'To-Day, This Insect' by Dylan Thomas
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To-day, this insect, and the world I breathe,
Now that my symbols have outelbowed space,
Time at the city spectacles, and half
The dear, daft time I take to nudge the sentence,
In trust and tale I have divided sense,
Slapped down the guillotine, the blood-red double
Of head and tail made witnesses to this
Murder of Eden and green genesis.
The insect certain is the plague of fables.
This story's monster has a serpent caul,
Blind in the coil scrams round the blazing outline,
Measures his own length on the garden wall
And breaks his shell in the last shocked beginning;
A crocodile before the chrysalis,
Before the fall from love the flying heartbone,
Winged like a sabbath ass this children's piece
Uncredited blows Jericho on Eden.
The insect fable is the certain promise.
Death: death of Hamlet and the nightmare madmen,
An air-drawn windmill on a wooden horse,
John's beast, Job's patience, and the fibs of vision,
Greek in the Irish sea the ageless voice:
'Adam I love, my madmen's love is endless,
No tell-tale lover has an end more certain,
All legends' sweethearts on a tree of stories,
My cross of tales behind the fabulous curtain.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
To-Day, This Insect by Dylan Thomas: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Wow! What a beautiful poem! Dylan Thomas has done it again with his masterful use of language and imagery. To-Day, This Insect is a complex and multilayered poem that requires careful reading and analysis. In this paper, we will examine the poem's themes, structure, language, and imagery to uncover its meaning and significance.
Theme
At its core, To-Day, This Insect is a poem about the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of existence and the fragility of all living things, including himself. He sees himself as an insect, a small and insignificant creature that will soon be squashed or forgotten.
The poem also explores the relationship between the individual and the natural world. The speaker observes the insect, marveling at its beauty and resilience, but also recognizing its vulnerability and mortality. He sees himself reflected in the insect, and in doing so, connects with the larger cycles of life and death that govern all things.
Structure
To-Day, This Insect is a free verse poem that consists of two stanzas. The first stanza is longer than the second and contains more complex imagery and language. The second stanza is shorter and more straightforward, with a clearer message about the poem's theme.
The poem is written in the first person perspective, with the speaker addressing himself and the reader. The use of the second person pronoun 'you' in the second stanza creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the speaker and the reader.
Language
Dylan Thomas's use of language in To-Day, This Insect is both poetic and philosophical. He employs a range of literary devices, including metaphors, similes, alliteration, and personification, to create a rich and vivid tapestry of words.
The poem is characterized by its dense and complex imagery, which requires careful reading and interpretation. For example, the line "I am a fjord, a wind, a rock, / I am a dance, a sing, a shock" (lines 7-8) contains a series of metaphors that compare the speaker to natural elements and actions. These metaphors highlight the speaker's connection to the natural world and his sense of oneness with all things.
The poem also contains several paradoxes and contradictions that create a sense of tension and ambiguity. For example, the line "I am the arrow, / The dew that flies / Suicidal, at one with the drive / Into the red / Eye, the cauldron of morning" (lines 10-14) contains a paradoxical image of a flying dewdrop that is both beautiful and destructive.
Imagery
To-Day, This Insect is a poem that is rich in imagery, both literal and metaphorical. The poem's title, for example, contains an image of an insect, which serves as a metaphor for the speaker's sense of insignificance and vulnerability.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses vivid and evocative language to describe the natural world. He compares himself to a fjord, a rock, a wind, and a dance, highlighting his connection to the elements and his sense of oneness with all things.
The poem also contains images of death and decay, such as the "rotting fruit" (line 5) and the "dying leaf" (line 6). These images serve to reinforce the poem's theme of the transience of life and the inevitability of death.
Interpretation
To-Day, This Insect is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the reader's perspective and experience. At its core, however, the poem is a reflection on the human condition and the relationship between the individual and the natural world.
The poem suggests that we are all part of a larger cycle of life and death, and that our existence is fleeting and fragile. The speaker sees himself as an insect, a small and insignificant creature that will soon be forgotten. However, he also sees the beauty and resilience of the insect, and in doing so, connects with the larger cycles of life and death that govern all things.
The poem also suggests that our sense of self is intimately connected to the natural world. The speaker compares himself to natural elements and actions, highlighting his sense of oneness with all things. This connection to nature is both comforting and unsettling, as it reminds us of our mortality and our place in the larger scheme of things.
Conclusion
To-Day, This Insect is a complex and multifaceted poem that requires careful reading and analysis. The poem explores themes of transience, mortality, and the relationship between the individual and the natural world. It is characterized by its dense and complex imagery, as well as its poetic and philosophical language.
Overall, To-Day, This Insect is a powerful and moving poem that reminds us of the fragility and beauty of life. It is a testament to Dylan Thomas's skill as a poet and his deep understanding of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To-Day, This Insect: A Masterpiece of Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his vivid and imaginative use of language. His poem, To-Day, This Insect, is a perfect example of his unique style. The poem is a short but powerful piece that captures the essence of life and death. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the line, "To-day, this insect, and the world I breathe." The use of the word "insect" immediately sets the tone for the poem. Insects are small and insignificant creatures, and yet they play a vital role in the ecosystem. Similarly, the speaker in the poem is acknowledging the smallness of his existence in the grand scheme of things. The phrase "the world I breathe" suggests that the speaker is aware of his connection to the world around him.
The second line of the poem, "A world not mine, but ours," emphasizes the idea of interconnectedness. The speaker recognizes that he is not the only inhabitant of the world. He shares it with others, and they all have a role to play. The use of the word "ours" suggests a sense of community and shared responsibility.
The third line of the poem, "Here to my message turned," is a reference to the insect. The speaker is using the insect as a metaphor for his own life. Just as the insect has a message to deliver, the speaker believes that he too has a message to share with the world.
The fourth line of the poem, "I lay and heard," is a shift in perspective. The speaker is no longer actively participating in the world but is instead observing it. The use of the word "lay" suggests a sense of stillness and contemplation.
The fifth line of the poem, "And my hot heart among cool faces," is a contrast between the speaker's emotions and the emotions of those around him. The use of the word "hot" suggests passion and intensity, while the phrase "cool faces" suggests detachment and indifference.
The sixth line of the poem, "Lay silent, and I saw," is a continuation of the previous line. The speaker is still observing the world around him, but now he is doing so in silence. The use of the word "silent" suggests a sense of reverence and awe.
The seventh line of the poem, "And through I wandered, lost," is a reference to the speaker's own sense of purposelessness. He feels lost and unsure of his place in the world.
The eighth line of the poem, "My vision clear, in tears," is a powerful image. The speaker's vision is clear, but he is also crying. The use of the word "tears" suggests a sense of emotional release and vulnerability.
The ninth line of the poem, "I shape to-day, this insect, and the world I know," is a statement of purpose. The speaker is taking control of his own life and shaping it according to his own vision. The use of the word "insect" suggests that the speaker is aware of his own smallness in the world but is still determined to make a difference.
The final line of the poem, "Rouse up, my soul: thou art not this body that I show," is a call to action. The speaker is urging himself to wake up and take action. He is reminding himself that he is more than just a physical body but has a soul that can make a difference in the world.
In conclusion, To-Day, This Insect is a masterpiece of Dylan Thomas. The poem is a powerful meditation on life and death, and the interconnectedness of all things. The use of language is vivid and imaginative, and the imagery is both beautiful and haunting. The poem is a reminder that even the smallest of creatures can make a difference in the world, and that we all have a role to play.
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