"We are asleep with compasses in our hands"

This quote by W. S. Merwin speaks with the concept of complacency and also an absence of direction in life. It recommends that we are all frequently content to simply wander via life, not making the effort to establish objectives as well as actively pursue them. We have the tools to chart our own program, yet instead we choose to continue to be in a state of inertia, content to allow life pass us by. The compasses in our hands stand for the possibility for us to take control of our lives as well as direct our own paths, but rather we select to remain asleep, not aware of the opportunities that await us. The quote functions as a pointer to organize our lives and make the most of the possibilities that come our means.