'Eurydice' by H.D.


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Why did you turn back,
that hell should be reinhabited
of myself thus
swept into nothingness?

Why did you turn?
why did you glance back?

So you have swept me back—
I who could have walked with the live souls
above the earth.
I who could have slept among the live flowers
at last.

so for your arrogance
and your ruthlessness
I am swept back
where dead lichens drip
dead cinders among moss of ash.

What was it that crossed my face
with the light from yours
and your glance?

What was it you saw in my face—
the light of your own face,
the fire of your own presence?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Eurydice: An Ode to the Power of Memory and Loss

Have you ever lost someone you loved so much that it felt like a part of you died with them? Have you ever wished that you could bring them back, even for a moment, just to see their face again, to hear their voice, to feel their touch? It's a universal human experience, the pain of grief and the longing for a lost love. And it's a theme that runs deep in literature, from the ancient myths of Orpheus and Eurydice to modern works like Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking. But few poems capture the raw emotion of loss and the power of memory as intensely as H.D.'s "Eurydice."

Written in 1917, "Eurydice" is a haunting and elegiac poem that explores the aftermath of loss and the complexities of memory. It takes the form of a monologue addressed to Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus, who died tragically when she was bitten by a snake on their wedding day. In the myth, Orpheus travels to the underworld to try to bring her back, but he fails when he looks back at her too soon and loses her forever. In H.D.'s version, however, Eurydice is already dead, and the speaker is left to mourn her passing and reflect on the nature of memory and its power to keep the dead alive in our minds.

The poem opens with a description of Eurydice's death, which is conveyed in a series of fragmented images and sensory impressions:

"So you have gone from me and I must go back To the grey shore of the world where the dead walk in dreams, Where the fleshless creatures meet under the shadowy trees And the doves mourn in immemorial elms."

The language here is rich and evocative, with its use of color (grey), sound (doves mourn), and texture (fleshless creatures). The idea of the dead walking in dreams is a haunting one, suggesting that even in death, there is a kind of half-life, a state of being that is neither fully alive nor fully dead. The use of the word "immemorial" to describe the elms also adds a sense of timelessness to the scene, as if the mourning of the doves has been going on for centuries.

As the poem continues, the speaker addresses Eurydice directly, asking her to "remember me in your dreams" and "keep me alive in your memories." It's a poignant request, one that speaks to the power of memory to keep the dead alive in our minds. But at the same time, it's also a reminder of the fragility of memory and the difficulty of holding onto the past. As the speaker notes:

"Forgetting me, you will go forth with new companions, new joys, And I will not care."

This passage is particularly powerful because it captures the paradoxical nature of memory. On the one hand, memory is what makes us human, what connects us to our past and to the people we have loved and lost. On the other hand, memory is also what separates us from the present, what keeps us from fully living in the moment and moving forward with our lives. For the speaker, the idea that Eurydice could forget her is both heartbreaking and liberating. It's a sign that life goes on, that new joys and companions are possible, even in the face of loss. But it's also a reminder that memory is a double-edged sword, one that can bring us comfort and pain in equal measure.

One of the most striking aspects of "Eurydice" is its use of imagery and symbolism to convey the themes of memory and loss. Throughout the poem, H.D. employs a range of images that are both concrete and abstract, from the "immemorial elms" and "fleshless creatures" to the "dark waters" and "veiled sky." Each of these images serves to deepen the sense of loss and longing that permeates the poem, while also hinting at deeper meanings and associations.

For example, the image of the "veiled sky" is particularly potent, suggesting both the veil of mourning that separates the speaker from Eurydice and the veil of memory that separates us from the past. The use of the word "veiled" also has connotations of secrecy and mystery, suggesting that memory is a kind of hidden knowledge that can only be glimpsed through the veil of time. Similarly, the use of the word "dark" to describe the waters and the underworld adds a sense of foreboding and mystery to the poem, as if the speaker is journeying into a realm of darkness and danger.

