THE WAKINGJosue Tellez

Title

The title suggests a realization that the speaker will come to.

Poem 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.

Connotation

This poem has a positive connotation the phrases “learn by going” and “I hear my being dance” are closely tied with positive events in life and reflect the poem’s positive message. Alliteration- “I feel my fate in what I cannot

fear. ” The alliteration draws attention this specific line and forces the reader to focus on this idea of fear and fate.

Connotation cont’d

Imagery- the fourth stanza has visual imagery which depicts “The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair” this indicates man’s struggle to reach god and how hard that journey can be

Paradox- “I wake to sleep and take my waking slow” the paradox here is done to point out the importance in taking one’s time in life and slowing done to enjoy life.

Attitude

The poets attitude is one of optimism and self realization. “I learn by going where I have to go” this line conveys the speaker’s attitude about taking chances in life and how that will help the reader realize their true path in life. Also the speaker discusses the journey to heaven and compares it to a worm climbing up a stair case.

Shifts

In the fourth stanza the poem switches to a focus on nature and the virtues and lessons which can be learned by observing and paying attention to nature. “Great Nature has another thing to do To you and me” this line illustrates the importance that nature holds and how nature teaches people something everyday.

Title

The title “The Waking” suggests a waking not of a physical state but a mental state a sort of epiphany per say that leads the speaker to a greater state of spiritual well being.

Theme

“The Waking” explores the theme of life “I learn by going where I have to go” illustrates that in life one will surely find there way simply by trying. In the end we all die so “the lowly worm climbs up the winding stair case” conveys the speakers attitude towards the relationship between god and humans, we humans are nothing compared to god nothing but a worm and we must strive every day to reach him as the worm struggles every day to reach the top of the stair case so too should humans try to achieve eternal life.

What it reminds me of

This poem reminds me of The Pursuit of Happiness in the movie the man is learning what he has to as he is doing it because he had never chosen a path in life and now has to find one for the sake of his son and his well being The Pursuit of Happiness