Poetry Explication paper - The Social Life of Water by Tony Hoagland - Essay Example

The poem describes the natural phenomenon by highlighting that the entire world exists today because of interdependence. Rivers, trees, clouds, fog, thunderstorm, and waterfalls all depend on each other, without one the other will not exist. Each stanza in the poem is an allegorical representation of the behavior of human beings and states what is needed in order for them to live in harmony together. The first stanza of the poem, “all water is part of other water” describes that just like water is made up of molecules sticking together similarly human being also depend on each other.

Just like when the water is collected as a whole it makes three fourth part of earth, similarly if human beings become united then their existence would also be magnified. The poem signifies that the togetherness water displays can also be seen in human beings. The practice of sharing and communicating has also been exemplified in this poem. This is described in many stanzas in the poem. The metaphorical structure of the poem is evident in the stanzas like “Cloud talks to lake; mist speaks quietly to creek; Tree drinks rain and sweats out dew”, takes it away from the reality.

But indirectly these expressions are the embodiment of reality. The poem describes the whole cycle of an ecosystem; the clouds are formed by lakes which then shower rain contributing to the formation of lakes. This cycle has been portrayed as a form of unity and social interaction in the society. The last line of the stanza two, “No water is lonely water” describes a form of attachment each shares with the other. This has been quoted by John Donne in his saying that, “No man is an island”, in which he discovers the interconnectedness of human beings.

The significance of socialism and human interaction has been emphasized in the poem. Since human being is a social animal it needs company of another person to live. Tony has defined the