'After Many Days' by D.H. Lawrence

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I WONDER if with you, as it is with me,If under your slipping words, that easily flowAbout you as a garment, easily,Your violent heart beats to and fro!Long have I waited, never once confessed,Even to myself, how bitter the separation;Now, being come again, how make the bestReparation?If I could cast this clothing off from me,If I could lift my naked self to you,Of if only you would repulse me, a wound would beGood; it would let the ache come through.But that you hold me still so kindly coldAloof my floating heart will not allow;Yea, but I loathe you that you should withholdYour pleasure now.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, After Many Days by D.H. Lawrence: A Masterpiece of Sensuality and Introspection

What is at the heart of poetry? Is it the power of language to evoke vivid images and emotions? Or the ability of the poet to capture the essence of life and human experience in a few lines of verse? These questions have been debated by literary scholars and enthusiasts for centuries, and yet, they remain elusive and subjective. However, in the case of D.H. Lawrence's "Poetry, After Many Days," the answer seems to lie in the fusion of sensuality and introspection, creating an unforgettable reading experience that engages both the mind and the senses.

A brief overview of "Poetry, After Many Days"

"Poetry, After Many Days" was first published in 1928, as part of Lawrence's collection of poems called "Pansies." The poem, consisting of six stanzas, is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. It is a deeply personal and introspective piece, in which Lawrence reflects on the nature of poetry and its role in his life.

The poem begins with the lines: "Oh, the sense of distance, the blue / of my native hills, the scent of heather!" Here, Lawrence sets the tone for the rest of the poem, invoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for his homeland. He goes on to describe how he has been away from his native land for a long time, but the memories of it still haunt him, filling him with a sense of yearning for the past.

As the poem progresses, Lawrence turns his attention to the nature of poetry itself. He describes how, when he was young, he used to write poetry all the time, but as he grew older, he found it harder to capture the same intensity of feeling and emotion in his verses. He reflects on how poetry used to come to him naturally, as if it was a part of him, but now, he feels disconnected from it, as if it is something separate from himself.

The final stanza of the poem sees Lawrence returning to his original theme of nostalgia, as he reflects on the memories of his youth and the people he has loved and lost along the way. He ends the poem with the lines: "And the tears come, and I wonder / And the tears come, and I weep." These lines, simple and yet powerful, capture the essence of the poem, evoking a sense of loss and longing that is universal and timeless.

Sensuality and Introspection: A Dynamic Duo

What makes "Poetry, After Many Days" so compelling is the way in which Lawrence combines sensuality and introspection to create a rich and complex reading experience. On the one hand, the poem is filled with vivid sensory images, evoking the sights, smells, and sounds of Lawrence's native land. The reader can almost feel the "scent of heather" and see the "blue of [Lawrence's] native hills." These images are not just decorative, however; they serve to ground the poem in a specific time and place, making it more relatable and tangible.

At the same time, the poem is deeply introspective, as Lawrence reflects on the nature of poetry and his own relationship to it. He describes how poetry used to come to him naturally when he was younger, but now, he struggles to capture the same intensity of emotion and feeling. This reflection is not just a personal one; it speaks to a universal experience of aging and the loss of innocence and spontaneity that comes with it.

The fusion of sensuality and introspection in "Poetry, After Many Days" creates a dynamic tension that drives the poem forward, keeping the reader engaged and invested in Lawrence's journey of self-discovery. It is this tension that makes the poem a masterpiece of modernist poetry, as it captures the essence of a changing world and the human experience in a way that is both beautiful and profound.

The Theme of Nostalgia: A Universal Experience

One of the most powerful themes in "Poetry, After Many Days" is that of nostalgia, as Lawrence reflects on the memories of his youth and his longing for the past. This theme is not unique to Lawrence; it is a universal experience that touches us all at some point in our lives. We all have memories of people and places that are dear to us, and we all experience a sense of loss and longing when we are separated from them.

What makes Lawrence's treatment of this theme so powerful is the way in which he evokes a sense of the past through sensory images and language. The reader can almost feel the "scent of heather" and hear the "rippling laughter" of Lawrence's youth. These images are not just decorative; they serve to ground the poem in a specific time and place, making it more relatable and tangible.

