'I see around me tombstones grey' by Emily Jane Brontë

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I see around me tombstones grey
Stretching their shadows far away.
Beneath the turf my footsteps tread
Lie low and lone the silent dead -
Beneath the turf - beneath the mould -
Forever dark, forever cold -
And my eyes cannot hold the tears
That memory hoards from vanished years
For Time and Death and Mortal pain
Give wounds that will not heal again -
Let me remember half the woe
I've seen and heard and felt below,
And Heaven itself - so pure and blest,
Could never give my spirit rest -
Sweet land of light! thy children fair
Know nought akin to our despair -
Nor have they felt, nor can they tell
What tenants haunt each mortal cell,
What gloomy guests we hold within -
Torments and madness, tears and sin!
Well - may they live in ectasy
Their long eternity of joy;
At least we would not bring them down
With us to weep, with us to groan,
No - Earth would wish no other sphere
To taste her cup of sufferings drear;
She turns from Heaven with a careless eye
And only mourns that we must die!
Ah mother, what shall comfort thee
In all this boundless misery?
To cheer our eager eyes a while
We see thee smile; how fondly smile!
But who reads not through that tender glow
Thy deep, unutterable woe:
Indeed no dazzling land above
Can cheat thee of thy children's love.
We all, in life's departing shine,
Our last dear longings blend with thine;
And struggle still and strive to trace
With clouded gaze, thy darling face.
We would not leave our native home
For any world beyond the Tomb.
No - rather on thy kindly breast
Let us be laid in lasting rest;
Or waken but to share with thee
A mutual immortality -

Editor 1 Interpretation

I See Around Me Tombstones Grey: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Jane Brontë's poem, "I See Around Me Tombstones Grey," is a haunting and melancholic meditation on the ephemeral nature of life and the inevitability of death. Written in the mid-nineteenth century, the poem reflects the Romantic fascination with death and the afterlife, as well as Brontë's own personal experiences with loss and grief. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, imagery, and structure of this classic poem, and explore its enduring relevance for contemporary readers.

Themes

At the heart of "I See Around Me Tombstones Grey" is the theme of mortality. Brontë's speaker is acutely aware of the transience of life, and of the fact that all human beings are destined to die. The poem's opening lines set the tone for this meditation on death:

I see around me tombstones grey
Stretching their shadows far away.

Here, the tombstones serve as a symbol of the dead, and their shadows as a metaphor for the legacy and impact that they have left behind. The speaker goes on to describe the various forms of death that she has witnessed:

Beneath the turf my footsteps tread
Lie low and lone the silent dead;
Beneath the turf-- beneath the mould--
Forever dark, forever cold--
And my eyes cannot hold the tears
That memory hoards from vanished years.

In these lines, the speaker acknowledges the profound sadness and grief that comes with the loss of loved ones. She is unable to "hold the tears" that her memories have conjured up, and the phrase "vanished years" suggests that she is mourning not just the loss of individual people, but of an entire era or period of her life.

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of spiritual transcendence. Although the speaker is keenly aware of the physical reality of death, she also believes in the possibility of an afterlife, or a spiritual realm beyond the physical world. This is evident in lines like:

But there, where rises the eternal hills,
Where dawn in gold and crimson spills,
I feel it-- I who weep alone--
A spirit that is not my own.

Here, the speaker describes a sense of connection to something larger and more enduring than her own mortal body. She feels the presence of a "spirit" that is separate from her own, and that seems to exist beyond the confines of time and space.

Imagery

Brontë's use of imagery in "I See Around Me Tombstones Grey" is both vivid and evocative. Throughout the poem, she uses a range of symbols and metaphors to convey the themes of mortality and spiritual transcendence. One of the most striking examples of this is the recurring image of tombstones:

I see around me tombstones grey
Stretching their shadows far away.

Here, the tombstones represent the physical manifestations of death, and their shadows suggest the lingering presence of the dead in the world of the living. The image is both eerie and poignant, evoking a sense of sadness and loss.

Another powerful image in the poem is that of the eternal hills:

But there, where rises the eternal hills,
Where dawn in gold and crimson spills,
I feel it-- I who weep alone--
A spirit that is not my own.

The hills are described as "eternal," suggesting that they exist beyond the confines of time and mortality. The image of dawn in "gold and crimson" is similarly striking, evoking a sense of hope and renewal. Together, these images convey a sense of the vastness and grandeur of the spiritual realm that the speaker believes in.

Structure

"I See Around Me Tombstones Grey" is a sonnet, a form that is traditionally associated with love and romance. However, in Brontë's poem, the sonnet form is used to explore themes of mortality and grief. The poem is divided into two quatrains and a sestet, with a volta, or turn, occurring between the first and second quatrains. This turn marks a shift in the speaker's focus, from the physical reality of death to the possibility of spiritual transcendence.

The poem's rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with a consistent iambic pentameter throughout. This formal structure gives the poem a sense of cohesion and control, even as it explores complex and difficult emotions.

Interpretation

"I See Around Me Tombstones Grey" is a powerful and affecting poem that speaks to the universal experience of loss and grief. Brontë's use of vivid imagery and formal structure creates a sense of depth and intensity that lingers long after the poem has been read. However, the poem's enduring relevance lies not just in its exploration of death and the afterlife, but in its ability to provide a sense of comfort and solace to readers who are struggling with their own experiences of loss.

Ultimately, "I See Around Me Tombstones Grey" is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture and convey the full range of human emotions. Brontë's poem reminds us that even in the face of death and grief, there is still beauty and hope to be found. As we continue to grapple with the challenges and complexities of modern life, this message is more important than ever.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to a different time and place. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "I see around me tombstones grey" by Emily Jane Brontë. This classic poem is a beautiful and haunting reflection on life, death, and the passage of time.

The poem begins with the speaker observing the tombstones around her. She notes that they are grey and worn, and that they bear the names of people who have long since passed away. The speaker then reflects on the fact that she too will one day be buried under a tombstone, and that her name will eventually be forgotten.

The poem's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "grey" to describe the tombstones is significant, as it suggests a sense of decay and the passage of time. The fact that the tombstones are "worn" further emphasizes this idea, as it suggests that they have been weathered by the elements over time.

The speaker's observation that the tombstones bear the names of people who have long since passed away is a poignant reminder of our own mortality. It is a reminder that, no matter how much we may achieve in life, we will all eventually meet the same fate.

The poem's second stanza is particularly powerful, as the speaker reflects on the fact that she too will one day be buried under a tombstone. She notes that, like the people whose names are on the tombstones around her, she will eventually be forgotten. This idea is reinforced by the use of the word "oblivion," which suggests a sense of total forgetfulness.

Despite the poem's somber tone, there is also a sense of acceptance and even peace in the speaker's words. She seems to have come to terms with the fact that death is an inevitable part of life, and that we must all face it eventually. This is reflected in the poem's final lines, where the speaker notes that, despite the fact that she will one day be forgotten, she is content to simply "sleep in peace."

Overall, "I see around me tombstones grey" is a beautiful and haunting reflection on life, death, and the passage of time. It is a reminder that, no matter how much we may achieve in life, we will all eventually meet the same fate. However, there is also a sense of acceptance and peace in the poem's words, as the speaker seems to have come to terms with the inevitability of death. It is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

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