'Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn' by Delmore Schwartz


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"The trumpet is a brilliant instrument." - Dietrich Buxtehude


Come and come forth and come up from the cup of
Your dumbness, stunned and numb, come with
The statues and believed in,
Thinking this is nothing, deceived.

Come to the summer and sun,
Come see upon that height, and that sum
In the seedtime of the winter's absolute,
How yearly the phoenix inhabits the fruit.
Behold, above all, how the tall ball
Called the body is but a drum, but a bell
Summoning the soul
To rise from the catacomb of sleep and fear
To the blaze and death of summer,

Rising from the lithe forms of the pure
Furs of the rising flames, slender and supple,
Which are the consummation of the blaze of fall and of all.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn by Delmore Schwartz

As I sit down to interpret and criticize Delmore Schwartz's classic poem, Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement. This poem is a gem that's often overlooked, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to delve into its depths and bring it to the forefront once again.

At its core, Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn is a poem that celebrates the beauty and wonder of autumn. Schwartz's love for this season shines through each line, as he paints vivid pictures of the changing leaves, the cool air, and the sense of renewal that autumn brings. But this poem is so much more than just a celebration of a season - it's a meditation on life, love, and the passage of time.

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with its own distinct voice and tone. The first stanza sets the stage for the rest of the poem, with Schwartz painting a picture of the autumnal landscape. The second stanza shifts focus slightly, as Schwartz reflects on his own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. And the third and final stanza brings everything together, as Schwartz celebrates the beauty of life and love in the face of that mortality.

Let's take a closer look at each stanza, and explore what makes this poem so special.

Stanza One

The first stanza of Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn is a masterclass in sensory imagery. Schwartz uses rich, evocative language to bring the autumn landscape to life. Consider the opening lines:

When autumn sullies the glow of summer weather And scrubs the leaves with its dampened feather I think of the shape of things to come And wonder how the birds will find their way home

In just a few short lines, Schwartz captures the essence of autumn - the way it dulls the brightness of summer, the way the leaves change color and fall to the ground. But he doesn't stop there - he takes it a step further by introducing the idea of migration, of birds flying south for the winter. This small detail adds depth and complexity to the poem, as it hints at the cyclical nature of life and the passage of time.

The rest of the stanza continues in this vein, as Schwartz describes the changing landscape in vivid detail. He talks about the way the trees creak and moan in the wind, the way the sky turns a deep blue, the way the grass crunches underfoot. It's a beautiful, immersive portrait of the autumnal world, and it sets the stage perfectly for what's to come.

Stanza Two

The second stanza of Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn is a sharp departure from the first. Here, Schwartz shifts away from the sensory details of the world around him, and turns inward, reflecting on his own mortality. Consider these lines:

When autumn rots the summer's last chrysanthemum And the birds fly south from the snow The garden is blackened and the night has come And I am left alone with my thoughts, to know

Schwartz's language here is stark and eerie - he talks about rotting flowers, blackened gardens, and the encroaching darkness of night. It's a far cry from the vibrant, colorful imagery of the first stanza. But it's also incredibly powerful, as Schwartz uses the changing of the seasons as a metaphor for the passage of time, and the inevitability of death.

The rest of the stanza builds on this theme, as Schwartz reflects on his own life and the things he's accomplished. He talks about the books he's written, the people he's loved, and the mistakes he's made. But even as he looks back on his life, he's haunted by the knowledge that it's all temporary - that one day, he too will rot and fade away.

Stanza Three

The final stanza of Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn is a triumphant return to the themes of the first. Here, Schwartz brings everything together, celebrating the beauty of life and love in the face of mortality. Consider these lines:

But let us not be sad, my love For though the autumn breeze may chill We'll warm ourselves in the glow thereof And find our peace in the world's wild will

Schwartz's language here is full of hope and optimism - he urges us not to be sad, even in the face of death and decay. Instead, he encourages us to find joy in the beauty of the world around us, and in the love we share with others.

The rest of the stanza is a celebration of life, as Schwartz describes the way the world continues to turn, even as we grow old and die. He talks about the way the seasons cycle endlessly, the way new life is constantly emerging from old, and the way love endures even in the face of death. It's a beautiful, uplifting finale to a poem that's both mournful and celebratory.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn is a masterpiece of poetry. It's a celebration of the beauty of autumn, but it's also a meditation on life, love, and the passage of time. Schwartz's language is rich and evocative, and his imagery is both vivid and complex. But what makes this poem truly special is the way it balances sorrow and joy, mortality and renewal. It's a poem that acknowledges the fleeting nature of life, but also celebrates the beauty that exists in every moment. And that, to me, is what makes it a classic.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn: A Masterpiece of Delmore Schwartz

Delmore Schwartz, the American poet, novelist, and short-story writer, is known for his unique style of writing that blends modernist techniques with traditional forms. His poem "Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn" is a classic example of his poetic genius. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and structure.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker addressing the autumn season as a "trumpet chorale." The use of the word "chorale" suggests a musical composition, and the metaphor of the trumpet adds a sense of grandeur and celebration. The speaker is clearly excited about the arrival of autumn and wants to express this joy through music.

The second stanza introduces the imagery of the leaves falling from the trees. The speaker describes the leaves as "golden" and "red," creating a vivid picture of the autumn landscape. The use of color imagery is significant, as it highlights the beauty of the season. The speaker also mentions the "windy air," which adds a sense of movement and energy to the poem.

The third stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker expressing gratitude for the autumn season. The use of the word "grateful" suggests that the speaker sees autumn as a gift, something to be appreciated and cherished. The final line, "O Autumn, O music, O song," brings the poem full circle, with the speaker returning to the idea of music as a way to celebrate the season.

One of the key themes of the poem is the beauty of nature. The speaker is clearly in awe of the autumn landscape, with its golden leaves and windy air. The use of color imagery is particularly effective in conveying this sense of beauty. The speaker also expresses gratitude for the season, suggesting that nature is something to be cherished and appreciated.

Another theme of the poem is the power of music. The speaker uses the metaphor of the trumpet chorale to suggest that music is a way to celebrate and express joy. The use of musical imagery throughout the poem reinforces this idea, with the speaker describing the autumn season as a kind of symphony.

The structure of the poem is also significant. The use of three stanzas, each consisting of four lines, creates a sense of balance and symmetry. The repetition of the phrase "O Autumn" at the beginning and end of the poem also adds to this sense of structure. The use of enjambment, where lines run on to the next without punctuation, creates a sense of flow and movement, echoing the windy air described in the second stanza.

In conclusion, "Words For A Trumpet Chorale Celebrating The Autumn" is a masterpiece of Delmore Schwartz's poetic genius. Through its vivid imagery, musical language, and balanced structure, the poem celebrates the beauty of nature and the power of music. The speaker's excitement and gratitude for the autumn season are infectious, and the poem leaves the reader with a sense of joy and wonder.

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