feels afraid but he accepts his fear. Perhaps, that is why, he can calm himself in the unpleasant condition.

In line with the imagery, the sounds also contribute to create a sense of peaceful in the poem. The author uses alliteration in the poem such as wake, take (1), feel, fate, fear (2), God, Ground (8), takes, Tree (10), lovely, learn (15), and shaking should (16). In addition, he uses assonance and mostly o and u sound such as those, so (7), to, do (13), to, you (14), Rukhaya says that  these vocal sounds give smooth tempo that agree with the idea that it is good for people to experience every day’s life in a slow manner.

By examining the word choices to interpret the meaning of The Waking’s symbols and sounds, it can be said that the poem creates peaceful and serenity mood. Throughout the poem, I realise that the mysterious death, the unknown fate and future are the things that make life is a very precious moment. Our fear towards those mysterious and uncertainty things should not make us stop living in the moment. Life deserves to be lived wholeheartedly as we enjoy the days in our life.

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Written by a 7th semester student, not to fulfil assignments from the lecturer, but to pour her thoughts.

Works Cited

Ningtyas, T. (n.d). The Analysis of Poems. Academia.

Poetry Foundation (n.d) Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43333/the-waking-56d2220f25315

Rukhaya. (2014, December 17). Poetry Analysis: Theodore Roethke's "The Waking". Retrieved from Rukhaya M.K A Literary Companion: http://www.rukhaya.com