'Prothalamion' by Delmore Schwartz

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"little soul, little flirting,little perverse onewhere are you off to now?little wan one, firm onelittle exposed one...and never make fun of me again."Now I must betray myself.
The feast of bondage and unity is near,
And none engaged in that great piety
When each bows to the other, kneels, and takes
Hand in hand, glance and glance, care and care,
None may wear masks or enigmatic clothes,
For weakness blinds the wounded face enough.
In sense, see my shocking nakedness.I gave a girl an apple when five years old,
Saying, Will you be sorry when I am gone?
Ravenous for such courtesies, my name
Is fed like a raving fire, insatiate still.
But do not be afraid.
For I forget myself. I do indeed
Before each genuine beauty, and I will
Forget myself before your unknown heart.I will forget the speech my mother made
In a restaurant, trapping my father there
At dinner with his whore. Her spoken rage
Struck down the child of seven years
With shame for all three, with pity for
The helpless harried waiter, with anger for
The diners gazing, avid, and contempt
And great disgust for every human being.
I will remember this. My mother's rhetoric
Has charmed my various tongue, but now I know
Love's metric seeks a rhyme more pure and sure.For thus it is that I betray myself,
Passing the terror of childhood at second hand
Through nervous, learned fingertips.
At thirteen when a little girl died,
I walked for three weeks neither alive nor dead,
And could not understand and still cannot
The adult blind to the nearness of the dead,
Or carefully ignorant of their own death.
--This sense could shadow all the time's curving fruits,
But we will taste of them the whole night long,
Forgetting no twelfth night, no fete of June,
But in the daylight knowing our nothingness.Let Freud and Marx be wedding guests indeed!
Let them mark out masks that face us there,
For of all anguish, weakness, loss and failure,
No form is cruel as self-deception, none
Shows day-by-day a bad dream long lived
And unbroken like the lies
We tell each other because we are rich or poor.
Though from the general guilt not free
We can keep honor by being poor.The waste, the evil, the abomination
Is interrupted. the perfect stars persist
Small in the guilty night,and Mozart shows
The irreducible incorruptible good
Risen past birth and death, though he is dead.
Hope, like a face reflected on the windowpane,
Remote and dim, fosters a myth or dream,
And in that dream, I speak, I summon all
Who are our friends somehow and thus I say:"Bid the jewellers come with monocles,
Exclaiming, Pure! Intrinsic! Final!
Summon the children eating ice cream
To speak the chill thrill of immediacy.
Call for the acrobats who tumble
The ecstasy of the somersault.
Bid the self-sufficient stars be piercing
In the sublime and inexhaustible blue."Bring a mathematician, there is much to count,
The unending continuum of my attention:
Infinity will hurry his multiplied voice!
Bring the poised impeccable diver,
Summon the skater, precise in figure,
He knows the peril of circumstance,
The risk of movement and the hard ground.
Summon the florist! And the tobacconist!
All who have known a plant-like beauty:
Summon the charming bird for ignorant song."You, Athena, with your tired beauty,
Will you give me away? For you must come
In a bathing suit with that white owl
Whom, as I walk, I will hold in my hand.
You too, Crusoe, to utter the emotion
Of finding Friday, no longer alone;
You too, Chaplin, muse of the curbstone,
Mummer of hope, you understand!"But this is fantastic and pitiful,
And no one comes, none will, we are alone,
And what is possible is my own voice,
Speaking its wish, despite its lasting fear;
Speaking of its hope, its promise and its fear,
The voice drunk with itself and rapt in fear,
Exaggeration, braggadocio,
Rhetoric and hope, and always fear:"For fifty-six or for a thousand years,
I will live with you and be your friend,
And what your body and what your spirit bears
I will like my own body cure and tend.
But you are heavy and my body's weight
Is great and heavy: when I carry you
I lift upon my back time like a fate
Near as my heart, dark when I marry you.
"The voice's promise is easy, and hope
Is drunk, and wanton, and unwilled;
In time's quicksilver, where our desires grope,
The dream is warped or monstrously fulfilled,
In this sense, listen, listen, and draw near:
Love is inexhaustible and full of fear."This life is endless and my eyes are tired,
So that, again and again, I touch a chair,
Or go to the window, press my face
Against it, hoping with substantial touch,
Colorful sight, or turning things to gain once more
The look of actuality, the certainty
Of those who run down stairs and drive a car.
Then let us be each other's truth, let us
Affirm the other's self, and be
The other's audience, the other's state,
Each to the other his sonorous fame.Now you will be afraid, when, waking up,
Before familiar morning, by my mute side
Wan and abandoned then, when, waking up,
You see the lion or lamb upon my face
Or see the daemon breathing heavily
His sense of ignorance, his wish to die,
For I am nothing because my circus self
Divides its love a million times.I am the octopus in love with God,
For thus is my desire inconclusible,
Until my mind, deranged in swimming tubes,
Issues its own darkness, clutching seas
---O God of my perfect ignorance,
Bring the New Year to my only sister soon,
Take from me strength and power to bless her head,
Give her the magnitude of secular trust,
Until she turns to me in her troubled sleep,
Seeing me in my wish, free from self-wrongs.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Prothalamion: Delmore Schwartz's Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

When it comes to literary works that capture the essence of love and romance, few can match the timeless beauty and lyrical brilliance of Prothalamion by Delmore Schwartz. Written in the mid-twentieth century, the poem remains a classic example of the Romantic tradition, exploring the themes of love, nature, and the human condition with a depth and sensitivity that few poets can match.

At its heart, Prothalamion is a poem about two lovers who have found each other in a world that is often indifferent and hostile to such connections. Through vivid descriptions of the natural world and the emotional landscape of the lovers' hearts, Schwartz creates a powerful and moving portrait of the human experience, one that continues to resonate with readers today.

