Loading Likes... I chose to write this week’s blog post on the poem “The Fish” by Mariane Moore. What originally stood out to me about the poem was the detailed imagery that captures the beauty of the sea so well. However, as I continued to re-read the poem I found that the poem possessed a much deeper meaning than simply describing the ocean’s beauty. I interpreted this poem to carry deep themes of humanity v.s. nature. Moore’s imagery paints a peaceful picture of the sea making it seem as though the sea creatures, plants, and other parts of the sea all live in harmony. One part of the poem that particularly stood out to me was lines 8-13 which says, “The barnacles which encrust the side//of the wave, cannot hide//there for the submerged shafts of the//sun,//split like spun//glass”. These barnacles are not actually part of the wave but this image of the rays of sun and barnacles coming together in one wave creates this feeling of peace and unity within the sea. It is as if all parts of the sea are tied together in some way co-existing.

However, this peacefulness of nature is not free from the touch of mankind. Later on in the poem it is revealed that humans have left a mark on the cliff when the poem says, “dynamite grooves, burns, and//hatchet strokes, these things stand//out on it”. The disruptiveness of the human touch on the natural rock face is revealing of the destructiveness of humanity. However, despite humanity disrupting nature, nature endures. The poem explains how the cliff lives on and “the sea grows old in it”. I found this line to be revealing of how Moore views nature. Despite the disruptiveness of humanity, the harmony of nature endures and outlives any harm done. In addition to this comparison between humanity and nature, Moore also compares the disruptive nature of humanity with disruptions within the ocean ecosystem. In lines 18-20 the poem reveals that the ocean itself has also disrupted the cliff saying, “The water drives a wedge//of iron through the iron edge//of the cliff”. However, despite the waves cracking the rockface open the poem reveals that this allows for a home for numerous sea creatures. Within the sea this cracking of the rock, that was so destructive from humanity, is a natural process that supports the life of the sea.

Overall, the poem “The Fish” carries messages of a comparison between nature and humanity as well as the destruction of mankind.