In the poem “The Mystery of the Caves” the speaker does not feel any emotions, he just longs for a purpose and guidance. The first stanza describes the speaker wandering in caverns slowly filling up with water. In the second stanza the water symbolizes parts of life like the environment someone is raised in. The water can guide the speaker to a better place where his problems are solved or he can sink to the bottom where he already dwells in darkness. There are several examples of symbolism in the poem that suggest the speaker is lost. In stanzas 5 to 7 the writer describes the speaker to be on his last stand through a chaotic period of time. The writer says, “One yellow finger of flame wavered on his last match.” The speaker has little hope left and the chances of slipping into darkness are elevated. His mother breaking perfume bottles in her struggle and his father portray the chaos he is witnessing.
The poem obviously describes the rough life of a child, the speaker, who witnesses an intense battle between his parents. The poem’s theme about searching and longing suggest that the speaker must find his own path. He will be frozen in time, doomed to experience the same hardships again and again if he does not find a solution to his problems.
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