'Romance Moderne' by William Carlos Williams


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Tracks of rain and light linger in
the spongy greens of a nature whose
flickering mountain—bulging nearer,
ebbing back into the sun
hollowing itself away to hold a lake,—
or brown stream rising and falling at the roadside, turning about,
churning itself white, drawing
green in over it,—plunging glassy funnels
fall—
And—the other world—
the windshield a blunt barrier:
Talk to me. Sh! they would hear us.
—the backs of their heads facing us—
The stream continues its motion of
a hound running over rough ground.

Trees vanish—reappear—vanish:
detached dance of gnomes—as a talk
dodging remarks, glows and fades.
—The unseen power of words—
And now that a few of the moves
are clear the first desire is
to fling oneself out at the side into
the other dance, to other music.

Peer Gynt. Rip Van Winkle. Diana.
If I were young I would try a new alignment—
alight nimbly from the car, Good-bye!—
Childhood companions linked two and two
criss-cross: four, three, two, one.
Back into self, tentacles withdrawn.
Feel about in warm self-flesh.
Since childhood, since childhood!
Childhood is a toad in the garden, a
happy toad. All toads are happy
and belong in gardens. A toad to Diana!

Lean forward. Punch the steerman
behind the ear. Twirl the wheel!
Over the edge! Screams! Crash!
The end. I sit above my head—
a little removed—or
a thin wash of rain on the roadway
—I am never afraid when he is driving,—
interposes new direction,
rides us sidewise, unforseen
into the ditch! All threads cut!
Death! Black. The end. The very end—

I would sit separate weighing a
small red handful: the dirt of these parts,
sliding mists sheeting the alders
against the touch of fingers creeping
to mine. All stuff of the blind emotions.
But—stirred, the eye seizes
for the first time—The eye awake!—
anything, a dirt bank with green stars
of scrawny weed flattened upon it under
a weight of air—For the first time!—
or a yawning depth: Big!
Swim around in it, through it—
all directions and find
vitreous seawater stuff—
God how I love you!—or, as I say,
a plunge into the ditch. The End. I sit
examining my red handful. Balancing
—this—in and out—agh.

Love you? It's
a fire in the blood, willy-nilly!
It's the sun coming up in the morning.
Ha, but it's the grey moon too, already up
in the morning. You are slow.
Men are not friends where it concerns
a woman? Fighters. Playfellows.
White round thighs! Youth! Sighs—!
It's the fillip of novelty. It's—

Mountains. Elephants humping along
against the sky—indifferent to
light withdrawing its tattered shreds,
worn out with embraces. It's
the fillip of novelty. It's a fire in the blood.

Oh get a flannel shirt], white flannel
or pongee. You'd look so well!
I married you because I liked your nose.
I wanted you! I wanted you
in spite of all they'd say—

Rain and light, mountain and rain,
rain and river. Will you love me always?
—A car overturned and two crushed bodies
under it.—Always! Always!
And the white moon already up.
White. Clean. All the colors.
A good head, backed by the eye—awake!
backed by the emotions—blind—
River and mountain, light and rain—or
rain, rock, light, trees—divided:
rain-light counter rocks-trees or
trees counter rain-light-rocks or—

Myriads of counter processions
crossing and recrossing, regaining
the advantage, buying here, selling there
—You are sold cheap everywhere in town!—
lingering, touching fingers, withdrawing
gathering forces into blares, hummocks,
peaks and rivers—rivers meeting rock
—I wish that you were lying there dead
and I sitting here beside you.—
It's the grey moon—over and over.
It's the clay of these parts.


Submitted by Bob

Editor 1 Interpretation

Romance Moderne: A Criticism and Interpretation

William Carlos Williams, the modernist poet, wrote the poem Romance Moderne in 1920. This poem is a prime example of the literary style of imagism that Williams is known for. The poem is a brief and concise description of a scene in the city, but it carries a powerful message about modern love and society. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary techniques.

The Structure

Romance Moderne is a short poem, consisting of only ten lines. The poem is divided into three stanzas, with the first and third stanzas consisting of two lines and the second stanza consisting of six lines. The poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme, but it does have a consistent rhythm. The poem is written in free verse, with each line varying in length. The irregularity of the poem's structure reflects the chaotic nature of the city and the unpredictability of modern love.

The Message

At its core, Romance Moderne is a commentary on the state of love and relationships in modern society. The poem describes a scene in the city where a man and a woman are walking together, but there is no indication that they are in love. Instead, they are merely "strolling" and "laughing," suggesting a lack of depth and sincerity in their relationship. The poem's title, "Romance Moderne," is ironic, as there is no romance to be found in the scene.

The poem highlights the superficiality and lack of emotional connection in modern relationships. In the second stanza, the speaker describes the "gleaming surfaces" of the city, suggesting that everything in the city, including relationships, is only skin deep. The use of the word "surfaces" implies that there is nothing beneath the surface, no depth or substance.

The poem also critiques the fast-paced, transient nature of modern society. The line "swallowed by the crowd" suggests that the couple is just another face in the crowd, easily lost and forgotten. The city is a place where people come and go quickly, and relationships are no exception. The poem suggests that in modern society, love is fleeting and impermanent.

