'To Walter de la Mare' by Thomas Stearns Eliot


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The children who explored the brook and found
A desert island with a sandy cove
(A hiding place, but very dangerous ground,

For here the water buffalo may rove,
The kinkajou, the mungabey, abound
In the dark jungle of a mango grove,

And shadowy lemurs glide from tree to tree -
The guardians of some long-lost treasure-trove)
Recount their exploits at the nursery tea

And when the lamps are lit and curtains drawn
Demand some poetry, please. Whose shall it be,
At not quite time for bed? ...

Or when the lawn
Is pressed by unseen feet, and ghosts return
Gently at twilight, gently go at dawn,
The sad intangible who grieve and yearn;

When the familiar is suddenly strange
Or the well known is what we yet have to learn,
And two worlds meet, and intersect, and change;

When cats are maddened in the moonlight dance,
Dogs cower, flitter bats, and owls range
At witches' sabbath of the maiden aunts;

When the nocturnal traveller can arouse
No sleeper by his call; or when by chance
An empty face peers from an empty house;

By whom, and by what means, was this designed?
The whispered incantation which allows
Free passage to the phantoms of the mind?

By you; by those deceptive cadences
Wherewith the common measure is refined;
By conscious art practised with natural ease;

By the delicate, invisible web you wove -
The inexplicable mystery of sound.

Editor 1 Interpretation

To Walter de la Mare by T.S. Eliot

What a joy it is to delve into the works of two literary giants, and see the sparks fly as they interact on the page! In his poem "To Walter de la Mare," T.S. Eliot pays homage to the great British writer and poet, and the result is a masterpiece of literary criticism and interpretation.

At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple tribute to de la Mare, with Eliot singing his praises and celebrating his talent. But as one delves deeper into the text, it becomes clear that there is much more going on here than meets the eye.

The Layers of Meaning

One of the most striking things about "To Walter de la Mare" is the way that it operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it is a straightforward tribute to a fellow writer, with Eliot praising de la Mare's skill and expressing his admiration for his work.

But as we continue to read, we begin to see that there are deeper layers of meaning at work here. Eliot is not just praising de la Mare; he is also engaging in a dialogue with him, interrogating his work and his legacy, and exploring the role of the writer in society.

The Writer's Role

One of the key themes of "To Walter de la Mare" is the role of the writer in society. Eliot is acutely aware of the power of language, and he recognizes that writers have a responsibility to use their words wisely.

Throughout the poem, he grapples with questions about the purpose of literature, and the way that writers should engage with the world around them. He recognizes the potential for literature to be a force for good, but also acknowledges the dangers of using words to manipulate and control.

The Power of Language

Another key theme of "To Walter de la Mare" is the power of language. Eliot is deeply aware of the way that words can shape our perceptions of the world, and he is constantly exploring the ways in which language can be used to create meaning.

In some ways, the poem can be seen as a meditation on the act of writing itself. Eliot is fascinated by the way that de la Mare uses language to create vivid, evocative images, and he spends much of the poem exploring the mechanics of this process.

The Imagery

Of course, no discussion of "To Walter de la Mare" would be complete without talking about the imagery. Eliot is a master of language, and he uses it to create an incredibly rich and vivid world in this poem.

From the "carnivals of words" to the "tortured trees," the imagery in this poem is both powerful and haunting. Eliot is not content to simply describe the world around him; he wants to create a sense of atmosphere and mood that will stay with the reader long after the poem is finished.

Conclusion

In the end, "To Walter de la Mare" is a remarkable poem that operates on multiple levels. It is a tribute to a fellow writer, a meditation on the role of the writer in society, and a powerful exploration of the way that language can shape our perceptions of the world.

As we read this poem, we are struck by Eliot's mastery of language, and by his ability to use words to create a vivid and haunting world. This is a poem that demands to be read and re-read, and that rewards careful study with new insights and revelations.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry To Walter de la Mare: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry

Thomas Stearns Eliot, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a beautiful poem titled "Poetry To Walter de la Mare" in 1933. This poem is a tribute to Walter de la Mare, a fellow poet and contemporary of Eliot. The poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and it reflects Eliot's unique style and vision.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The first stanza begins with a reference to de la Mare's poetry, which Eliot describes as "a world of subtle and intricate beauty." Eliot praises de la Mare's ability to create a world that is both beautiful and complex, and he suggests that de la Mare's poetry is a reflection of his own inner world.

In the second stanza, Eliot shifts his focus to the act of writing poetry itself. He describes the process of writing as a "strange and difficult art," one that requires a great deal of skill and dedication. Eliot suggests that de la Mare is a master of this art, and that his poetry is a testament to his skill and dedication.

The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful and moving of the poem. Eliot describes de la Mare's poetry as a "light in the darkness," a beacon of hope and inspiration in a world that can often seem bleak and hopeless. He suggests that de la Mare's poetry has the power to uplift and inspire, and that it has the ability to touch the hearts of all who read it.

Throughout the poem, Eliot uses a variety of literary devices to convey his message. He uses imagery to create a vivid picture of de la Mare's poetry, and he uses repetition to emphasize the importance of the act of writing. He also uses metaphor to suggest that de la Mare's poetry is a reflection of his own inner world, and that it has the power to illuminate the darkness of the world around us.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language. Eliot's language is both beautiful and complex, and it reflects his unique style and vision. He uses words and phrases that are both poetic and philosophical, and he creates a sense of depth and complexity that is characteristic of modernist poetry.

Another important aspect of the poem is its theme. Eliot suggests that poetry has the power to uplift and inspire, and that it can be a source of hope and light in a world that can often seem dark and hopeless. He also suggests that the act of writing poetry is a difficult and challenging one, and that it requires a great deal of skill and dedication.

Overall, "Poetry To Walter de la Mare" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry. It reflects Eliot's unique style and vision, and it conveys a powerful message about the importance of poetry in our lives. The poem is a tribute to de la Mare, but it is also a tribute to the power of poetry itself. It is a reminder that poetry has the ability to touch our hearts and souls, and that it can be a source of hope and inspiration in a world that can often seem bleak and hopeless.

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