'A Blue Valentine' by Joyce Kilmer
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(For Aline)
Monsignore,
Right Reverend Bishop Valentinus,
Sometime of Interamna, which is called Ferni,
Now of the delightful Court of Heaven,
I respectfully salute you,
I genuflect
And I kiss your episcopal ring.
It is not, Monsignore,
The fragrant memory of your holy life,
Nor that of your shining and joyous martyrdom,
Which causes me now to address you.
But since this is your august festival, Monsignore,
It seems appropriate to me to state
According to a venerable and agreeable custom,
That I love a beautiful lady.
Her eyes, Monsignore,
Are so blue that they put lovely little blue reflections
On everything that she looks at,
Such as a wall
Or the moon
Or my heart.
It is like the light coming through blue stained glass,
Yet not quite like it,
For the blueness is not transparent,
Only translucent.
Her soul's light shines through,
But her soul cannot be seen.
It is something elusive, whimsical, tender, wanton, infantile, wise
And noble.
She wears, Monsignore, a blue garment,
Made in the manner of the Japanese.
It is very blue --
I think that her eyes have made it more blue,
Sweetly staining it
As the pressure of her body has graciously given it form.
Loving her, Monsignore,
I love all her attributes;
But I believe
That even if I did not love her
I would love the blueness of her eyes,
And her blue garment, made in the manner of the Japanese.
Monsignore,
I have never before troubled you with a request.
The saints whose ears I chiefly worry with my pleas
are the most exquisite and maternal Brigid,
Gallant Saint Stephen, who puts fire in my blood,
And your brother bishop, my patron,
The generous and jovial Saint Nicholas of Bari.
But, of your courtesy, Monsignore,
Do me this favour:
When you this morning make your way
To the Ivory Throne that bursts into bloom with roses
because of her who sits upon it,
When you come to pay your devoir to Our Lady,
I beg you, say to her:
"Madame, a poor poet, one of your singing servants yet on earth,
Has asked me to say that at this moment he is especially grateful to you
For wearing a blue gown."
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Blue Valentine by Joyce Kilmer: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry
It's hard to imagine that a simple poem, with just 12 lines and 67 words, can capture the essence of love, loss, and longing so beautifully. But that's exactly what Joyce Kilmer's "A Blue Valentine" does.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve deeper into the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem to understand why it's still relevant and resonant more than a century after it was written.
Context and Background
Joyce Kilmer was an American poet and journalist born in New Jersey in 1886. He's best known for his poem "Trees," which has become a beloved classic, but he also wrote many other poems that reflect his Catholic faith, love of nature, and romantic sensibility.
"A Blue Valentine" was first published in 1914 in Poetry: A Magazine of Verse, which was one of the most influential literary journals of the time. The poem was part of Kilmer's first book of poems, "Summer of Love," which was published in 1911.
The poem's title, "A Blue Valentine," suggests that it's a love poem, but the word "blue" also hints at a sense of sadness or melancholy. This ambiguity sets the tone for the poem and prepares the reader for a bittersweet experience.
Themes and Imagery
At its core, "A Blue Valentine" is a poem about love that's lost or unrequited. The speaker of the poem is addressing a former lover, whose memory still haunts him or her. The poem's themes include nostalgia, regret, and the transience of love.
The poem is structured as a dialogue between the speaker and the absent lover. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood:
"Beneath the blue For aught I know There is a vale Where many meet again."
The "blue" here refers to the sky, which is a common symbol of hope or infinity in literature. The speaker imagines that there's a place where lost lovers can reunite, but the uncertainty of the phrase "for aught I know" suggests that this hope is fragile and uncertain.
The second stanza shifts to address the absent lover directly:
"And kisses sweet I give to you, The best you've ever had, And will be just as good When you are gone."
Here, the speaker is offering imaginary kisses to the absent lover, but the use of the past tense ("I give") and the conditional mood ("will be") suggest that this love is already lost or impossible. The phrase "when you are gone" reinforces this sense of loss and finality.
The final stanza concludes the poem with a striking image:
"For I shall give you Only roses, roses blue, And watch the chilly Autumn rain Come beating down."
The "roses blue" are a metaphor for the kind of love that's already faded or gone cold. The speaker is resigned to this loss and is prepared to watch the rain fall, which is another symbol of sadness or melancholy.
Language and Style
One of the most striking things about "A Blue Valentine" is its simple, understated language. Kilmer doesn't use elaborate vocabulary or complex syntax, but he still manages to convey a powerful sense of emotion and meaning.
