'Lullaby' by W.H. Auden
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Lay your sleeping head, my love,Human on my faithless arm;Time and fevers burn awayIndividual beauty fromThoughtful children, and the graveProves the child ephemeral:But in my arms till break of dayLet the living creature lie,Mortal, guility, but to meThe entirely beautiful.Soul and body have no bounds:To lovers as they lie uponHer tolerant enchanted slopeIn their ordinary swoon,Grave the vision Venus sendsOf supernatural sympathy,Universal love and hope;While abstract insight wakesAmong the glaciers and the rocksThe hermit's sensual ecstasy.Certainty, fidelityOn the stroke of midnight passLike vibrations of a bell,And fashionable madmen raiseTheir pedantic boring cry:Every farthing of the cost,All the dreaded cards foretell,Shall be paid, but from this nightNot a whisper, not a thought,Not a kiss nor look be lost.Beauty, midnight, vision dies:Let the winds of dawn that blowSoftly round your dreaming headSuch a day of sweetness showEye and knocking heart may bless,Find your mortal world enough;Noons of dryness see you fedBy the involuntary powers,Nights of insult let you passWatched by every human love.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Lullaby by W.H. Auden: A Masterpiece of Poetic Simplicity
As a lover of poetry, I have read countless poems by different poets, but few have touched my soul like W.H. Auden's Lullaby. This short, simple, and yet profound poem is a masterpiece of poetic simplicity. In this 4000 word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and language of Lullaby to show why it is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and move readers today.
Overview of the Poem
Lullaby is a short poem of eight lines that was first published in Auden's collection, Another Time, in 1940. The poem is written in free verse, with no specific rhyme scheme or meter. It is divided into two stanzas of four lines each, and its title suggests that it is a tender and soothing song or poem that is intended to lull a child to sleep.
Themes
At its core, Lullaby is a poem about love, loss, and the power of memory. The speaker of the poem addresses a sleeping child, and asks a series of rhetorical questions about the child's future. The questions are both tender and poignant, as they express the speaker's hopes and fears for the child's future.
The first stanza of the poem is focused on the child's past and present, while the second stanza is focused on the child's future. The opening line of the poem, "Lay your sleeping head, my love," establishes the tender and loving tone of the poem. The speaker then goes on to describe the child's peaceful and innocent state, saying, "Human on my faithless arm, / Time and fevers burn away / Individual beauty from / Thoughtful children, and the grave / Proves the child ephemeral."
The speaker is aware that the child's innocence and beauty will fade over time, but the memory of the child's peaceful and innocent state will remain. The second stanza is focused on the future, and the speaker asks a series of rhetorical questions about the child's future. The questions express the speaker's hopes and fears, and they suggest that the child's future is uncertain and fraught with danger.
The poem ends on a note of hope, as the speaker promises to remember the child's peaceful and innocent state, even as the child grows older and faces the challenges of life. The poem is a reminder that even in the face of loss and uncertainty, the power of memory can help us to hold on to what is most important in life.
Structure
The structure of Lullaby is simple and elegant. The poem is divided into two stanzas of four lines each, and there is no specific rhyme scheme or meter. The lack of a fixed form allows the poem to flow freely and naturally, like a lullaby. The poem's simplicity is part of its beauty, as it allows the reader to focus on the words and the emotions they evoke.
The first stanza of the poem is focused on the child's present state, and the second stanza is focused on the child's future. The use of rhetorical questions in the second stanza creates a sense of uncertainty and danger, as the speaker expresses his fears and hopes for the child's future. The poem ends with a promise to remember the child's peaceful and innocent state, even in the face of the challenges of life.
Language
The language of Lullaby is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in symbolism and metaphor. The poem is filled with images of sleep, dreams, and memory, which create a sense of peace and tranquility. The opening line of the poem, "Lay your sleeping head, my love," creates a sense of intimacy and tenderness, as the speaker addresses the child directly.
The use of the word "faithless" in the first stanza suggests that the speaker is aware of the impermanence and fragility of life. The word "time" in the same stanza suggests that the passage of time is both a destroyer and a preserver of memory. The word "fevers" suggests that the challenges of life can be like a disease that eats away at our beauty and innocence.
In the second stanza, the speaker asks a series of rhetorical questions that are filled with symbolism and metaphor. The phrase "what cities of the heart" suggests that the heart is like a city that is filled with both beauty and danger. The phrase "what ivory gates" suggests that the child's future is filled with both opportunities and obstacles. The phrase "what crowded depths" suggests that the child's future is filled with both joy and sorrow.
