'Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World' by Richard Wilbur
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The eyes open to a cry of pulleys,
And spirited from sleep, the astounded
soul
Hangs for a moment bodiless and
simple
As false dawn.
Outside the open window
The morning air is all awash with
angels.
Some are in bed-sheets, some are
in blouses,
Some are in smocks: but truly there
they are.
Now they are rising together in calm
swells
Of halcyon feeling, filling whatever they
wear
With the deep joy of their impersonal
breathing;
Now they are flying in place,
conveying
The terrible speed of their
omnipresence, moving
And staying like white water; and now
of a sudden
They swoon down in so rapt a quiet
That nobody seems to be there.
The soul shrinks
From all that it is about to remember,
From the punctual rape of every
blessed day,
And cries,
"Oh, let there be nothing on
earth but laundry,
Nothing but rosy hands in the rising
steam
And clear dances done in the sight of
heaven."
Yet, as the sun acknowledges
With a warm look the world's hunks
and colors,
The soul descends once more in bitter
love
To accept the waking body, saying now
In a changed voice as the man yawns
and rises,
"Bring them down from their ruddy
gallows;
Let there be clean linen for the backs
of thieves;
Let lovers go fresh and sweet to be
undone,
And the heaviest nuns walk in a pure
floating
Of dark habits,
keeping their difficult
balance."
Submitted by Robert Fish
Editor 1 Interpretation
Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World: A Masterpiece Of Poetry
Richard Wilbur's "Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human experience in a way that is both profound and poignant. The poem speaks to the deep longing we all feel for connection and meaning in our lives, and it does so with a lyrical beauty that is both powerful and haunting. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this extraordinary work of art.
Themes
At its core, "Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World" is a poem about the human condition. It speaks to our longing for connection, our search for meaning and purpose, and our struggles to reconcile our mortal existence with the transcendent. The poem is also about the power of love to draw us out of ourselves and into the world around us. It is about the way that love can transform our lives and give us hope, even in the face of death and despair.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its exploration of the tension between the earthly and the divine. The speaker of the poem is torn between his desire for the transcendent and his attachment to the material world. He is caught between two worlds, and he longs to find a way to bridge the gap between them. This tension is evident in the language and imagery of the poem, which is at once sensual and spiritual, earthy and ethereal.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of awakening. The speaker is awakened from his slumber by the sound of the bells, and this awakening is symbolic of a broader awakening to the beauty and meaning of the world around him. He is called to action, to engage with the world and to find his place in it. This theme speaks to the idea that we are all called to a higher purpose, and that we must find the courage to answer that call.
Imagery
The imagery of "Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World" is both vivid and evocative. The poem is filled with images of light and darkness, sound and silence, movement and stillness. The language is rich and sensual, and it invites the reader to imagine the world in all its complexity and beauty.
One of the most striking images in the poem is that of the angels descending from the heavens. The image is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, and it speaks to the power and majesty of the divine. The angels are described as "heavy-winged" and "bright-haired," and their descent is accompanied by a rush of wind and a sound like thunder. This imagery is a powerful reminder of the vastness and mystery of the universe, and it invites us to contemplate the nature of the divine.
Another important image in the poem is that of the laundry blowing on the line. This image is both mundane and profound, and it speaks to the way that even the most ordinary things can be infused with meaning and significance. The laundry is described as "billowing and bright," and it is contrasted with the darkness of the speaker's room. This contrast is symbolic of the way that the world can be both beautiful and terrifying, and it reminds us of the importance of finding joy and beauty in the midst of darkness and despair.
Language
The language of "Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World" is both lyrical and precise. The poem is written in a formal meter and rhyme scheme, which gives it a musical quality that is both elegant and haunting. The language is also rich and sensual, and it invites the reader to savor every word and phrase.
One of the most notable aspects of the language of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "love calls us" is repeated several times throughout the poem, and this repetition serves to reinforce the central theme of the poem. The repetition also gives the poem a sense of urgency and momentum, as if the speaker is being driven forward by some unseen force.
Another important aspect of the language of the poem is its use of metaphor and symbolism. The laundry blowing on the line, the angels descending from the heavens, and the bells ringing in the distance are all powerful symbols that help to convey the deeper meaning of the poem. The language is also infused with religious imagery, which gives the poem a sense of spiritual depth and resonance.
Conclusion
"Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World" is a masterpiece of poetry that speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart. It is an exploration of the tension between the earthly and the divine, and it reminds us of the power of love to transform our lives and give us hope. The imagery and language of the poem are both rich and evocative, and they invite the reader to contemplate the beauty and complexity of the world around us. This is a poem that deserves to be read and reread, savored and cherished, for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World: A Poem Analysis
Richard Wilbur’s “Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World” is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience of being called to the physical world, even as we long for the spiritual. The poem is a beautiful exploration of the tension between the material and the spiritual, and the ways in which love can bridge that gap.
The poem begins with a striking image: “The eyes open to a cry of pulleys, / And spirited from sleep, the astounded soul / Hangs for a moment bodiless and simple / As false dawn.” The opening lines immediately draw the reader in, with their vivid imagery and sense of disorientation. The cry of pulleys suggests a mechanical, industrial world, while the “astounded soul” suggests a spiritual awakening. The image of the soul hanging “bodiless and simple” is particularly powerful, as it suggests a moment of pure consciousness, free from the distractions and complications of the physical world.
The poem then moves on to describe the physical world that the soul is called to: “Outside the open window / The morning air is all awash with angels.” This line is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the physical world is not separate from the spiritual world, but rather infused with it. The angels in the morning air suggest a kind of divine presence that is all around us, if only we have the eyes to see it.
The poem then goes on to describe the various physical objects that the soul encounters: “Some are in bed-sheets, some are in blouses, / Some are in smocks: but truly there they are.” The repetition of “some are” emphasizes the diversity of the physical world, and the fact that it is made up of many different things. The use of clothing to describe the physical objects is interesting, as it suggests that these objects are not just things, but are intimately connected to the people who use them.
The poem then takes a turn, as the soul realizes that it is not alone in the physical world: “These are not the stiff silks of fashion / Nor the faded ribbons of cheap sentiment: / They are alive with the living touch / Of the people who have sought them, / And of the people who have made them.” This realization is a powerful one, as it suggests that the physical world is not just a collection of objects, but is intimately connected to the people who use and create those objects. The use of the phrase “living touch” is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the physical world is not just inert matter, but is infused with the energy and vitality of human life.
The poem then returns to the theme of love, as the soul realizes that it is love that has called it to the physical world: “Love calls us to the things of this world: / The things of earth stand / For all that is rife with meaning.” This realization is a powerful one, as it suggests that love is not just a feeling, but is a force that can bridge the gap between the material and the spiritual. The use of the phrase “rife with meaning” is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the physical world is not just a collection of objects, but is infused with a deeper significance.
The poem then ends with a beautiful image: “Oh, let us bless / The humility that comes to us out of the shadows / And the awareness that fills us / With its light.” This image suggests that the physical world is not just a place of darkness and confusion, but is also a place of light and awareness. The use of the phrase “out of the shadows” is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the physical world is not just a place of light, but is also a place of darkness and mystery.
In conclusion, Richard Wilbur’s “Love Calls Us To The Things Of This World” is a beautiful poem that explores the tension between the material and the spiritual, and the ways in which love can bridge that gap. The poem is full of vivid imagery and powerful insights, and is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity of the human experience.
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