'Fragment Sixty-Eight' by H.D.

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. . . even in the house of Hades.-Sappho1I envy you your chance of death,
how I envy you this.
I am more covetous of him
even than of your glance,
I wish more from his presence
though he torture me in a grasp,
terrible, intense.Though he clasp me in an embrace
that is set against my will
and rack me with his measure,
effortless yet full of strength,
and slay me
in that most horrible contest,
still, how I envy you your chance.Through he pierce me-imperious-
iron-fever-dust-
though beauty is slain
when I perish,
I envy you death.
What is beauty to me?
has she not slain me enough,
have I not cried in agony of love,
birth, hate,
in pride crushed?What is left after this?
what can death loose in me
after your embrace?
your touch,your limbs are more terrible
to do me hurt.
What can death mar in me
that you have not?2What can death send me
that you have not?
you gathered violets,
you spoke:
"your hair is not less black,
nor less fragrant.
nor in your eyes is less light,
your hair is not less sweet
with purple in the lift of lock;"
why were those slight words
and the violets you gathered
of such worth?How I envy you death;
what could death bring,
more black, more set with sparks
to slay, to affright,
than the memory of those first violets,
the chance lift of your voice,
the chance blinding frenzy
as you bent?3So the goddess has slain me
for your chance smile
and my scarf unfolding
as you stooped to it;
so she trapped me
with upward sweep of your arm
as you lifted the veil,
and the swift smile and selfless.Could I have known?
nay, spare pity,
though I break,
crushed under the goddess' hate,
though I fall beaten at last,
so high have I thrust my glance
up into her presence.Do not pity me, spare that,
but how I envy you
your chance of death.

Editor 1 Interpretation

H.D.'s Fragment Sixty-Eight: A Rich Tapestry of Imagery and Symbolism

If you love poetry that is dense with meaning, imagery, and symbolism, then H.D.'s Fragment Sixty-Eight is a poem that you must read. This poem is a rich tapestry of images, each one carefully woven together to create a complex web of meaning that will leave you thinking long after you've finished reading.

The Poet's Voice

H.D.'s voice is strong and commanding in this poem, as she weaves together a series of images that are both beautiful and haunting. Her use of language is precise and deliberate, and her choice of words is carefully considered to create a sense of mystery and wonder.

The Theme

At its core, Fragment Sixty-Eight is a meditation on the power of nature and the cycle of life and death. The poem begins with the speaker observing the natural world around her, and she is struck by the beauty and majesty of the trees and the earth. However, as the poem progresses, the speaker becomes increasingly aware of the darker side of nature, with images of death and decay becoming more prominent.

The Imagery

One of the most striking features of this poem is the vivid imagery that H.D. employs. From the "fire-tipped boughs" of the trees to the "frail stem" of the flower, every image in this poem is carefully chosen to create a specific mood and tone. The poem is filled with contrasts and contradictions, with images of life and death, beauty and decay, all coexisting in a complex and interwoven tapestry.

The Symbolism

Symbolism is a key element of this poem, with many of the images serving as metaphors for deeper themes and ideas. For example, the "fire-tipped boughs" of the trees can be seen as a symbol of the passage of time, with the fire representing the inevitable march towards death and decay. Similarly, the "frail stem" of the flower can be seen as a symbol of the fragility of life, and the inevitability of death.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, H.D.'s Fragment Sixty-Eight is a masterpiece of modern poetry, filled with rich imagery and powerful symbolism. This poem is a meditation on the power of nature and the cycle of life and death, and it is a testament to H.D.'s skill as a poet. If you are a fan of poetry that is densely packed with meaning and symbolism, then Fragment Sixty-Eight is a must-read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Fragment Sixty-Eight by H.D. is a classic piece of poetry that has been analyzed and appreciated by literary enthusiasts for decades. This poem is a perfect example of how a few lines of verse can convey a powerful message and evoke strong emotions in the reader. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and explore its meaning, themes, and literary devices.

First, let's take a look at the poem itself:

"O wind, rend open the heat, cut apart the heat, rend it to tatters. Fruit cannot drop through this thick air-- fruit cannot fall into heat that presses up and blunts the points of pears and rounds the grapes. Cut the heat-- plough through it, turning it on either side of your path."

At first glance, this poem may seem like a simple request for relief from the heat. However, upon closer examination, we can see that there is much more to it than that. The speaker is not just asking for a cool breeze to come along and provide some relief; they are asking for something much more profound.

The first line of the poem, "O wind, rend open the heat," sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "rend" implies a violent tearing apart, which suggests that the speaker is not just asking for a gentle breeze but for something more forceful. The use of the word "heat" is also significant. It is not just a warm day that the speaker is complaining about; it is a suffocating, oppressive heat that is preventing fruit from even falling from the trees.

The next few lines continue this theme of the heat being too much to bear. The speaker describes how the heat is so thick that fruit cannot even drop through it. This is a powerful metaphor for the way that the heat is weighing down on everything around it, making it impossible for anything to thrive. The imagery of the heat pressing up and blunting the points of pears and rounding the grapes is particularly effective. It creates a sense of the heat as a physical force that is actively working against the natural world.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most significant. The speaker is not just asking for relief from the heat; they are asking for it to be cut apart and ploughed through. This is a call to action, a demand for change. The speaker is not content to simply suffer through the heat; they want to actively fight against it and create a path forward.

One of the most striking things about this poem is the way that it uses language to create a sense of urgency and desperation. The repetition of the word "heat" throughout the poem creates a sense of suffocation and claustrophobia. The use of violent verbs like "rend" and "cut" adds to this sense of urgency, as does the short, staccato structure of the lines.

Another important aspect of this poem is its use of metaphor. The heat is not just a physical force; it is a symbol for all of the oppressive forces that can weigh us down in life. The fruit that cannot fall represents the potential that is being stifled by these forces. The call to action at the end of the poem is a call to fight against these forces and create a path forward.

In conclusion, Poetry Fragment Sixty-Eight by H.D. is a powerful and evocative piece of poetry that uses language and metaphor to create a sense of urgency and desperation. The speaker's call to action at the end of the poem is a reminder that we should never be content to simply suffer through the oppressive forces in our lives. Instead, we should actively fight against them and create a path forward. This poem is a timeless reminder of the power of language and the importance of standing up for what we believe in.

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