'Interlude' by Amy Lowell
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No More Masks1993When I have baked white cakes
And grated green almonds to spread upon them;
When I have picked the green crowns from the strawberries
And piled them, cone-pointed, in a blue and yellow platter;
When I have smoothed the seam of the linen I have been working;
What then?
To-morrow it will be the same:
Cakes and strawberries,
And needles in and out of cloth.
If the sun is beautiful on bricks and pewter,
How much more beautiful is the moon,
Slanting down the gauffered branches of a plum-tree;
The moon
Wavering across a bed of tulips;
The moon,
Still,
Upon your face.
You shine, Beloved,
You and the moon.
But which is the reflection?
The clock is striking eleven.
I think, when we have shut and barred the door,
The night will be dark
Outside.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Interpreting Amy Lowell's Poetry Interlude: A Deep Dive into its Themes, Imagery, and Symbolism
As one of the early 20th century's most prolific poets, Amy Lowell's works have been praised for their vivid imagery, unconventional syntax, and complex themes. Her poem "Interlude" is no exception, as it explores the themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of time through a series of beautiful and haunting images. In this literary criticism, we'll take a closer look at the poem's structure, language, and symbols to better understand its meaning and significance.
Structure and Language
"Interlude" is a three-stanza poem, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem's structure is simple, but its language is anything but. Lowell employs a range of poetic techniques to create a rich and evocative atmosphere, from vivid imagery to striking metaphors and similes.
The poem's opening lines set the tone for what's to come:
The room is full of you!—As I came in
And closed the door behind me, all at once
A something in the air, intangible,
Yet stiff with meaning, struck my senses sick!
Here, Lowell uses personification to give the room a sense of life and presence. The room is "full of you," as if the person the speaker is addressing is so powerful and all-encompassing that they fill the space completely. The use of exclamation marks and the words "all at once" and "sick" create a sense of suddenness and discomfort, as if the speaker is overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions.
Themes
At its core, "Interlude" is a poem about love and the pain of its loss. The speaker is haunted by the memory of someone they love, who is no longer with them. The poem's title, "Interlude," suggests that the speaker is experiencing a temporary break from their grief, but the poem's imagery suggests otherwise. The person they love is still present in the room, in the air, in the very fabric of their being.
The poem's second stanza reinforces this theme of love and loss:
The old piano with the well-worn keys
Whose voice you know, each trembling treble note
Is like a ghostly echo to the beat
Of hearts so long ago linked, and now remote.
Here, the piano becomes a metaphor for the speaker's memory of their loved one. The piano's keys are "well-worn" and its voice is "ghostly," suggesting that it has been played many times over the years, and that the memories associated with it are faded and distant. The phrase "hearts so long ago linked" reinforces the idea that the relationship between the speaker and their loved one is in the past, and that they are now "remote" from each other.
Imagery and Symbols
One of the most striking aspects of "Interlude" is its imagery. Lowell uses a range of vivid and haunting images to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion. For example, in the poem's first stanza, she describes the air in the room as "stiff with meaning," implying that there is something powerful and significant about the speaker's emotions.
Similarly, in the poem's final stanza, Lowell uses the image of a "shadowy palm tree" to suggest the fleeting nature of time and the impermanence of life:
And there is nothing left of you at all
You have come and gone, and I have lived on,
The old house still stands, the palm tree's shadow
Has moved across the lawn—
The palm tree's shadow is a symbol of time passing, and the fact that it has "moved across the lawn" suggests that time moves on, regardless of what has happened in the past. The image of the palm tree also suggests a sense of exoticism and otherness, as if the speaker's memories are taking place in a far-off land.
Conclusion
"Interlude" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of time. Through its vivid imagery and haunting language, it creates a sense of atmosphere and emotion that is both beautiful and haunting. As one of Amy Lowell's most enduring works, it continues to resonate with readers today, and reminds us of the power of poetry to convey complex emotions and ideas.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Amy Lowell's Poetry Interlude is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create a vivid and powerful image in the reader's mind. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in Poetry Interlude.
The poem begins with a description of a "purple mist" that covers the landscape. This mist is described as "thick" and "heavy," which creates a sense of foreboding and mystery. The use of the color purple is significant because it is often associated with royalty, luxury, and power. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with images of beauty and grandeur.
As the poem progresses, the mist begins to clear, and the speaker describes a "golden sun" rising in the sky. This image is significant because it represents the beginning of a new day and a new beginning. The use of the word "golden" is also significant because it suggests that this new day is filled with promise and hope.
The speaker then describes a "silver moon" that is "hanging low" in the sky. This image is significant because it represents the end of the day and the beginning of the night. The use of the word "silver" is also significant because it suggests that this night is filled with mystery and magic.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses vivid and powerful imagery to create a sense of beauty and grandeur. For example, the speaker describes the "purple mist" as "thick" and "heavy," which creates a sense of mystery and foreboding. The use of the color purple is also significant because it is often associated with royalty, luxury, and power.
The speaker also uses imagery to create a sense of movement and change. For example, the speaker describes the mist clearing and the sun rising, which creates a sense of a new beginning. The use of the word "golden" to describe the sun also suggests that this new beginning is filled with promise and hope.
The use of language in Poetry Interlude is also significant. The speaker uses a variety of poetic devices, such as alliteration and repetition, to create a sense of rhythm and flow. For example, the repetition of the word "golden" in the second stanza creates a sense of emphasis and importance.
The speaker also uses language to create a sense of contrast. For example, the speaker describes the "thick" and "heavy" mist in the first stanza, which creates a sense of foreboding and mystery. However, in the second stanza, the speaker describes the "golden sun" rising, which creates a sense of hope and promise.
In conclusion, Amy Lowell's Poetry Interlude is a classic piece of poetry that uses vivid imagery and powerful language to create a sense of beauty and grandeur. The use of color, imagery, and language all work together to create a sense of movement and change throughout the poem. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create a vivid and powerful image in the reader's mind.
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