History
In this poem, the speaker travels down into the ocean to investigate something that was wrecked in the past. The shipwreck and its algae-covered statutes and treasures are thus a metaphor for history. Equipped with a camera to document her investigation and a knife to protect herself, her goal is to go find out what is true in that history, what can be separated from the “book of myths” so many are taught to believe. In particular, she is interested in those whose names are not even written in the books of history as they exist.
Women's Erasure
Closely related to the theme of history is the theme of women’s erasure. The speaker dives into the wreck carrying “a book of myths in which our names do not appear.” Given Rich’s interest in feminism, this clearly refers to women’s experience. Her identification with both a mermaid and merman seems to suggest that she is not just speaking for women, but also for other figures who have been left out of history. In identifying with two genders, we might also see her taking on the mantle of the androgynous and queer alongside women. All of these figures have been left behind and forgotten by history, but the speaker claims it is no less than her mission to investigate their past and make sense of it.
The Role of Poetry and Art
This is a poem about the urgency of exploring unwritten histories and bringing them to light. Where, and in what form, should this exploring be done? As scuba diving is clearly a metaphor, we can interpret this poem to suggest that the role of poetry is to investigate the past and bring it to light. The speaker suggests that exploration must be done without seeking to gain power: “the sea is not a question of power/ I have to learn alone/ to turn my body without force/ in the deep element.” The sea is often used as a symbol for the imagination or unconscious, so this exploration of history clearly takes place alongside and within the creation of art objects, and specifically, poems.
