'The Changeling' by Russell Edson
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A man had a son who was an anvil. And then sometimeshe was an automobile tire.I do wish you would sit still, said the father.Sometimes his son was a rock.I realize that you have quite lost boundary, where noexcess seems excessive, nor to where poverty roots hunger toneed. But should you allow time to embrace you to its bosomof dust, that velvet sleep, then were you served even beyondyour need; and desire in sate was properly spilling from itsborders, said the father.Then his son became the corner of a room.Don't don't, cried the father.And then his son became a floorboard.Don't don't, the moon falls there and curdles your wits intothe grain of the wood, cried the father.What shall I do? screamed his son.Sit until time embraces you into the bosom of its velvetquiet, cried the father.Like this? Cried his son as his son became dust.Ah, that is more pleasant, and speaks well of him, whohaving required much in his neglect of proper choice, turnsnow, on good advice, to a more advantageous social stance,said the father.But then his son became his father.Behold, the son is become as one of us, said the father.His son said, behold, the son is become as one of us.Will you stop repeating me, screamed the father.Will you stop repeating me, screamed his son.Oh well, I suppose imitation is the sincerest form offlattery, sighed the father.Oh well, I suppose imitation is the sincerest form offlattery, sighed his son.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Changeling by Russell Edson: A Masterpiece of Surreal Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling thoroughly disoriented and deeply moved at the same time? A piece of literature that defies all conventions of syntax, structure, and meaning, and yet manages to create a world of its own, with its own rules and rhythms? That's precisely what Russell Edson's "The Changeling" achieves - and more.
With its surreal imagery, fragmented sentences, and ambiguous metaphors, "The Changeling" challenges readers to question their assumptions about language, identity, and reality. Is the speaker really an infant who has switched bodies with a bird? Or are these merely symbolic representations of the human condition, of our primal desires and fears?
In this essay, I will explore the various themes and techniques employed by Edson in "The Changeling," and show how they contribute to its overall effect. I will argue that this poem is not only a triumph of surrealist art, but also a profound meditation on the nature of selfhood, agency, and transformation.
The Poem
First, let's take a closer look at the poem itself. Here is the full text of "The Changeling":
The moon drops one or two feathers into the fields.
The dark wheat listens.
Be still.
Now.
There they are, the moon's young, trying
Their wings.
Between trees, a slender woman lifts up the lovely shadow
Of her face, and now she steps into the air, now she is gone
Wholly, into the air.
I stand alone by an elder tree,
I do not dare breathe
Or move.
I listen.
The wheat leans back toward its own darkness,
And I lean toward mine.
At first glance, "The Changeling" seems like a series of disconnected images, without any discernible narrative or message. We have the moon dropping feathers, the wheat listening, the woman disappearing, and the speaker standing motionless by a tree. What does it all mean?
To answer that question, we need to delve deeper into the poem's themes and symbols.
Themes
One of the key themes of "The Changeling" is transformation. The title itself refers to a mythological creature that is said to replace a human child with a fairy or demonic impostor. This theme of shape-shifting and metamorphosis runs throughout the poem, as we see the moon's feathers turning into birds, the woman becoming a shadow, and the speaker merging with the tree's elder wisdom.
This theme of transformation is also linked to the idea of agency - how much control do we have over our own identities and destinies? Are we passive victims of external forces, or active agents who can shape our own lives?
The poem suggests both possibilities. On the one hand, we have the moon's young birds "trying their wings," as if testing out their own potential for flight and freedom. On the other hand, we have the wheat "leaning back toward its own darkness," as if resigned to its fate of being a mere crop, subject to the whims of nature and human intervention.
The woman's disappearance is another example of this ambivalence. Is she a victim of some malevolent force, or is she willingly embracing her own transformation? The fact that she "lifts up the lovely shadow / Of her face" suggests a kind of self-awareness and agency, as if she is shedding her physical form in order to access a deeper, more intangible aspect of herself.
This theme of agency is also reflected in the speaker's own stance. At first, he is "alone" and "does not dare breathe / Or move," as if paralyzed by fear or awe. But as the poem progresses, we see him leaning toward his own darkness, as if recognizing his own power and autonomy.
Symbols
To convey these complex themes, Edson employs a variety of symbols and metaphors, many of them drawn from nature.
The moon, for example, is a recurring image throughout the poem, representing both transcendence and mutability. Its feathers are like "one or two" fragile gifts, dropped into the fields like blessings or curses. The moon's young birds, meanwhile, are emblematic of youth, vitality, and possibility. Their "trying / Their wings" suggests a willingness to take risks and explore new horizons.
