writes that their shadows
“must cover Canada.” This image tells us the darkness spreads very far. It is not a small worry. It is a great, wide sadness that covers everything.
Water-flowers and Little Light: Amid the blackness, a small light appears:
“A little light is filtering from the water flowers.”
This light is a small hope. But the leaves of the flowers “do not wish us to hurry.” They are “round and flat and full of dark advice.” Here, the light is not comforting. The leaves seem to warn and slow the travelers. The image of the leaves giving “dark advice.” It means that little hope does not give the speaker any comfort.
Blackness and Pale Hand: The poet says,
“The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes.”
This image makes the blackness internal. Darkness is not only outside the boat; it is also inside the travelers and inside nature. A dead tree branch in the water lifts a “pale hand,” as if to say goodbye. This pale hand is the symbol of fear, danger, and death.
Stars, Lilies, and the Siren: Near the end, stars appear among the lilies. This might look beautiful at first. But Plath calls the lilies “expressionless sirens.” In Greek myth, sirens are beautiful women but deadly. They lure sailors into the sea to be drowned. Here, the lilies are silent; they do not sing. Their silence is more frightening. The image of expressionless sirens shows that beauty can hide danger. The stars and lilies give no comfort. The poem ends in a heavy silence. Plath calls this “the silence of astounded souls.” The silence is not peace. It is shock and fear.
Troubled Mind of the Poet: Hence, all the images work as symbols. Blackness symbolizes sadness, fear, and emptiness. Cut-paper people are the fragile selves of the poet and her companion. Little light means weak hope that warns rather than helps. Pale hand represents farewell, death, or loss. Sirens are beautiful but dangerous, a silent threat. Together, they make the boat journey feel like a walk into the speaker’s mind. The poem becomes a picture of inner fear, isolation, and uncertainty.
In fine, Sylvia Plath turns simple natural images into strong symbols in “Crossing the Water.” The black lake, the water flowers, the pale hand, and the expressionless sirens all point to fear and inner darkness. The poem uses these pictures to show a frightened and lonely mind. The images stay in our minds long after we read the poem.
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