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Summary: a philosophical reflection on starting something new again and again communicated through the description of a morning walk across the Grand Canal in Dublin.

Style features:

• anaphora (1) (highlighted in bold) adds a sense of determination as does the repetition of the word “begin” throughout the poem
• enjambment highlights the never ending need to begin again
• imperative tone, “begin again” is an encouraging command to never give up
• alliteration e.g. “dying in dark / determination” enhances the imagery
• reference to familiar places, “Pembroke Road” near the Aviva Stadium in Dublin 4, make the poem more accessible
• imagery appeals to multiple senses: “summoning birds”, “sight of the light”, “roar of morning traffic”, “crying birds in the sudden rain”, “branches stark in the willing sunlight”
• use of contrast: “born in light and dying in dark”
• personification: “the arrogant loneliness of swans in the canal”
• metaphor: “bridges linking the past and future”
• simple yet precise language, especially the simple dynamic emotive verbs: a promise is “born”, exaltation is “flowering”, etc.

Themes:

• persevering in the face of adversity: it’s not just about beginning once, but we “begin again” and “forever begin” rather than giving in even despite “dreams of ending”
• loneliness: “the loneliness that cannot end / since it perhaps is what makes us begin… alone together while making good”.

Begin

Begin again to the summoning birds
to the sight of the light at the window,

The repetition of the hard “g” that draws emphasis to the command to “begin again”. There is an internal rhyme within “sight of the light” that enhances the sensuous quality of the poem.

begin to the roar of morning traffic
all along Pembroke Road.

Morning traffic is a familiar image that makes this inspirational poem a little more down to earth. Most people will have been stuck in traffic near the canal at some point!

Every beginning is a promise
born in light and dying in dark
determination and exaltation of springtime
flowering the way to work.

This poem is about the two sides of the beginning: “determination” to go though the hard slog of adversity and failure fuelled by the “exaltation” of knowing it is all worth it.

Begin to the pageant of queuing girls
the arrogant loneliness of swans in the canal
bridges linking the past and future
old friends passing though with us still.

The poet suggests that the motivation for all our beginnings in to connect with other human beings, “wonder at unknown faces” and try to keep “the loneliness that cannot end” at bay. This could be related to his troubled marriage or his struggle with alcohol.

Begin to the loneliness that cannot end
since it perhaps is what makes us begin,
begin to wonder at unknown faces
at crying birds in the sudden rain
at branches stark in the willing sunlight
at seagulls foraging for bread
at couples sharing a sunny secret

The sibilance of “sharing a sunny secret” paints the picture of a couple whispering in each other’s ears. Note the anaphora of “at”: it brings a chant-like rhythm to the poem.

alone together while making good.
Though we live in a world that dreams of ending

“Dreams of ending” could be a reference to the nuclear threat of the Cold War or perhaps an even more general dark thought of how death ends all suffering.

that always seems about to give in
something that will not acknowledge conclusion
insists that we forever begin.

The poem is filled with the sense of determination to be grateful for everyday experiences. (2) It starts off as a celebration of a new day, full refreshing opportunity, and progresses to examining the harder things in life: crossing the bridge from the past to the future, dealing with loneliness and death and not giving in.

Even though the poem is full of hope, it acknowledges that promises and beginnings are “born in light”, only to die “in dark”. This adds a realistic, down-to-earth quality to this otherwise incredibly energetic poem.

The poet commands us to “begin” as the first and the last word of this poem, bringing it full circle. This emphasises the idea that even if we end where we began, we must begin again. The repetition of the word “begin” 8 times throughout the poem reminds us that it requires a constant effort to never give up. The poet is preaching the best of his wisdom to us in an encouraging yet understanding manner.