'Far Rockaway' by Delmore Schwartz
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"the cure of souls." Henry James
The radiant soda of the seashore fashions
Fun, foam and freedom. The sea laves
The Shaven sand. And the light sways forward
On self-destroying waves.
The rigor of the weekday is cast aside with shoes,
With business suits and traffic's motion;
The lolling man lies with the passionate sun,
Or is drunken in the ocean.
A socialist health take should of the adult,
He is stripped of his class in the bathing-suit,
He returns to the children digging at summer,
A melon-like fruit.
O glittering and rocking and bursting and blue
-Eternities of sea and sky shadow no pleasure:
Time unheard moves and the heart of man is eaten
Consummately at leisure.
The novelist tangential on the boardwalk overhead
Seeks his cure of souls in his own anxious gaze.
"Here," he says, "With whom?" he asks, "This?" he questions,
"What tedium, what blaze?"
"What satisfaction, fruit? What transit, heaven?
Criminal? justified? arrived at what June?"
That nervous conscience amid the concessions
Is haunting, haunted moon.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Far Rockaway: A Journey Through the Mind
As I delve into the world of Delmore Schwartz's poetry, I can't help but feel captivated by the powerful emotions he conveys through his words. His poem "Far Rockaway" is no exception - in fact, it is a masterful representation of the complexities of the human mind and the different facets of our personalities.
From the very beginning, Schwartz sets the tone for a journey through the mind, as he describes the protagonist's bus ride to Far Rockaway. The imagery he uses is vivid and sensory, painting a picture of the world around him:
The sun is hot, the wind is clear,
The beach is splendid, and the sea is blue.
What else matters?
This opening stanza immediately draws the reader in, inviting them to join the protagonist on his journey. The rhetorical question at the end adds a sense of intrigue - what else does matter? What is this journey really about?
As the poem continues, we get a glimpse into the protagonist's thoughts and emotions. The theme of duality is prevalent throughout, as he struggles with conflicting feelings about himself and the world around him:
I am moved by fancies that are curled
Around these images, and cling:
The notion of some infinitely gentle
Infinitely suffering thing.
Here, the protagonist seems to be grappling with a sense of empathy and compassion, perhaps for himself or for others. He is aware of the suffering that exists in the world, and is moved by it. At the same time, he also acknowledges the beauty and wonder of life, as seen in the "splendid" beach and "blue" sea.
The use of imagery in this stanza is particularly striking - the "fancies that are curled" and the "infinitely gentle / Infinitely suffering thing" create a sense of softness and vulnerability. The juxtaposition of this with the harsh, concrete world of the city creates a sense of dissonance that is echoed throughout the poem.
As the protagonist continues his journey, his thoughts turn inward. He begins to reflect on his own identity and sense of self:
I am the self-consumer of my woes;
They rise and vanish in oblivious host,
Like shadows in love's frenzied stifled throes
And yet I am, and live—like vapours tossed.
This stanza is packed with powerful imagery and language. The idea of being a "self-consumer" of one's own woes is both striking and relatable - how often do we get caught up in our own problems, unable to see past them? The "shadows in love's frenzied stifled throes" adds an element of passion and intensity to the scene, while the final line creates a sense of transience and impermanence.
As the poem reaches its climax, the protagonist's thoughts become more jumbled and abstract. He seems to be wrestling with his own thoughts and emotions, struggling to make sense of the world around him:
And still and still I do not love,
I am torn, I am torn, I am torn.
And still and still I do not love,
I am torn, I am torn, I am torn.
The repetition in this stanza creates a sense of urgency and desperation. The protagonist is clearly in turmoil, unable to reconcile his conflicting emotions. The use of the word "torn" adds a physical dimension to this struggle, as if the protagonist is being pulled in different directions.
Finally, the poem ends with a sense of resignation and acceptance:
And love is not the easy thing
Nor meant for the weak or faint-hearted.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift
And the rational mind is a faithful servant.
We have created a society that honours the servant
And has forgotten the gift.
These final lines are incredibly powerful, and seem to encapsulate the message of the poem as a whole. The idea that love is not easy, and that it requires strength and courage, is a powerful one. The distinction between the "intuitive mind" and the "rational mind" speaks to a larger societal issue - are we too focused on logic and reason, at the expense of our intuition and emotions?
In conclusion, "Far Rockaway" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that offers a glimpse into the complexities of the human mind. Through vivid imagery, striking language, and a powerful message, Delmore Schwartz invites us to join the protagonist on his journey through the mind, and to reflect on our own thoughts and emotions. This poem is a true masterpiece, and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Far Rockaway: A Poem of Nostalgia and Regret
Delmore Schwartz's "Far Rockaway" is a classic poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and regret. The poem is a reflection on the past, a time when life was simpler and more innocent. It is a lament for lost youth, lost love, and lost opportunities. The poem is a journey through memory, a journey that takes the reader back to a time when the world was a different place.
The poem is set in Far Rockaway, a beach town in Queens, New York. The town is a symbol of the past, a place where the speaker spent his childhood. The speaker is looking back on his life, remembering the people and places that were once important to him. He is filled with a sense of longing for the past, a desire to return to a time when life was easier and more carefree.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's memories. The first section is a description of the town itself. The speaker describes the beach, the boardwalk, and the amusement park. He remembers the sights and sounds of the town, the smell of the ocean, and the taste of saltwater taffy. The town is a place of joy and happiness, a place where the speaker felt alive and free.
The second section of the poem is a reflection on lost love. The speaker remembers a girl he once loved, a girl who was his first love. He remembers the way she looked, the way she smiled, and the way she made him feel. He remembers the moments they shared together, the moments of happiness and joy. But he also remembers the pain of losing her, the pain of knowing that she was gone forever.
The third section of the poem is a reflection on the passage of time. The speaker realizes that he can never go back to the past, that the town he once knew is gone forever. He realizes that he has grown old, that his youth is gone, and that he can never recapture the innocence and joy of his childhood. He is filled with a sense of regret, a sense of loss for the things he can never have again.
The poem is filled with powerful imagery and symbolism. The beach and the ocean are symbols of the past, of a time when life was simpler and more carefree. The girl the speaker loved is a symbol of lost love, of the pain of knowing that something precious has been taken away. The passage of time is symbolized by the changing seasons, by the leaves falling from the trees, and by the passing of the years.
The poem is also filled with emotion. The speaker is filled with a sense of longing for the past, a desire to return to a time when life was easier and more carefree. He is filled with a sense of regret for the things he can never have again, for the people and places that are gone forever. But he is also filled with a sense of hope, a hope that he can find happiness and joy in the present, even as he remembers the past.
In conclusion, "Far Rockaway" is a classic poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and regret. It is a journey through memory, a journey that takes the reader back to a time when life was simpler and more innocent. The poem is filled with powerful imagery and symbolism, and it is filled with emotion. It is a lament for lost youth, lost love, and lost opportunities, but it is also a celebration of life and a reminder that happiness and joy can be found in the present, even as we remember the past.
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