For Alexander there was no Far East,
Because he thought the Asian continent
India ended. Free Cathay at least
Did not contribute to his discontent.

But Newton, who had grasped all space, was more
Serene. To him it seemed that he’d but played
With several shells and pebbles on the shore
Of that profundity he had not made.

Swiss Einstein with his relativity –
Most secure of all. God does not play dice
With the cosmos and its activity.
Religionless equations won’t suffice.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Richard Wilbur's poem Worlds

1 Comment

  1. Angela Cloutier says:

    In this poem, the speaker ponders the irony in that a man who apparently traveled very little (considering the true size of the world), and who, though obviously educated, was not likely as smart as Sir Isaac Newton, clearly saw the world as something small and easily conquered. Meanwhile, A man (Newton) who focused his work on understanding science, being one of the world’s most deep and vast topics for learning, someone who probably comprehended more than most people dream to, saw what he did as such a small and tiny piece of something much, much bigger. The irony in poem “worlds” leaves the reader with some sense that everything in life, dependent on their perspective, may be negotiable.

Leave a Reply to Angela Cloutier Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Richard Wilbur better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.