Comment On The Poem A Wandering Soul Poem by William He

Comment on the Poem 'A Wandering Soul'
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A Wandering Soul
By William He

Spring in mountain drifting into melancholy slowly,
The pillowy clouds are suffusing grayish silken sky.
The true hearted is listening without ears wide open,
Double tortured soul wistful still on the rainy night.
Instead of baptizing the mind with the astral lights,
The caring voices and footsteps better on the earth.
Soulstealers of yielding all the hopes to incantation,
Breathing silent sigh is doleful song of the spirits now.

William He's "A Wandering Soul" is a poem about the complexities of human experience and the pursuit of meaning and purpose. Through vivid and evocative imagery, He conveys the restlessness and longing of a soul lost in life, highlighting the emotional and spiritual challenges that one must face when searching for a deeper understanding of the world.

The poem begins with a description of the natural world, specifically the arrival of spring in the mountains. However, rather than conveying a sense of renewal and vitality, He paints a picture of melancholy and gloom, with "the pillowy clouds… suffusing grayish silken sky." This creates a somber and introspective mood that characterizes the wandering soul's state of mind. The use of the metaphor of the "pillowy clouds" suggests a sense of softness and comfort, while the "grayish silken sky" evokes the ethereal and otherworldly.

The poet's focus on the natural beauty as the wandering soul navigates life reflects his appreciation of the beauty of nature, as well as the meditative and reflective state of the soul. This speaks to a transcendentalist view of the world, where nature provides the solace and inspiration that the wandering soul so desperately needs. Nature, in this case, is not simply a backdrop but a source of meaning and guidance for the poet.

The wandering soul and the natural world are compared through the use of metaphor. The pillowy clouds are "suffusing grayish silken sky" - a beautiful image that combines the natural world and the wandering soul in a single image. The metaphor of the "pillowy clouds" emphasizes the soft and gentle aspects of nature, while the "grayish silken sky" relates to the ethereal and spiritual aspects of the human soul. The poet's use of metaphor here conveys the sense of depth and complexity that characterizes the interaction between the wandering soul and the natural world. The wandering soul is not simply lost in the world, but deeply rooted in it.

The poet portrays the wandering soul as a double-tortured one, implying that there are forces both external and internal that torture this soul. This adds to the already melancholic atmosphere of the poem and suggests an emotional complexity that mirrors human experience. Despite the pain in the wandering soul's world, however, there is still a wistful quality that pervades the poem and suggests a degree of hope.

The wandering soul seems to long for transcendence and spiritual truth, as suggested by its desire to be "baptized" in the "astral lights." The use of "astral lights" here implies a spiritual realm that is perhaps beyond human understanding, but which forms a central part of the wandering soul's quest for meaning. This idea of transcendence is one that is common to many spiritual traditions and emphasizes the idea that there is more to life than physical reality. The wandering soul looks for a higher purpose - one that transcends all the struggles and tribulations of ordinary life.

The idea of transcendence is further emphasized through the use of contrast. The poet suggests that the soul's spiritual needs can be met not only through the ethereal "astral lights, " but also through tangible human interactions - "caring voices and footsteps better on the earth." In doing so, the poet highlights the importance of both the spiritual and the earthly dimensions of human experience. This dual emphasis on transcendence and groundedness speaks to the complexity of the wandering soul's experience, and it highlights how each aspect of life is essential to a full and meaningful life.

The final lines of the poem seem to suggest that the journey of the wandering soul is one that is fraught with danger and uncertainty. The soul is susceptible to "soul-stealers" who take away its hopes and dreams. The idea of the soul-stealers may reference those who deliberately prey on people who are lost in life and seek to exploit them. However, it can also refer to negative internal forces that can cause the soul to lose its way. Whatever the cause, the poet suggests that the soul's response to these experiences is one of "breathing sigh, " a poignant image that reflects the sadness and pain of the wandering soul, while also suggesting an element of resilience.

Overall, William He's poem "Wandering Soul" is a beautiful representation of the human experience seen through the eyes of a soul lost in life. Through his use of natural imagery, metaphor, and contrast, the poet conveys the depth and complexity of the wandering soul's journey. The quest for transcendence and meaning is a central theme of the poem, highlighting the importance of both the spiritual and earthly dimension of human life. Ultimately, the poem is a moving meditation on the human experience and the power of hope to overcome even the most difficult of circumstances.