'Deeply Morbid' by Stevie Smith


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Harold's LeapDeeply morbid deeply morbid was the girl who typed the letters
Always out of office hours running with her social betters
But when daylight and the darkness of the office closed about her
Not for this ah not for this her office colleagues came to doubt her
It was that look within her eye
Why did it always seem to say goodbye?Joan her name was and at lunchtime
Solitary solitary
She would go and watch the pictures In the National Gallery
All alone all alone
This time with no friend beside her
She would go and watch the pictures
All alone.Will she leave her office colleagues
Will she leave her evening pleasures
Toil within a friendly bureau
Running later in her leisure?
All alone all alone
Before the pictures she seemed turned to stone.Close upon the Turner pictures
Closer than a thought may go
Hangs her eye and all the colours
Leap into a special glow
All for her, all alone
All for her, all for Joan.First the canvas where the ocean
Like a mighty animal
With a wicked motion
Leaps for sailors' funeralHolds her painting. Oh the creature
Oh the wicked virile thing
With its skin of fleck and shadow
Stretching tightening over him.
Wild yet caputured wild yet caputured
By the painter, Joan is quite enraptured.Now she edges from the canvas
To another loved more dearly
Where the awful light of purest
Sunshine falls across the spray,
There the burning coasts of fancy
Open to her pleasure lay.
All alone all alone
Come away come away
All alone.Lady Mary, Lady Kitty
The Honourable Featherstonehaugh
Polly Tommy from the office
Which of these shall hold her now?
Come away come away
All alone.The spray reached out and sucked her in
It was hardly a noticed thing
That Joan was there and is not now
(Oh go and tell young Featherstonehaugh)
Gone away, gone away
All alone.She stood up straight
The sun fell down
There was no more of London Town
She went upon the painted shore
And there she walks for ever more
Happy quite
Beaming bright
In a happy happy light
All alone.They say she was a morbid girl, no doubt of it
And what befell her clearly grew out of it
But I say she's a lucky one
To walk for ever in that sun
And as I bless sweet Turner's name
I wish that I could do the same.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Deeply Morbid: An Analysis of Stevie Smith's Work

Stevie Smith was a writer whose work showed a deep understanding of human emotions and the complexities of the human mind. Her poems are filled with deeply morbid themes, exploring death, sadness, and despair. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into Smith's work and explore the themes and motifs that she uses to convey her message.

The Themes of Death and Sadness

The most prominent theme in Stevie Smith's work is death. Her poems are filled with images of graves, skeletons, and other symbols of mortality. One of her most famous poems, "Not Waving but Drowning," tells the story of a man who drowns while others mistake his cries for help as a friendly wave. The poem is a powerful commentary on the way that people often fail to understand the suffering of others.

Another poem, "The Lovers of the Poor," tells the story of a group of people who go out and help the poor, only to be mocked and ridiculed by those around them. The poem is a poignant reminder of the ways in which people can be cruel and insensitive to those who are suffering.

The Use of Humor and Irony

Despite the deeply morbid themes of her work, Stevie Smith also makes use of humor and irony to convey her message. In many of her poems, she uses a light, whimsical tone to describe serious topics. For example, in "The Jungle Husband," she describes a man who turns into a gorilla after living in the jungle for too long. The poem is a humorous take on the idea of nature versus civilization, but it also has a deeper meaning about the way that people can lose their humanity when removed from society.

Similarly, in "Thoughts About the Person from Porlock," Smith uses a playful tone to describe the frustration of being interrupted while writing. The poem is a satire of the romantic ideal of the solitary writer, but it also speaks to the difficulties of creative expression in a world that is often hostile to art.

The Complexity of the Human Mind

One of the most striking aspects of Stevie Smith's work is the way that it reveals the complexity of the human mind. Her poems are filled with conflicting emotions and thoughts, reflecting the way that people often struggle to understand their own feelings. For example, in "The Galloping Cat," she describes a cat who is both playful and deadly, reflecting the duality of human nature.

Similarly, in "The Frog Prince," Smith tells the story of a prince who is turned into a frog and must learn to navigate the world in a new way. The poem is a powerful metaphor for the way that people must adapt to new situations and learn to live with their flaws and limitations.

