'One Cigarette' by Edwin Morgan
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No smoke without you, my fire.
After you left,
your cigarette glowed on in my ashtray
and sent up a long thread of such quiet grey
I smiled to wonder who would believe its signal
of so much love. One cigarette
in the non-smoker's tray.
As the last spire
trembles up, a sudden draught
blows it winding into my face.
Is it smell, is it taste?
You are here again, and I am drunk on your tobacco lips.
Out with the light.
Let the smoke lie back in the dark.
Till I hear the very ash
sigh down among the flowers of brass
I'll breathe, and long past midnight, your last kiss.
Anonymous Submission
Editor 1 Interpretation
One Cigarette by Edwin Morgan: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Edwin Morgan, a Scottish poet, is widely known for his experimental and innovative works. His poetry is characterized by its diverse themes, complex use of language, and vivid imagery. In this literary criticism, we will explore Morgan's poem, "One Cigarette," and examine its themes, symbolism, and use of language.
Background
"One Cigarette" was first published in 1968 in Morgan's collection, "The Second Life." The poem is written in free verse and consists of seven stanzas. Each stanza consists of four lines, with the exception of the final stanza, which consists of three lines.
Themes
The themes of "One Cigarette" are love, loss, and memory. The poem is a reflection on a past love, and the speaker recounts a moment when he shared a cigarette with his lover. The cigarette becomes a symbol of their relationship, and the speaker reflects on how that relationship ended. The poem explores the themes of love and loss and the memories that linger after a relationship has ended.
Symbolism
The cigarette is a powerful symbol in this poem. It represents the connection between the speaker and his lover. The act of sharing a cigarette is an intimate moment, and the speaker reflects on how that moment was a "bond of the living warmth" between them. However, the cigarette also represents the transience of their relationship. Like a cigarette, their love burned brightly but was ultimately consumed and forgotten.
The cigarette is also a symbol of addiction. The speaker reflects on how he "inhaled you" and how his lover was "as addictive as nicotine." The poem suggests that the speaker is addicted to his lover, and that addiction has led to the pain of their separation.
Language
Morgan's use of language in "One Cigarette" is complex and layered. The poem is written in free verse, and the lines are broken in unexpected places. This fragmentation mirrors the speaker's fragmented memories of his past relationship. The language is also highly sensory, with vivid imagery that engages the reader's senses.
The poem is full of metaphors and similes. The cigarette is compared to a "talisman," a "blossom," and a "lifebuoy." The speaker's lover is compared to a "siren" and a "song." These metaphors and similes add depth and complexity to the poem, creating a rich tapestry of imagery.
Morgan's use of repetition is also noteworthy. The phrase "one cigarette" is repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and musicality. The repetition emphasizes the importance of the cigarette as a symbol and underscores the transience of their relationship.
Interpretation
"One Cigarette" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. The cigarette is a potent symbol that represents the connection between the speaker and his lover, as well as the transience of their relationship. The poem is full of complex language and vivid imagery, creating a rich and sensory experience for the reader.
The poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the nature of love and the pain of separation. The speaker reflects on how his lover was addictive, suggesting that love itself can be an addiction. The cigarette is a symbol of that addiction, as well as a symbol of the transience of their relationship.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. The speaker reflects on the memory of his lover, suggesting that memories are all that remain after a relationship has ended. The poem ends with the line, "and we go out separate ways, forever now." This line underscores the finality of their separation and the pain of lost love.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edwin Morgan's "One Cigarette" is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. The cigarette is a potent symbol that represents the connection and addiction between the speaker and his lover, as well as the transience of their relationship. Morgan's use of language is highly sensory and complex, creating a rich and layered experience for the reader. Ultimately, the poem is a meditation on the nature of love and the pain of separation, and it speaks to the universal human experience of lost love and memories that linger long after the relationship has ended.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
One Cigarette: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Edwin Morgan's One Cigarette is a poem that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of relationships. The poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the fragility of life. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and imagery to understand its meaning and significance.
Structure
One Cigarette is a free-verse poem that consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's structure is simple, yet effective, as it allows the reader to focus on the poem's content and the emotions it evokes. The poem's brevity and simplicity are also symbolic of the fleeting nature of life and relationships.
Language
The language used in One Cigarette is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. The poem's language is reflective of the speaker's emotional state, which is one of sadness and longing. The poem's opening line, "No smoke without you, my fire," is a metaphor for the speaker's love for the person they are addressing. The use of the word "fire" is symbolic of the passion and intensity of their love.
The poem's language is also reflective of the speaker's sense of loss. The line, "No smoke without you, my fire," is followed by the line, "After you left, your cigarette glowed on in my ashtray." This line is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of loss and the lingering presence of the person they love. The use of the word "glowed" is also symbolic of the warmth and light that the person brought into the speaker's life.
Imagery
One Cigarette is a poem that is rich in imagery and metaphor. The poem's imagery is reflective of the speaker's emotional state and the themes of love and loss. The use of the cigarette as a metaphor for the person the speaker loves is a powerful image that runs throughout the poem. The cigarette is symbolic of the person's presence in the speaker's life and their absence after they have left.
The poem's imagery is also reflective of the speaker's sense of loss. The line, "After you left, your cigarette glowed on in my ashtray," is a powerful image that captures the lingering presence of the person the speaker loves. The use of the word "glowed" is also symbolic of the warmth and light that the person brought into the speaker's life.
The poem's imagery is also reflective of the fragility of life and relationships. The line, "I drank whisky and watched the fire blaze," is a powerful image that captures the fleeting nature of life and the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The use of the word "blaze" is also symbolic of the intensity of the speaker's emotions and the passion and intensity of their love.
Conclusion
One Cigarette is a poem that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of relationships. The poem's structure, language, and imagery are all reflective of the speaker's emotional state and the themes of love, loss, and the fragility of life. The poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry that is both simple and profound. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of the reader and leaves a lasting impression.
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