Perhaps the most powerful image in the poem, however, is the image of the "white flowers" that the speaker leaves on Eurydice's grave:

"I shall gather white flowers For you who have gone, And the flowers will be like memories Or silent words they speak to me."

This image is particularly resonant because it suggests the power of memory to transform the mundane into the sublime. The white flowers, like memories, have a kind of purity and innocence that transcends their physical form. They are a symbol of the beauty and fragility of life, as well as a tribute to the love and loss that the speaker has experienced. But they are also a reminder that memory, like flowers, fades and dies with time, and that even the most cherished memories can eventually be lost.

In conclusion, "Eurydice" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of memory and loss with a depth and intensity that few other works can match. Through its use of imagery, symbolism, and language, it captures the raw emotion of grief and the power of memory to keep the dead alive in our minds. It's a work that speaks to the universal human experience of loss and longing, and one that continues to resonate with readers today, more than a century after it was first written. So if you've ever lost someone you loved, or if you've ever wondered about the nature of memory and its power to shape our lives, then "Eurydice" is a poem that you won't want to miss.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Eurydice: A Classic Poem by H.D.

H.D. was a prolific poet and novelist who was known for her modernist style of writing. Her poem, Eurydice, is a classic example of her work and has been studied and analyzed by scholars for decades. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, imagery, and symbolism.

The poem is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. In the myth, Orpheus, a talented musician, falls in love with Eurydice and marries her. However, on their wedding day, Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies. Orpheus is devastated and decides to descend into the underworld to bring her back. He is granted permission by Hades, the god of the underworld, on the condition that he does not look back at Eurydice until they have reached the surface. However, Orpheus cannot resist the urge to look back and Eurydice is lost to him forever.

H.D.'s poem focuses on Eurydice's experience in the underworld. The poem begins with the line, "She went down the steep steps / With her bare feet, the ankles / Of her bronze-bound feet / Glowing in the damp light." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with vivid imagery and sensory details. The use of the word "steep" emphasizes the difficulty of the journey, while the description of Eurydice's feet as "bronze-bound" creates a sense of strength and resilience.

Throughout the poem, H.D. uses imagery to convey the darkness and despair of the underworld. She describes the "blackness" and "coldness" of the space, as well as the "dampness" and "stagnant air." These descriptions create a sense of claustrophobia and hopelessness, which is further emphasized by Eurydice's repeated attempts to escape. She "climbs the iron stairs" and "beats her hands against the walls," but she is always met with resistance.

One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of the "shadowy horses" that Eurydice encounters. These horses are a symbol of death and the underworld, and their presence creates a sense of foreboding. H.D. writes, "Their manes, like sea-mist / Clung to their necks / And trailed in the black wind." This description creates a sense of movement and fluidity, which contrasts with the stagnant atmosphere of the underworld.

Another important symbol in the poem is the river Styx. In Greek mythology, the river Styx separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. In H.D.'s poem, the river is described as "black and deep," and Eurydice is forced to cross it in a boat. This image creates a sense of finality and separation, as Eurydice is now fully immersed in the world of the dead.

Despite the darkness and despair of the underworld, there are moments of beauty and hope in the poem. One of these moments occurs when Eurydice sees a "pale glow" in the distance. This glow is a symbol of Orpheus, who is trying to find her in the underworld. Eurydice is filled with hope and longing, and she cries out to him. However, her cries are met with silence, and she is left alone once again.

The poem ends with Eurydice's realization that she is truly lost. She says, "I am lost, / And I am gone." This final line is a powerful statement of acceptance and resignation. Eurydice has come to terms with her fate and has accepted that she will never be reunited with Orpheus.

In conclusion, H.D.'s poem Eurydice is a powerful retelling of the Greek myth. Through vivid imagery and symbolism, H.D. creates a sense of darkness and despair in the underworld, while also conveying moments of beauty and hope. The poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of acceptance in the face of tragedy.

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