The use of the word "my" in the final line of the poem, "And we will have a bed of roses / And a thousand fragrant posies," creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the speaker and the child. The promise to remember the child's peaceful and innocent state is a reminder that even in the face of loss and uncertainty, the power of memory can help us to hold on to what is most important in life.
Interpretation
Lullaby is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and move readers today. The poem is a reminder that even in the face of loss and uncertainty, the power of memory can help us to hold on to what is most important in life. The poem's themes of love, loss, and the power of memory are universal, and they speak to readers of all ages and backgrounds.
The poem's structure is simple and elegant, and it allows the poem to flow freely and naturally, like a lullaby. The lack of a fixed form allows the reader to focus on the words and the emotions they evoke. The poem's language is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in symbolism and metaphor. The use of images of sleep, dreams, and memory creates a sense of peace and tranquility, while the use of rhetorical questions in the second stanza creates a sense of uncertainty and danger.
At its core, Lullaby is a poem about the beauty and fragility of life, and the importance of holding on to what is most important in the face of loss and uncertainty. The poem is a reminder that even as we face the challenges of life, we can still find peace and beauty in the memories of those we love. It is a poem that speaks to the heart, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Lullaby by W.H. Auden: A Masterpiece of Literary Art
W.H. Auden, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote the Poetry Lullaby in 1940. This poem is a masterpiece of literary art that captures the essence of a lullaby, a soothing song that is sung to put a child to sleep. The poem is a perfect blend of simplicity and complexity, with its simple language and complex themes. In this article, we will analyze and explain the Poetry Lullaby in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
Themes
The Poetry Lullaby is a poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and mortality. The poem is written in the form of a lullaby, which is traditionally sung to put a child to sleep. However, the poem is not just a simple lullaby; it is a lullaby that speaks to the heart of the reader, touching on the universal themes of love, loss, and mortality.
The poem begins with the lines, "Lay your sleeping head, my love, / Human on my faithless arm." These lines set the tone for the poem, which is one of love and tenderness. The speaker is addressing their lover, asking them to rest their head on their arm. The use of the word "faithless" suggests that the speaker may have been unfaithful to their lover in the past, but they are now seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.
The theme of loss is introduced in the second stanza, where the speaker says, "Time and fevers burn away / Individual beauty from / Thoughtful children, and the grave / Proves the child ephemeral." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The use of the word "fevers" suggests that the speaker is referring to illness and disease, which can take away a person's beauty and vitality. The line "the grave / Proves the child ephemeral" is a powerful statement about the transience of life and the inevitability of death.
The theme of mortality is further explored in the third stanza, where the speaker says, "But in my arms till break of day / Let the living creature lie, / Mortal, guilty, but to me / The entirely beautiful." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the mortality of their lover, but they are also celebrating their beauty and their life. The use of the word "guilty" suggests that the speaker may still be struggling with their own guilt and their past mistakes, but they are willing to put that aside and focus on the beauty of their lover.
Structure
The Poetry Lullaby is a poem that is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second and fourth lines rhyming. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with each iamb consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
The simplicity of the poem's structure is reflective of the simplicity of a lullaby. The poem's simple rhyme scheme and meter create a soothing and calming effect, which is appropriate for a lullaby. However, the poem's complex themes and language elevate it beyond a simple lullaby, making it a work of literary art.
Literary Devices
The Poetry Lullaby is a poem that is rich in literary devices, including imagery, metaphor, and alliteration. The use of these devices adds depth and complexity to the poem, making it a work of art that is both beautiful and thought-provoking.
One of the most striking literary devices in the poem is the use of imagery. The poem is filled with vivid images that bring the words to life. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker says, "Lay your sleeping head, my love, / Human on my faithless arm." This image of a sleeping head resting on a faithless arm is both tender and poignant, creating a sense of vulnerability and intimacy.
Metaphor is another literary device that is used throughout the poem. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker says, "Time and fevers burn away / Individual beauty from / Thoughtful children, and the grave / Proves the child ephemeral." Here, the speaker is using the metaphor of time and fevers as a way of describing the destructive nature of illness and disease. The use of the word "ephemeral" to describe the child is a powerful metaphor for the transience of life.
Alliteration is also used in the poem to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. For example, in the third stanza, the speaker says, "But in my arms till break of day / Let the living creature lie." The repetition of the "l" sound in "arms," "till," and "creature" creates a sense of musicality and rhythm that is reminiscent of a lullaby.
Conclusion
The Poetry Lullaby by W.H. Auden is a masterpiece of literary art that explores the themes of love, loss, and mortality. The poem's simple structure and language create a soothing and calming effect, while its complex themes and literary devices elevate it beyond a simple lullaby. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to touch the heart and soul of the reader, and it remains a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers today.
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