Each Whining Thing {1929} When stripèd snakes shall creep upon us And the nervous screams of birds Make silent all the fountains and the orchards and when these Have caught upon the wing each wing That flutters from the sky Then shall I and then shall I Rip out the smiles from garden walks Transform the minnows into hawks Tarantulas and bees Then shall I and then shall I Unmake each whining thing.
In "Each Whining Thing," Paul Bowles paints a dark, surreal image of a world in turmoil. He imagines a time when nature's beauty is disrupted by ominous transformations, like snakes creeping and birds' screams silencing the serene landscape. This unsettling vision suggests a profound transition from peace to chaos, evoking a sense of dread and foreboding. The speaker’s frustration is palpable, as he reflects on the loss of tranquility in the natural world.
As the poem progresses, the speaker expresses a desire to reclaim control over this disordered reality by "ripping out smiles" and transforming peaceful creatures into predators. The imagery of transforming minnows into hawks and introducing tarantulas and bees hints at a reversal of the natural order. This urge to "unmake" signifies a wish to eradicate everything that causes discomfort or dissatisfaction, revealing a deeper yearning for a purer existence untainted by the anxieties of life.
