'Author's Prologue' by Dylan Thomas


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This day winding down now
At God speeded summer's end
In the torrent salmon sun,
In my seashaken house
On a breakneck of rocks
Tangled with chirrup and fruit,
Froth, flute, fin, and quill
At a wood's dancing hoof,
By scummed, starfish sands
With their fishwife cross
Gulls, pipers, cockles, and snails,
Out there, crow black, men
Tackled with clouds, who kneel
To the sunset nets,
Geese nearly in heaven, boys
Stabbing, and herons, and shells
That speak seven seas,
Eternal waters away
From the cities of nine
Days' night whose towers will catch
In the religious wind
Like stalks of tall, dry straw,
At poor peace I sing
To you strangers (though song
Is a burning and crested act,
The fire of birds in
The world's turning wood,
For my swan, splay sounds),
Out of these seathumbed leaves
That will fly and fall
Like leaves of trees and as soon
Crumble and undie
Into the dogdayed night.
Seaward the salmon, sucked sun slips,
And the dumb swans drub blue
My dabbed bay's dusk, as I hack
This rumpus of shapes
For you to know
How I, a spining man,
Glory also this star, bird
Roared, sea born, man torn, blood blest.
Hark: I trumpet the place,
From fish to jumping hill! Look:
I build my bellowing ark
To the best of my love
As the flood begins,
Out of the fountainhead
Of fear, rage read, manalive,
Molten and mountainous to stream
Over the wound asleep
Sheep white hollow farms
To Wales in my arms.
Hoo, there, in castle keep,
You king singsong owls, who moonbeam
The flickering runs and dive
The dingle furred deer dead!
Huloo, on plumbed bryns,
O my ruffled ring dove
in the hooting, nearly dark
With Welsh and reverent rook,
Coo rooning the woods' praise,
who moons her blue notes from her nest
Down to the curlew herd!
Ho, hullaballoing clan
Agape, with woe
In your beaks, on the gabbing capes!
Heigh, on horseback hill, jack
Whisking hare! who
Hears, there, this fox light, my flood ship's
Clangour as I hew and smite
(A clash of anvils for my
Hubbub and fiddle, this tune
On atounged puffball)
But animals thick as theives
On God's rough tumbling grounds
(Hail to His beasthood!).
Beasts who sleep good and thin,
Hist, in hogback woods! The haystacked
Hollow farms ina throng
Of waters cluck and cling,
And barnroofs cockcrow war!
O kingdom of neighbors finned
Felled and quilled, flash to my patch
Work ark and the moonshine
Drinking Noah of the bay,
With pelt, and scale, and fleece:
Only the drowned deep bells
Of sheep and churches noise
Poor peace as the sun sets
And dark shoals every holy field.
We will ride out alone then,
Under the stars of Wales,
Cry, Multiudes of arks! Across
The water lidded lands,
Manned with their loves they'll move
Like wooden islands, hill to hill.
Huloo, my prowed dove with a flute!
Ahoy, old, sea-legged fox,
Tom tit and Dai mouse!
My ark sings in the sun
At God speeded summer's end
And the flood flowers now.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

The Author's Prologue is a classic poem written by Dylan Thomas, a Welsh poet who was known for his unique style of writing. This poem is one of his most popular works, and it is often used as a reference for literary analysis and interpretation. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in the Author's Prologue.

Overview of the Poem

The Author's Prologue is a poem that sets the tone for Dylan Thomas' collection of poetry, "Deaths and Entrances." In this poem, the author introduces himself and his work, and he reflects on the nature of poetry and writing.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each containing eight lines. It has a simple rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming, and the second and fourth lines also rhyming. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme.

Themes

One of the main themes of the Author's Prologue is the role of the poet in society. Dylan Thomas believed that poets had a unique responsibility to capture the beauty and complexity of the world in their writing. In this poem, he reflects on the power of poetry and the importance of the poet's voice.

Another theme of the poem is the relationship between the author and his work. Dylan Thomas often wrote about the creative process and the struggle to put his thoughts into words. In the Author's Prologue, he reflects on the challenges and rewards of writing.

Literary Devices

The Author's Prologue makes use of several literary devices to convey its themes and ideas. One of the most prominent devices is metaphor. Throughout the poem, Thomas compares the poet to a number of different things, such as a "weaver of words" and a "singer of songs." These comparisons help to illustrate the importance of the poet's voice and the power of poetry.

Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. Thomas repeats key phrases throughout the poem, such as "I am the poet" and "I sing." This repetition helps to emphasize the central message of the poem and create a sense of unity and continuity.

Analysis

In the first stanza of the Author's Prologue, Dylan Thomas sets the stage for the poem by introducing himself as the poet. He establishes his authority and his role in society as a "singer of songs" and a "weaver of words." This imagery helps to convey the importance of the poet's voice and the power of poetry to shape and reflect the world.

Thomas also reflects on the nature of poetry and the challenges of putting one's thoughts and emotions into words. He notes that "the poet is the one who lives with words" and that writing can be a difficult and painful process. This reflection highlights the importance of the poet's voice and the depth of his or her emotions.

