'The House Of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden' by Conrad Aiken
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The House of Dust1917You read-what is it, then that you are reading?
What music moves so silently in your mind?
Your bright hand turns the page.
I watch you from my window, unsuspected:
You move in an alien land, a silent age . . .. . .The poet-what was his name-?Tokkei-Tokkei-
The poet walked alone in a cold late rain,
And thought his grief was like the crying of sea-birds;
For his lover was dead, he never would love again.Rain in the dreams of the mind-rain forever-
Rain in the sky of the heart-rain in the willows-
But then he saw this face, this face like flame,
This quiet lady, this portrait by Hiroshigi;
And took it home with him; and with it cameWhat unexpected changes, subtle as weather!
The dark room, cold as rain,
Grew faintly fragrant, stirred with a stir of April,
Warmed its corners with light again,And smoke of incense whirled about this portrait,
And the quiet lady there,
So young, so quietly smiling, with calm hands,
Seemed ready to loose her hair,And smile, and lean from the picture, or say one word,
The word already clear,
Which seemed to rise like light between her eyelids . .
He held his breath to hear,And smiled for shame, and drank a cup of wine,
And held a candle, and searched her face
Through all the little shadows, to see what secret
Might give so warm a grace . . .Was it the quiet mouth, restrained a little?
The eyes, half-turned aside?
The jade ring on her wrist, still almost swinging? . . .
The secret was denied,He chose his favorite pen and drew these verses,
And slept; and as he slept
A dream came into his heart, his lover entered,
And chided him, and wept.And in the morning, waking, he remembered,
And thought the dream was strange.
Why did his darkened lover rise from the garden?
He turned, and felt a change,As if a someone hidden smiled and watched him . . .
Yet there was only sunlight there.
Until he saw those young eyes, quietly smiling,
And held his breath to stare,And could have sworn her cheek had turned-a little . . .
Had slightly turned away . . .
Sunlight dozed on the floor . . . He sat and wondered,
Nor left his room that day.And that day, and for many days thereafter,
He sat alone, and thought
No lady had ever lived so beautiful
As Hiroshigi wrought . . .Or if she lived, no matter in what country,
By what far river or hill or lonely sea,
He would look in every face until he found her . . .
There was no other as fair as she.And before her quiet face he burned soft incense,
And brought her every day
Boughs of the peach, or almond, or snow-white cherry,
And somehow, she seemed to say,That silent lady, young, and quietly smiling,
That she was happy there;
And sometimes, seeing this, he started to tremble,
And desired to touch her hair,To lay his palm along her hand, touch faintly
With delicate finger-tips
The ghostly smile that seemed to hover and vanish
Upon her lips . . .Until he knew he loved this quiet lady;
And night by night a dread
Leered at his dreams, for he knew that Hiroshigi
Was many centuries dead,-And the lady, too, was dead, and all who knew her . .
Dead, and long turned to dust . . .
The thin moon waxed and waned, and left him paler,
The peach leaves flew in a gust,And he would surely have died; but there one day
A wise man, white with age,
Stared at the portrait, and said, 'This Hiroshigi
Knew more than archimage,-Cunningly drew the body, and called the spirit,
Till partly it entered there . . .
Sometimes, at death, it entered the portrait wholly . .
Do all I say with care,And she you love may come to you when you call her . . . '
So then this ghost, Tokkei,
Ran in the sun, bought wine of a hundred merchants,
And alone at the end of dayEntered the darkening room, and faced the portrait,
And saw the quiet eyes
Gleaming and young in the dusk, and held the wine-cup,
And knelt, and did not rise,And said, aloud, 'Lo-san, will you drink this wine?'
Said it three times aloud.
And at the third the faint blue smoke of incense
Rose to the walls in a cloud,And the lips moved faintly, and the eyes, and the calm hands stirred;
And suddenly, with a sigh,
The quiet lady came slowly down from the portrait,
And stood, while worlds went by,And lifted her young white hands and took the wine cup;
And the poet trembled, and said,
'Lo-san, will you stay forever?'-'Yes, I will stay.'-
'But what when I am dead?''When you are dead your spirit will find my spirit,
And then we shall die no more.'
Music came down upon them, and spring returning,
They remembered worlds before,And years went over the earth, and over the sea,
And lovers were born and spoke and died,
But forever in sunlight went these two immortal,
Tokkei and the quiet bride . . .
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Enigmatic Screen Maiden in Conrad Aiken’s “The House of Dust: Part 03: 02”
Conrad Aiken’s poem, “The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden,” published in 1920, is a hauntingly beautiful and enigmatic piece of poetry. The poem is a part of his masterpiece “The House of Dust,” a sequence of poems that explore the themes of love, loss, and the transience of life. In this particular poem, Aiken presents us with a mysterious and alluring figure, the ‘Screen Maiden,’ who stands behind a veil and fascinates the speaker with her beauty. This essay will interpret the poem and analyze the various themes and symbols employed by the poet in this piece of work.