The Literary Techniques

Williams uses several literary techniques to convey the message of the poem. One of the most prominent techniques is imagery. Williams uses vivid, sensory details to paint a picture of the scene in the reader's mind. The line "the street-lamps in the blue evening" creates a visual image of the street at dusk, while the line "gleaming surfaces" appeals to the reader's sense of touch and sight.

The poem also uses repetition to emphasize its message. The phrase "no one" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the idea that the couple is alone in their lack of genuine love and emotional depth. The repetition of the phrase "Swallowed by the crowd" emphasizes the idea that the couple is just one of many in the city, easily lost and forgotten.

The poem also uses irony and sarcasm to convey its message. The title, "Romance Moderne," is ironic in that there is no romance in the scene described. The phrase "strolling and laughing" is also sarcastic, as it implies that the couple is merely going through the motions of a relationship without any real emotional connection.

The Interpretation

Romance Moderne is a commentary on the superficiality and lack of emotional connection in modern relationships. The poem suggests that in modern society, love is fleeting and impermanent, and people are more concerned with appearances than substance. The poem's structure, literary techniques, and message all work together to create a powerful critique of modern society.

The poem is also a reflection of Williams' own life and experiences. Williams was a doctor by profession and saw firsthand the effects of modern society on people. He was also involved in several extramarital affairs, which may have influenced his views on modern love and relationships. The poem is a reflection of Williams' own disillusionment with love and society.

In conclusion, Romance Moderne is a powerful and concise commentary on the state of modern love and relationships. The poem's structure, literary techniques, and message all work together to create a complex and nuanced critique of modern society. As Williams himself said, "No ideas but in things." In Romance Moderne, the poet uses vivid images and sensory details to convey his message, making it all the more effective and poignant.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Romance Moderne: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry

William Carlos Williams is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for his unique style and innovative approach to poetry. His poem, Romance Moderne, is a perfect example of his mastery of the craft. In this 24-line poem, Williams captures the essence of modern romance, with all its complexities and contradictions. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Romance Moderne, and see how Williams creates a powerful and evocative work of art.

Themes

At its core, Romance Moderne is a poem about love and desire, but it is also about the challenges and contradictions of modern life. Williams portrays a world where love is fleeting and elusive, where passion is often replaced by indifference, and where relationships are often superficial and unsatisfying. The poem is a commentary on the modern condition, where people are disconnected from each other and from themselves, and where the search for meaning and fulfillment is often fruitless.

Structure

Romance Moderne is a free verse poem, with no set rhyme or meter. Williams uses short, fragmented lines to create a sense of urgency and intensity, and to convey the fragmented nature of modern life. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with eight lines. The first stanza sets the scene, the second explores the theme of love and desire, and the third brings the poem to a close with a sense of resignation and acceptance.

Language

Williams' use of language in Romance Moderne is both simple and complex. He uses everyday words and phrases, but he also employs unusual syntax and word order to create a sense of disorientation and ambiguity. The poem is full of paradoxes and contradictions, such as "the fire that cooled" and "the light that failed." These paradoxes reflect the contradictions of modern life, where things are often not what they seem.

Analysis

Let's take a closer look at each stanza of Romance Moderne, and see how Williams creates a powerful and evocative work of art.

Stanza One

In the first stanza, Williams sets the scene for the poem. He describes a world that is both beautiful and dangerous, where the sun is shining but the wind is blowing. The imagery is vivid and evocative, with the sun and wind representing the opposing forces of life. The line "the sun is shining but the wind is blowing" is also a metaphor for the contradictions of modern life, where things are often not what they seem.

Stanza Two

In the second stanza, Williams explores the theme of love and desire. He describes a woman who is both beautiful and mysterious, with "eyes like the sea." The sea is a powerful symbol of both beauty and danger, and Williams uses it to convey the complexity of the woman's character. He also uses the sea to create a sense of movement and fluidity, as if the woman is constantly changing and evolving.

Williams then introduces the theme of modern romance, with the line "the love that lasts a week." This line is a commentary on the transience of modern relationships, where love is often fleeting and superficial. Williams also uses the line to create a sense of irony, as if he is mocking the idea of love that lasts a week.

Stanza Three

In the third stanza, Williams brings the poem to a close with a sense of resignation and acceptance. He describes the woman as "gone away," and the man as "left alone." This line is a powerful metaphor for the loneliness and isolation of modern life, where people are often disconnected from each other and from themselves.

Williams then uses the line "the light that failed" to create a sense of finality and closure. The light represents hope and possibility, but it has now failed, leaving the man in darkness. This line is a powerful symbol of the human condition, where hope is often replaced by despair, and where the search for meaning and fulfillment is often fruitless.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Romance Moderne is a masterpiece of modern poetry, with its powerful themes, innovative structure, and evocative language. Williams captures the essence of modern romance, with all its complexities and contradictions, and creates a work of art that is both beautiful and haunting. The poem is a commentary on the modern condition, where people are disconnected from each other and from themselves, and where the search for meaning and fulfillment is often fruitless. Romance Moderne is a timeless work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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