Beginnings

Beginnings symbolize fresh possibilities, hope, and renewal. The speaker introduces a different facet of this symbolism by asking whether beginnings truly offer freedom from pain, or if they themselves are a type of wound. By the end of the poem, beginnings also symbolize hurt.

Hurt

The word “hurt” stands in for all types of emotional or psychological pain. This represents all the experiences that contribute to a person’s emotional scarring over the years. At first, the speaker resists the hurt he feels, but eventually he reaches the understanding that hurt is an unavoidable part of life.

Water

Water symbolizes flow, movement, and life. Its very existence and movement guide the speaker toward a deeper understanding of his pain.

The Spring

The spring symbolizes source and creation, which the speaker comes to identify as a wound. A spring is a natural point on the earth's surface...