An Overview of the Poem
The poem is narrated in the first person by an unnamed speaker who is captivated by the beauty of the Screen Maiden. The maiden is described as standing behind a screen, which serves as a veil between her and the speaker. The speaker is mesmerized by the sight of her, but he cannot reach her because of the screen that separates them. As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more obsessed with the Screen Maiden, and he longs to break through the screen and be with her. However, he realizes that this is impossible, and he must content himself with just looking at her.
The Themes of the Poem
The central theme of the poem is the unattainability of beauty. The Screen Maiden is portrayed as the epitome of beauty, but she is also unattainable because of the screen that separates her from the speaker. The poem suggests that beauty is not only fleeting but also unattainable. The speaker longs to possess the beauty of the Screen Maiden, but he cannot do so. This theme is reinforced by the use of symbolism in the poem. The screen represents the barrier between the speaker and the beauty he desires. The fact that the screen is made of jade suggests that it is precious and valuable, but also strong and unbreakable.
Another theme that is explored in the poem is the power of imagination. The Screen Maiden is a product of the speaker's imagination, and he creates her in his mind. The poem suggests that the power of imagination can create beauty and desire, but it is also limited because it cannot make the desired object real. The speaker can imagine the Screen Maiden, but he cannot make her come to life.
The poem also explores the theme of obsession. The speaker becomes obsessed with the Screen Maiden, and he cannot stop thinking about her. He is so consumed with his desire for her that he is willing to break through the screen to be with her. The poem suggests that obsession can be destructive, and it can lead to a loss of reason and self-control.
The Symbols Used in the Poem
Aiken uses several symbols in the poem to convey his message. The most prominent symbol is the screen that separates the speaker from the Screen Maiden. The screen is made of jade, which symbolizes the preciousness and value of the object that is being protected. The fact that the screen is unbreakable suggests that the Maiden is unattainable, and the speaker cannot possess her.
Another symbol that is used in the poem is the veil. The Maiden is described as standing behind a veil, which symbolizes the mystery and allure of the object that is being hidden. The veil is also a symbol of the barrier between the speaker and the Maiden, which reinforces the theme of unattainability.
The use of the word ‘jade’ is also significant in the poem. Jade is a precious stone that is often associated with beauty, wealth and power. The fact that the screen is made of jade suggests that the object that is being protected is of great value, and it is not easily attainable.
The Language and Style
The language and style of the poem are lyrical and poetic. Aiken uses rich imagery and metaphors to create a dream-like atmosphere. The use of repetition, particularly in the refrain “O Screen Maiden, in thy beauty rare” creates a haunting and mesmerizing effect, which reinforces the theme of obsession.
The poem is written in free verse, which gives the poet the freedom to experiment with language and form. The irregular line breaks and the use of enjambment create a sense of fluidity and movement in the poem, which reflects the speaker's desire to break through the screen and be with the Maiden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden” is a hauntingly beautiful and enigmatic poem that explores the themes of beauty, obsession, and the unattainability of desire. Aiken’s use of symbolism, rich imagery and poetic language creates a dream-like atmosphere that captures the reader's imagination. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and convey complex themes and ideas. It is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that continues to fascinate readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This poem is a beautiful and haunting depiction of a woman who is trapped behind a screen. The poem is full of vivid imagery and powerful emotions that will leave readers feeling both moved and inspired.
The poem begins with a description of the screen maiden. She is described as being "pale and lovely" with "hair like a shadow" and "eyes like pools of night." The screen maiden is trapped behind a screen, unable to escape. She is a prisoner of her own beauty, and her only escape is through the eyes of those who look upon her.
The screen maiden is a symbol of the beauty that is often trapped within us. We all have something beautiful inside of us, but sometimes we are unable to express it. We are trapped by our own fears and insecurities, unable to break free and show the world who we truly are.
The poem goes on to describe the screen maiden's longing for freedom. She longs to escape from behind the screen and be free to live her life. She dreams of a world where she can be herself, where she can be free to love and be loved.
The screen maiden's longing for freedom is a universal theme that resonates with readers of all ages. We all long to be free, to be able to express ourselves and live our lives to the fullest. We all have dreams and aspirations, but sometimes we are held back by our own fears and insecurities.
The poem also explores the idea of beauty and its power over us. The screen maiden is beautiful, and her beauty is both a blessing and a curse. Her beauty has trapped her behind the screen, but it has also given her power over those who look upon her. Her beauty is a double-edged sword, and she is both a victim and a conqueror.
The poem's use of imagery is particularly powerful. The screen maiden is described as having "hair like a shadow" and "eyes like pools of night." These descriptions create a vivid image in the reader's mind and help to convey the sense of longing and sadness that permeates the poem.
The poem's use of language is also noteworthy. The language is poetic and lyrical, with a rhythm and flow that is both beautiful and haunting. The words are carefully chosen to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion, and the result is a poem that is both powerful and moving.
In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that explores the themes of beauty, freedom, and longing. The screen maiden is a powerful symbol of the beauty that is often trapped within us, and her story is one that will resonate with readers of all ages. The poem's use of imagery and language is particularly powerful, creating a vivid and haunting atmosphere that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading. This is a poem that deserves to be read and appreciated by all lovers of poetry.
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