The wheat, in contrast, is a symbol of stasis and submission. It "listens" to the moon's feathers, as if waiting for some external input or guidance. Its leaning back toward its own darkness suggests a kind of resignation, a recognition that its fate is predetermined and immutable.
The woman, too, is a symbol of transformation and mystery. Her "lovely shadow" is like a ghostly echo of her physical form, a hint of the intangible aspects of identity that lie beyond the body. Her disappearance into the air suggests a kind of transcendence, as if she has moved beyond the limits of mere corporeality into a realm of pure spirit or energy.
Finally, the elder tree is a symbol of wisdom and resilience. Its presence suggests a kind of rootedness and stability amidst all the flux and uncertainty of the surrounding world. The speaker's own identification with the tree suggests a kind of communion with nature, a recognition of the interconnectedness of all things.
Techniques
To convey these symbols and themes, Edson employs a variety of techniques, many of them borrowed from surrealism.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its fragmented syntax. Rather than using complete sentences, Edson strings together short phrases and clauses, often separated by commas or dashes. This creates a sense of dislocation and disorientation, as if the speaker is struggling to make sense of a world that is inherently fragmented and incomplete.
The poem's imagery, too, is often surreal and dreamlike. Feathers turning into birds, women becoming shadows, wheat "listening" - these are not images that we encounter in our everyday lives. Yet by using such unexpected and unconventional metaphors, Edson is able to evoke a sense of mystery and magic, a world that is both strange and familiar.
Finally, the poem's use of repetition and variation is key to its overall effect. The moon's feathers, for example, are mentioned twice in the first two lines, creating a kind of echo or refrain that establishes the poem's rhythm and tone. The repetition of phrases like "Be still" and "I listen" reinforces the speaker's stance of passivity and observation, while the variation in imagery and syntax keeps the poem from becoming too predictable or monotonous.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Changeling" is a masterpiece of surrealist poetry, a work that challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about language and reality. By employing a variety of symbols, themes, and techniques, Edson creates a world that is both uncanny and captivating, a world where the boundaries between self and other, human and nature, are fluid and mutable.
At its core, "The Changeling" is a meditation on transformation and agency, on the ways in which we are both shaped by and shape the world around us. Whether we are like the wheat, resigned to our fate, or like the moon's young birds, testing our own potential, Edson suggests that there is always a possibility for change, for growth, for transformation.
As readers of "The Changeling," we are invited to enter into this world of wonder and possibility, to challenge our own assumptions and embrace the unknown. And who knows? We may even find ourselves transformed in the process.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Changeling: A Masterpiece of Surrealist Poetry
Russell Edson's "The Changeling" is a surrealistic poem that explores the themes of identity, transformation, and the human condition. The poem is a masterpiece of surrealist poetry, which uses dreamlike imagery and illogical juxtapositions to create a world that is both familiar and strange.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a child who has been "changed" by the fairies. The child is now "a little oak tree" and the speaker wonders if the child is happy in its new form. The image of the child as a tree is a powerful one, as it suggests a transformation from something small and vulnerable to something strong and enduring.
The poem then takes a surreal turn as the speaker describes a series of bizarre events. The child's mother tries to bring the child back to its human form by "watering" it with milk. The milk turns into blood, and the child's father tries to "prune" the tree with a saw. The tree bleeds and the father is horrified.
The surreal imagery in this section of the poem is both disturbing and fascinating. The transformation of milk into blood suggests a violent and unnatural process, while the father's attempt to prune the tree with a saw is a grotesque image that highlights the futility of trying to control nature.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes a series of other transformations. A dog becomes a man, a man becomes a bird, and a bird becomes a woman. These transformations are presented as natural and inevitable, suggesting that change is an essential part of the human experience.
The final section of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker describes a man who has been transformed into a bird, but who still retains his human consciousness. The man-bird is trapped in a cage and longs to be free. The image of the man-bird is a powerful one, as it suggests the struggle between our animal instincts and our human consciousness.
The poem ends with the speaker describing a series of other transformations, including a woman who becomes a tree and a man who becomes a stone. These transformations suggest that the human experience is one of constant change and transformation, and that our identities are not fixed but are constantly evolving.
Overall, "The Changeling" is a masterpiece of surrealist poetry that explores the themes of identity, transformation, and the human condition. The poem's surreal imagery and illogical juxtapositions create a world that is both familiar and strange, and the poem's message about the inevitability of change is both powerful and thought-provoking.
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