Analyzing "The Waking" by Theodore Roethke

This is first saying how the shaking, which could be his fear inside of him, because people sometimes shake when afraid, keeps him steady. This keeps him steady because he knows of what could and is going to be and it keeps him grounded and he is always reminded of it. The second line says, "What falls away is always. And is near." is saying that even though something may fade away, doesn't mean it completely disappeared, it always lingers nearby. Then the last two lines, you see throughout the poem is restated; this is saying that he still in the loving of the dreamlike state, and he doesn't still want to go quickly into reality. He also will continue to learn by going where he feels fate is directing him in his life.
The imagery I get from this is first in a very dreamlike, calm, sort of a lullaby type feeling. Going on to being a little dark in referring to death, but it is very light and doesn't give you unpleasant images. At the end of the poem, you feel a peace and calmness again,
where you feel the writer has had a resolution and feels at ease with himself and his fate. There is calm and peaceful imagery through the poem overall.
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