The Importance of Individuality

Another theme that runs throughout Stevie Smith's work is the importance of individuality. Many of her poems celebrate the unique qualities that make people who they are, even if those qualities are not always appreciated by society. For example, in "Not Waving but Drowning," she highlights the importance of listening to people who may seem strange or different.

Similarly, in "The Blue from Heaven," Smith celebrates the beauty of the natural world and the unique qualities of each individual creature. The poem is a reminder that every living thing has value and should be appreciated for what it is.

Conclusion

Stevie Smith was a writer who understood the complexity of the human mind and the importance of individuality. Her poems are filled with deeply morbid themes, exploring death, sadness, and despair. Despite the seriousness of her subject matter, Smith also makes use of humor and irony to convey her message. Her work is a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to others and celebrating the unique qualities that make each individual who they are.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Deeply Morbid: A Masterpiece of Dark Humor and Irony

Stevie Smith, the British poet and novelist, is known for her unique style of writing that blends dark humor, irony, and wit. Her poem "Poetry Deeply Morbid" is a perfect example of her style, as it explores the theme of death and mortality in a playful and ironic way. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem's structure, language, and meaning to understand why it has become a classic of modern poetry.

Structure and Form

The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is irregular, with lines varying in length from six to ten syllables. The irregular meter and rhyme scheme give the poem a playful and whimsical feel, which contrasts with the dark and morbid subject matter.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker declaring that "Poetry is very difficult / To write, but morbid poetry / Is impossible." The use of the word "impossible" creates a sense of irony, as the speaker is about to embark on a poem that is, in fact, deeply morbid. The second stanza continues this theme, with the speaker stating that "Death is the subject of poetry / And the subject of life also / And the subject of death, too." The repetition of the word "subject" emphasizes the universality of death and the role it plays in both life and poetry.

The third stanza takes a more personal turn, with the speaker admitting that "I have tried to write morbid poetry / But it has always been a failure / For I am not morbid." This admission of failure is both humorous and poignant, as it suggests that the speaker is not capable of fully embracing the darkness that is inherent in morbid poetry. The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker declaring that "Poetry is deeply morbid / But life is not, and that is why / Poetry is so difficult to write." This final statement is a paradox, as it suggests that the very thing that makes poetry difficult to write is also what makes it so powerful and compelling.

Language and Imagery

The language and imagery in "Poetry Deeply Morbid" are both playful and ironic, with the speaker using humor to explore the theme of death and mortality. The use of the word "morbid" in the title sets the tone for the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is about to explore a dark and unsettling subject. However, the poem quickly subverts this expectation, with the speaker admitting that "morbid poetry / Is impossible." This statement is both humorous and ironic, as the speaker is about to embark on a poem that is, in fact, deeply morbid.

Throughout the poem, the speaker uses language and imagery to explore the theme of death and mortality in a playful and ironic way. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker states that "Death is the subject of poetry / And the subject of life also / And the subject of death, too." This statement is both humorous and profound, as it suggests that death is an inescapable part of life and that it is a subject that poets have been exploring for centuries.

In the third stanza, the speaker admits that "I have tried to write morbid poetry / But it has always been a failure / For I am not morbid." This admission of failure is both humorous and poignant, as it suggests that the speaker is not capable of fully embracing the darkness that is inherent in morbid poetry. The use of the word "failure" emphasizes the difficulty of writing about death and mortality in a way that is both honest and compelling.

Meaning and Interpretation

The meaning of "Poetry Deeply Morbid" is open to interpretation, as the poem explores the theme of death and mortality in a playful and ironic way. One possible interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the difficulty of writing about death and mortality in a way that is both honest and compelling. The speaker's admission of failure in the third stanza suggests that writing about death and mortality is not something that can be done easily or without a deep understanding of the subject matter.

Another possible interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the role of death in poetry and literature. The repetition of the word "subject" in the second stanza emphasizes the universality of death and the role it plays in both life and poetry. The final stanza suggests that the very thing that makes poetry difficult to write is also what makes it so powerful and compelling.

Conclusion

"Poetry Deeply Morbid" is a masterpiece of dark humor and irony, exploring the theme of death and mortality in a playful and profound way. The poem's structure, language, and imagery all contribute to its unique style, which blends humor and irony with a deep understanding of the subject matter. Whether read as a commentary on the difficulty of writing about death and mortality or as a meditation on the role of death in poetry and literature, "Poetry Deeply Morbid" is a classic of modern poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

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