Robinson's speaker argues that the people who seem to control us only have the power we give them. The trouble, the poem suggests, is how we try to look after ourselves: we parent ourselves harshly, punishing our own mistakes instead of offering care. The seed image makes the point simply. A seed can't water itself, and it needs warmth from outside, yet we keep trying to grow in the shadow of our own self-blame.
The mood shifts from accusing to tender. We become "children with no mothers," hurrying through a bright world with our eyes shut. The repeated "Open" sounds like a plea, and the poem calls it the voice of our "collective heart," which suggests the longing is shared. The ending is gentle but firm: stop running, reach out into the unknown, and let yourself feel. The speaker comes across as worried and caring, urging us toward courage and openness rather than scolding.