'O' by A.S.J. Tessimond
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Old women look intently at Nothing when the doctor
announces a cancer, dark fruit, under the
shrunk left breast.
Girls' hands hold Nothing when the train sucks their
men from the platform and scoops them down the
slipway of rail.
Nothing beats in deafened ears on the empty and
godless altars of mountain tops.
Nothing is the final strength of the strong: the
last poison on the crumpling lips of the weak.
Submitted by Stephen Fryer
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Analysis of A.S.J. Tessimond's "O"
Are you ready to be transported into the mysterious world of A.S.J. Tessimond's "O"? This classic poem is full of symbolism and enigmatic imagery that will leave you breathless. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the deeper meaning behind Tessimond's words and discover the hidden messages he is trying to convey.
The Poem
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
O Love, be fed with apples while you may, And feel the sun and go in royal array, A smiling innocent on the heavenly causeway, Though in what listening horror for him who felt the sword Hanging again above his naked cord The child's attempt clasps thunder in its claws.
The first thing that strikes us about this poem is the title itself. Why did Tessimond choose the letter "O" as the title? Could it be a reference to the shape of the mouth when we say "Oh"? Or is it a symbol for something else entirely?
Moving on to the first line, "O Love, be fed with apples while you may," we see a clear reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In the Garden of Eden, the forbidden fruit is an apple, and by eating it, Adam and Eve bring sin and death into the world. This line could be interpreted as a warning to the reader to enjoy love while it lasts, because like the apple, it can be fleeting and dangerous.
The second line, "And feel the sun and go in royal array," suggests a kind of regal, triumphant march. The sun is often associated with power and strength, and the phrase "royal array" implies a sense of majesty and grandeur. The third line adds to this image, describing the subject as a "smiling innocent on the heavenly causeway." This line suggests that the subject is pure and innocent, and perhaps even naïve to the dangers that lie ahead.
But the mood of the poem takes a sudden shift in the fourth line: "Though in what listening horror for him who felt the sword." Here we see a sudden, ominous turn. The phrase "listening horror" suggests a sense of dread, and the mention of the sword creates an image of violence and danger. Who is this "him" that the poet is referring to?
The next line, "Hanging again above his naked cord," implies that this "him" is in a precarious position, hanging by a thread, with the sword poised to strike at any moment. The image of the "naked cord" adds to the vulnerability and helplessness of the subject.
The final line of the poem, "The child's attempt clasps thunder in its claws," is perhaps the most mysterious of all. Who is this child, and what is it attempting to do? And what does it mean to "clasp thunder in its claws"? This line leaves us with more questions than answers, and invites us to delve deeper into the meaning behind Tessimond's words.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? There are many possible interpretations of this poem, and each reader may find their own meaning in its enigmatic words. Here are a few possible interpretations:
Love and Loss
One interpretation of "O" is that it is a meditation on the fleeting nature of love, and the pain of its loss. The image of the apple, with its association with sin and temptation, suggests that love can be dangerous and lead to ruin. The image of the child attempting to grasp thunder in its claws could be seen as a metaphor for the futility of trying to hold on to something that is impossible to grasp. The pain of loss is hinted at in the line "Though in what listening horror for him who felt the sword," suggesting that the subject has experienced some kind of trauma related to love.
Innocence and Danger
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a warning about the dangers of innocence. The subject of the poem is described as a "smiling innocent," and the image of the heavenly causeway suggests a sense of purity and goodness. However, the sudden shift to the image of the sword and the naked cord suggests that this innocence is in danger of being destroyed. The child in the final line could be seen as a symbol of innocence, attempting to grasp something that is ultimately destructive.
Power and Vulnerability
A third interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the paradoxical nature of power and vulnerability. The subject of the poem is described as going in "royal array," suggesting a sense of power and strength. However, the image of the sword and the hanging cord suggest a sense of vulnerability and helplessness. Similarly, the child attempting to grasp thunder could be seen as a symbol of both power and vulnerability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, A.S.J. Tessimond's "O" is a poem full of mystery and symbolism. Its enigmatic imagery invites us to delve deeper into its meaning and discover the hidden messages within. Whether it is a meditation on love and loss, innocence and danger, or power and vulnerability, "O" is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
O, the classic poem by A.S.J. Tessimond, is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the complexities of human existence and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and meaningless. With its haunting imagery, powerful metaphors, and evocative language, O is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
At its core, O is a poem about the search for identity and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The speaker of the poem is a person who is lost and adrift, struggling to make sense of the world around them. They are searching for something, but they are not sure what it is. The poem begins with the speaker asking a series of questions:
"O where are you going? said reader to rider, That valley is fatal when furnaces burn, Yonder's the midden whose odours will madden, That gap is the grave where the tall return."
These questions are not just rhetorical; they are a genuine plea for guidance. The speaker is lost and looking for direction, and they are turning to the reader for help. The reader, in turn, is asked to consider their own journey through life and to reflect on the challenges and obstacles they have faced along the way.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more introspective, reflecting on their own sense of identity and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and meaningless. They describe themselves as a "stranger" in the world, someone who is disconnected from the people and places around them. They are searching for a sense of belonging, but they are not sure where to find it:
"O who are you, said reader to rider, The sun's last ray died in the long valley, The hills are all shadowed, and home is far, But I am not lonely while you ride beside me."
This sense of disconnection and alienation is a common theme in modernist literature, and it is one that Tessimond explores with great skill and sensitivity in O. The speaker's search for identity is a universal human experience, and it is one that readers can relate to on a deep and personal level.
One of the most striking features of O is its use of powerful metaphors and vivid imagery to convey the speaker's sense of dislocation and confusion. The poem is full of haunting images of darkness, death, and decay, which serve to underscore the speaker's sense of isolation and despair. For example, the speaker describes the world around them as a "valley...where furnaces burn" and a "midden...whose odours will madden." These images are deeply unsettling, and they create a sense of foreboding and unease that permeates the entire poem.
At the same time, however, there are moments of beauty and transcendence in O that serve to counterbalance the darkness and despair. The speaker describes the sunset as "the sun's last ray," and they find comfort in the fact that they are not alone on their journey through life. These moments of beauty and connection are fleeting, but they serve to remind the reader that there is hope and meaning to be found in even the darkest of places.
Overall, O is a powerful and deeply moving poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. It is a poem about the search for identity, the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world, and the power of human connection to transcend even the darkest of circumstances. With its haunting imagery, powerful metaphors, and evocative language, O is a poem that continues to resonate with readers today, and it is a testament to the enduring power of modernist poetry.
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