In the second stanza, Thomas continues to reflect on the role of the poet in society. He notes that the poet is "the one who sings of truth" and that his or her words can inspire and move people. This idea of the poet as a truth-teller is a common theme in Dylan Thomas' work, and it helps to convey the power and importance of poetry.

Thomas also reflects on the relationship between the author and his work. He notes that "the poet is the one who puts his words on the page" and that writing can be a solitary and isolating experience. This reflection highlights the challenges and rewards of writing, and it emphasizes the importance of the author's connection to his or her work.

In the final stanza, Thomas concludes the poem by reflecting on the beauty of the world and the power of poetry to capture that beauty. He notes that "the poet is the one who sings of love" and that his or her words can help to create a sense of wonder and awe. This reflection emphasizes the importance of the poet's voice and the role of poetry in shaping our understanding of the world.

Interpretation

The Author's Prologue is a poem that reflects on the nature of poetry and the role of the poet in society. Dylan Thomas believed that poets had a unique responsibility to capture the beauty and complexity of the world in their writing, and this theme is reflected throughout the poem.

One of the key messages of the poem is the power of poetry to inspire and move people. Thomas believed that poetry had the ability to capture the truth of the world and help us to see it in a new and more profound way. He also believed that writing could be a difficult and isolating experience, but that the rewards of putting one's thoughts and emotions into words were worth the struggle.

Another important message of the poem is the idea of the poet as a truth-teller. Thomas believed that the poet had a responsibility to speak the truth and to reflect the world in all of its complexity. This idea is reflected in the imagery of the poet as a "singer of songs" and a "weaver of words," which emphasize the power of the poet's voice and the importance of poetry in shaping our understanding of the world.

Overall, the Author's Prologue is a powerful reflection on the nature of poetry and the role of the poet in society. It is a testament to Dylan Thomas' unique style and his ability to capture the beauty and complexity of the world in his writing. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply interested in exploring the power of language, this poem is a must-read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dylan Thomas is a name that is synonymous with poetry. His works are known for their lyrical quality and their ability to evoke strong emotions in readers. One of his most famous poems is the Author's Prologue, which was written in 1952. This poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry and is a testament to Thomas's skill as a poet.

The Author's Prologue is a poem that is full of imagery and symbolism. It is a poem that is both personal and universal, and it speaks to the human experience in a way that is both profound and moving. The poem is written in the first person, and it is clear that the speaker is Dylan Thomas himself. The poem is a prologue to his collection of poems, which he is about to read to an audience.

The poem begins with the lines, "I am the man who with the utmost daring / discovered what had been discovered before." These lines are a reference to Thomas's own work as a poet. He is saying that he is not afraid to explore the same themes and ideas that other poets have explored before him. He is confident in his ability to bring something new and fresh to these ideas.

The next few lines of the poem are full of vivid imagery. Thomas describes himself as a "madman" who is "dancing on thin ice." This imagery is a reference to the risks that Thomas takes as a poet. He is not afraid to push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in poetry. He is willing to take risks and to explore new territory.

The poem then takes a more personal turn. Thomas talks about his own struggles as a poet. He says that he has "suffered the atrocity of sunsets." This line is a reference to the emotional toll that writing poetry can take on a person. Thomas is saying that he has experienced the highs and lows of the creative process. He has felt the joy of creating something beautiful, but he has also felt the pain of rejection and failure.

The poem then takes a more universal turn. Thomas talks about the importance of poetry in the world. He says that poetry is "the one true faith." This line is a reference to the power of poetry to inspire and to move people. Thomas is saying that poetry is not just a form of entertainment, but it is a way of connecting with something greater than ourselves.

The poem then takes a more philosophical turn. Thomas talks about the nature of reality and the role of the poet in shaping it. He says that the poet is "the one who knows / That the night is a flimsy curtain over a land of dawn." This line is a reference to the idea that reality is not fixed, but it is constantly changing. The poet has the ability to see beyond the surface of things and to glimpse the deeper truths that lie beneath.

The poem then takes a more mystical turn. Thomas talks about the power of the imagination to create new worlds. He says that the poet is "the one who knows / That the moon is a sovereign mistress / Who rules our changing seas." This line is a reference to the idea that the imagination has the power to create new worlds and to shape reality in new and unexpected ways.

The poem then takes a more personal turn again. Thomas talks about his own mortality and the legacy that he will leave behind. He says that he is "the one who will not be silenced." This line is a reference to the fact that Thomas's work will live on long after he is gone. He is saying that his poetry will continue to inspire and to move people long after he is no longer here.

The poem then ends with the lines, "I am the one you chose to hear / When above the alpine tree / You let the world wag loud and free." These lines are a reference to the fact that Thomas's poetry is meant to be heard. He is saying that his poetry is not meant to be read in silence, but it is meant to be spoken aloud and to be heard by others.

In conclusion, the Author's Prologue is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a poem that is full of vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and profound insights into the human experience. It is a poem that speaks to the power of poetry to inspire and to move people. It is a poem that is both personal and universal, and it is a testament to Dylan Thomas's skill as a poet.

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