Today's Thoughts on "Yesterday" by W.S Merwin

           
W.S Merwin was born in New York City in 1927. Known for his unique style of unpunctuated poems during the 1960's antiwar movement. His poetry was influenced based on his interest in Buddhist philosophy and deep ecology. He has won many different awards such as the Tanning Prize, one of the highest honors given by the Academy of American Poets. "Today, Merwin lives a quiet life on a former pineapple plantation built atop a dormant volcano on the northeast coast of Maui."

        I chose this poem because it really speaks to the 'carpe diem' theme. Even though the poem comes off as confusing, it makes you realize not to take family for granted because you never know what day will be their last. The friend in the poem is trying to make the writer feel better by telling him his bad relationship with his father saying that he was not a 'good son' and reflects on the last time he saw him. He told his father he couldn't stay because he had other things to do but really there was nowhere he had to go and nothing he had to do. The 'carpe diem' of the poem is to love everybody close to you like its the last time you will ever get to see them because you just never know how quickly things can change.

Yesterday My friend says I was not a good son                                              you understand I say yes I understand he says I did not go to see my parents very often you know and I say yes I know even when I was living in the same city he says maybe I would go there once a month or maybe even less I say oh yes he says the last time I went to see my father I say the last time I saw my father he says the last time I saw my father he was asking me about my life how I was making out and he went into the next room to get something to give me oh I say feeling again the cold of my fathers hand the last time he says and my father turned in the doorway and saw me look at my wristwatch and he said you know I would like you to stay and talk with me oh yes I say but if you are busy he said I don't want you to feel that you have to just because I'm here I say nothing he says my father said maybe you have important work you are doing or maybe you should be seeing somebody I dont want to keep you I look out the window my friend is older than I am he says and I told my father it was so and I got up and left him then you know though there was nowhere I had to go and nothing I had to do W. S. Merwin