In Theodore Roethke's introspective poem, "The Waking," the speaker considers the brevity of life lived within the constraints of time, while contemplating the uncertainties encountered by an individual, who becomes aware of an earthly and spiritual nature, facing the unknown realm of what lies beyond what the human eye can see. The speaker uses unique imagination and figurative language, and the rhyming patterns and refrains of the poem's outer form dramatize the speaker's feelings about the cycle of life, while the plot of " The Waking” transcends both time and space. The title itself carries the connotation of an awakening or awakening of consciousness, expressed in a metaphor of awakening from sleep, and this forms the basic outline of the poem. Roethke's villanelle, "The Waking", written in iambic pentameter with a distinct rhyme scheme, flows seamlessly from stanza to stanza. The theme of waking and sleeping, or more precisely the cycle of life and death, is emphasized by the rhythmic movement of the poem's outer form. Additionally, each stanza is linked by a combination of two refrains that state: "I sleep to wake and I wake slowly" (1, 6, 12, 18), and I "learn by going where I must go » (3, 9, 15, 19). The repetition of these two lines gives a distinct rhythm which cleverly marks the passage of time. What do these two lines imply, and what is the significance of the speaker's repeated use of them? The first of several paradoxes in "The Waking", the chorus "I fall asleep and wake up slowly" seems to express Faced with the existence of an altered state of consciousness during sleep and in the limited time of life, the speaker decides to make the most of the trip. At the beginning of the poem, the middle of paper ......ns remains. The conclusion comes full circle as the speaker states with heightened certainty, “I fall asleep and wake up slowly. I learn by going where I need to go” (18-19). Finally, “The Waking” is a moving look at the paradoxical cycle of life, and the poetic form of this villanelle is perfectly presented in its mystical language, rhymes and refrains. Works Cited Holy Bible, New American Standard Translation. Internet. November 15, 2013. Roethke, Theodore. “The awakening”. Poems, poets, poetry, introduction and anthology, 3rd edition. Ed. Helene Vendler. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin, 2010. 571-572. Print. “Theodore Roethke. » The poetry archives. Faber and Faber, Library of America, nd Web. 15 Nov. 2013. Vendler, Hélène. Poems, poets, poetry, introduction and anthology, 3rd edition. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. Print.