KEEPING THINGS WHOLE

KEEPING THINGS WHOLE

              "Keeping Things Whole" is a modern poem written by a Canadian – born poet, Mark Strand. It is a poem composed as a defense of nature conservation. The poem pleads for wholeness against the usual fragmentation that goes on in life. Owing to the minimalist style, the poem appears to be packed with meaning that conveys the message for taking step to end the fragmentation in nature.

              By using simple expressions, the poet manages to include the complex knowledge of ecosystem. Hence the poem begins with the expression that he is the "absence of field in a field" and wherever he is, he is "what is missing". This ambiguous expression makes the readers feel that the speaker has objectified himself into those aspects of nature, which are missing. It denotes his consciousness about the missing elements of nature. It also implies that nature around is not complete because one thing or other is found missing in it.

              In the second stanza, he views himself as the link that makes the movement of the air complete and harmonious. So he admits that he keeps on walking ahead without ever stopping so that the air fills the spaces that have been left by his body. It demonstrates the determination of the speaker to keep things whole and also his sensitive way of thinking about eh fragmentation. The speaker seems to suggest through this stanza that one should be conscious about the delicate aspects of the nature and act in a way that helps (in) the balance of nature.

              In the third stanza, the poet makes his intention clear. He points out that he moves around to keep things whole unlike the people who mover about for different reason. By making the distinction between his movement and others, he seems to suggest that the people should think more about the importance of preserving the nature so that is can be whole and harmonious.