At the same time, Lawrence's reflection on the nature of poetry and his own relationship to it speaks to a deeper sense of nostalgia, one that is not just about a specific time and place, but about the passing of time itself. In this sense, "Poetry, After Many Days" is a poem about aging and the loss of innocence and spontaneity that comes with it. This is a theme that transcends time and place and speaks to the universal experience of being human.

Language and Form: A Delicate Balance

One of the most striking features of "Poetry, After Many Days" is its use of language and form. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, allowing Lawrence to experiment with language and form in a way that is both innovative and daring. At the same time, the poem is deeply structured, with each stanza building on the one before it, creating a sense of organic unity that is essential to the poem's effectiveness.

The language of the poem is also noteworthy, as Lawrence uses a mix of sensory images and introspective reflection to create a rich and complex reading experience. The use of sensory images grounds the poem in a specific time and place, while the introspective reflection speaks to universal themes of aging and the passing of time.

The balance between language and form in "Poetry, After Many Days" is delicate and nuanced, creating a poem that is both experimental and deeply structured. This balance is a testament to Lawrence's skill as a poet, as he is able to push the boundaries of traditional form and language, while still maintaining the integrity and coherence of the poem as a whole.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Poetry, After Many Days" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, blending sensuality and introspection to create a rich and complex reading experience. The poem's themes of nostalgia and the passing of time are universal and relatable, while its use of language and form is innovative and daring. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience in a way that is both beautiful and profound, and it is a testament to Lawrence's skill as a poet and his understanding of the power of language to evoke emotion and capture the essence of life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry After Many Days: A Masterpiece by D.H. Lawrence

Poetry has always been a medium of expression for human emotions and experiences. It is a form of art that can convey the deepest of feelings and thoughts in a few words. D.H. Lawrence, a renowned English writer, was a master of this art. His poem, Poetry After Many Days, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human emotions and the power of poetry.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his joy at finding a poem that he had written many years ago. He describes the feeling as a "miracle" and a "wonder." This joy is not just because he has found a lost poem, but because he has reconnected with a part of himself that he had forgotten. The poem is a reminder of his past, his youth, and his dreams.

The speaker then goes on to describe the poem itself. He says that it is not a great poem, but it is a "true" poem. This distinction is important because it shows that the speaker values honesty and authenticity over technical perfection. He believes that a poem should come from the heart and reflect the truth of the poet's experience.

The poem then takes a turn as the speaker reflects on the passage of time. He says that the poem was written "in the days of youth" and that now he is "old and grey." This contrast between youth and old age is a common theme in poetry, but Lawrence approaches it in a unique way. He does not lament the loss of youth or bemoan the inevitability of aging. Instead, he celebrates the fact that he has lived a full life and has experienced all that life has to offer.

The speaker then goes on to describe the power of poetry. He says that poetry has the ability to capture the essence of life and to convey it to others. He believes that poetry is a way of connecting with others and of sharing our experiences. This idea is reflected in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker says that the poem is "a message from the dead" and that it is a way of reaching out to others across time and space.

The poem is written in free verse, which allows Lawrence to experiment with the form and structure of the poem. He uses enjambment to create a sense of flow and continuity between the lines. This technique also allows him to create a sense of movement and progression in the poem. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which has a distinct tone and theme. The first stanza is joyful and celebratory, the second is reflective and contemplative, and the third is philosophical and universal.

The language of the poem is simple and direct, but it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. Lawrence uses nature imagery to convey the passage of time and the cycle of life. He also uses metaphor to describe the power of poetry and its ability to transcend time and space.

In conclusion, Poetry After Many Days is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human experience and the power of poetry. Lawrence's use of language, form, and structure creates a sense of movement and progression in the poem. The poem is a celebration of life, a reflection on the passage of time, and a philosophical meditation on the power of poetry. It is a reminder that poetry can connect us with our past, our present, and our future, and that it has the ability to transcend time and space.

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