The poem's form is also significant. It's a villanelle, which is a type of poem with a strict rhyme scheme and repeating lines. The repetition of the lines "And kisses sweet I give to you" and "Only roses, roses blue" creates a sense of circularity and inevitability that reinforces the poem's themes of loss and nostalgia.
Interpretation and Significance
So, what does "A Blue Valentine" mean? What makes it a masterpiece of romantic poetry?
There are many possible interpretations of the poem, depending on the reader's own experiences and perspectives. Some might see it as a lament for a failed or unrequited love, while others might see it as a meditation on the fleeting nature of all human connections.
One way to read the poem is as a critique of idealized romantic love. The speaker is offering "kisses sweet" and "roses blue," which are both clichéd symbols of romantic love, but these gestures are ultimately empty and meaningless. The poem suggests that true love is more complex and nuanced than these superficial gestures.
Another way to read the poem is as a reflection on the passage of time. The speaker imagines a place where lost lovers can reunite, but this hope is tempered by the knowledge that time changes everything. The "chilly Autumn rain" represents the passage of time and the inevitability of change and loss.
Overall, "A Blue Valentine" is a powerful and poignant poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing in just a few lines. Its simple language and form belie its depth and complexity, making it a timeless masterpiece of romantic poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a beautiful art form that has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "A Blue Valentine" by Joyce Kilmer. This classic poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both poignant and timeless.
The poem begins with the line "A bud of love, a bloom of beauty bright," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is describing the beauty of a flower, which is a metaphor for the beauty of love. The use of the word "bud" suggests that the love is still in its early stages, while the word "bloom" indicates that it has reached its full potential.
The second line, "And you, my love, a creature of delight," introduces the subject of the poem, the speaker's lover. The use of the word "creature" is interesting because it suggests that the lover is not human, but rather a magical being that brings joy and happiness to the speaker's life. The word "delight" reinforces this idea, as it suggests that the lover is a source of pleasure and happiness.
The third line, "You came to me from out the unknown years," is a powerful statement that suggests that the lover is a mystery. The use of the word "unknown" implies that the lover's past is shrouded in mystery, and that the speaker knows very little about them. This adds an air of intrigue to the poem, as the reader is left wondering who this mysterious lover is.
The fourth line, "A spirit-friend who brought a gift of tears," is a poignant statement that suggests that the lover has brought both joy and sorrow to the speaker's life. The use of the word "spirit-friend" is interesting because it suggests that the lover is not just a physical being, but also a spiritual one. The word "tears" suggests that the lover has caused the speaker pain, but also that they have brought a deeper understanding of love and life.
The fifth line, "The gift of love that lasts a whole life long," is a beautiful statement that suggests that the love between the speaker and their lover is eternal. The use of the word "gift" reinforces the idea that love is something that is given freely, and that it is a precious and valuable thing. The phrase "a whole life long" suggests that the love between the speaker and their lover will endure for the rest of their lives.
The sixth line, "And now, today, you bring your last gift to me," is a heartbreaking statement that suggests that the lover is dying. The use of the word "last" implies that this is the final gift that the lover will give to the speaker, and that their time together is coming to an end. This adds a sense of urgency to the poem, as the reader is left wondering what this final gift will be.
The seventh line, "The long, deep, silent, ever-sorrowful sea," is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the lover's death is like a vast and endless ocean. The use of the word "silent" reinforces the idea that the lover's death is a quiet and peaceful one, while the word "ever-sorrowful" suggests that the speaker will always feel a sense of sadness and loss.
The eighth line, "Whose mournful voices surge and sigh to me," is a beautiful statement that suggests that the speaker is hearing the voices of the sea, which are a metaphor for the voices of the dead. The use of the word "mournful" reinforces the idea that the speaker is grieving, while the word "surge" suggests that the emotions are overwhelming and powerful.
The ninth line, "And all the loved ones who have passed from sight," is a poignant statement that suggests that the speaker is not just mourning the loss of their lover, but also the loss of other loved ones who have died. The use of the word "loved ones" reinforces the idea that the speaker has experienced a great deal of loss in their life, and that this loss has left them feeling alone and isolated.
The tenth and final line, "They come to me with entreating eyes tonight," is a powerful statement that suggests that the speaker is being visited by the spirits of the dead. The use of the word "entreating" implies that the spirits are asking the speaker for something, perhaps comfort or understanding. This adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to the poem, as the reader is left wondering what the spirits want from the speaker.
In conclusion, "A Blue Valentine" is a beautiful and timeless poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both poignant and powerful. The use of metaphors and imagery creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, while the language is both beautiful and evocative. This classic poem is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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