Structure and Form

One of the most striking features of Prothalamion is its formal structure. The poem is divided into five sections, each of which contains nine stanzas. Each stanza is composed of nine lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABABBCBCC. This highly structured form gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry, while also allowing Schwartz to explore a wide range of themes and emotions within a tightly controlled framework.

In addition to its formal structure, Prothalamion also features a number of other poetic devices that help to enhance its lyrical beauty and emotional impact. For example, Schwartz makes frequent use of metaphor, simile, and allusion, drawing on a wide range of literary and cultural references to create a rich and complex tapestry of meaning.

Themes and Motifs

At its core, Prothalamion is a poem about love and the human experience. Throughout the poem, Schwartz explores a number of key themes and motifs, including:

Nature

One of the most prominent themes in Prothalamion is the natural world. Throughout the poem, Schwartz uses vivid and evocative descriptions of nature to create a powerful sense of beauty and wonder. From the "silent clusters of green grapes" to the "waves that come and go," the natural world is a constant presence in the poem, serving as a powerful reminder of the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

Love

Love is another central theme in Prothalamion. Through the story of the two lovers, Schwartz explores the many different facets of love, from the joy and ecstasy of falling in love to the pain and heartbreak that can come with it. Through his use of rich and evocative language, Schwartz captures the intense emotions and complex dynamics of the lovers' relationship, creating a powerful portrait of the human experience.

Human Condition

Finally, Prothalamion is a poem about the human condition. Through his exploration of love and nature, Schwartz reveals the deep complexities and contradictions that are inherent in the human experience. From the joys and sorrows of love to the many paradoxes of nature, Schwartz shows us that life is full of beauty and pain, wonder and terror, and that it is through embracing all of these contradictions that we can truly come to understand ourselves and the world around us.

Interpretation and Analysis

As with any great work of literature, there are many different ways to interpret and analyze Prothalamion. However, one of the most fruitful approaches is to focus on the ways in which Schwartz uses language and imagery to create his powerful and evocative portrait of love and the human experience.

Metaphor and Imagery

One of the most striking features of Prothalamion is its rich and evocative use of metaphor and imagery. Throughout the poem, Schwartz draws on a wide range of images and references to create a powerful sense of beauty and wonder. For example, in the opening stanza, he describes the lovers as "two trout, swimming in a stream / Of their own desire." This metaphorical language creates a vivid and memorable image of the lovers, while also hinting at the deep emotional currents that are driving their relationship.

Similarly, throughout the poem, Schwartz uses vivid and evocative descriptions of nature to create a sense of beauty and wonder. For example, in the third stanza, he describes the waves as "white birds that curl and break / Against the smooth, indifferent shore." This image creates a powerful sense of movement and fluidity, while also hinting at the indifference of the natural world to the struggles and joys of human life.

Narrative Structure and Characterization

Another important aspect of Prothalamion is its narrative structure and characterization. Throughout the poem, Schwartz uses a series of carefully crafted scenes and images to create a vivid and memorable portrait of the lovers and their relationship. From the opening scene of the lovers swimming in the stream to the final scene of their embrace in the moonlight, Schwartz creates a powerful sense of narrative momentum and emotional intensity.

At the same time, Schwartz also uses these scenes and images to create a richly developed set of characters. Through his use of metaphor and imagery, he shows us the many different facets of the lovers' personalities, from their passion and desire to their vulnerability and pain. By the end of the poem, we feel as though we know these characters intimately, and that we have shared in their journey of love and self-discovery.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Prothalamion is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry, a rich and complex exploration of love, nature, and the human experience. Through its vivid and evocative language, its carefully crafted narrative structure, and its powerful use of metaphor and imagery, the poem captures the beauty and complexity of the human heart, revealing the deep emotions and complex dynamics that are at the heart of every human relationship.

As we read and reread Prothalamion, we are reminded of the power and beauty of great poetry, and of the ways in which it can help us to understand and appreciate the world around us. Whether we are lovers or not, we can all find something to relate to in this timeless and powerful work of art, which remains as fresh and relevant today as it did when it was first written over half a century ago.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Prothalamion: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Delmore Schwartz

Delmore Schwartz, a renowned American poet, wrote the classic poem Prothalamion in 1937. The poem is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of love, marriage, and the beauty of nature. It is a lyrical and romantic poem that celebrates the union of two lovers and their journey towards a happy married life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

Theme

The central theme of Prothalamion is love and marriage. The poem celebrates the union of two lovers and their journey towards a happy married life. The poem is a tribute to the beauty of love and the joy it brings to our lives. The poet uses vivid imagery and metaphors to describe the beauty of the bride and the groom and the natural surroundings. The poem is a celebration of life and the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

Structure

The poem is written in the form of a prothalamion, which is a song or poem written to celebrate a marriage. The poem consists of 24 stanzas, each containing six lines. The poem follows a strict rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming with each other, and the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth lines rhyming with each other. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line contains ten syllables, with the stress falling on every other syllable.

Literary Devices

The poem is rich in literary devices, which add to its beauty and depth. The poet uses vivid imagery, metaphors, and allusions to create a rich and vibrant picture of the natural surroundings and the beauty of the bride and the groom. The poem is full of allusions to classical mythology, which adds to its depth and complexity.

Imagery

The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the natural surroundings and the beauty of the bride and the groom. The poem is full of images of flowers, trees, and water, which create a beautiful and serene atmosphere. The poet uses imagery to create a sense of harmony and balance, which reflects the harmony and balance in the relationship between the bride and the groom.

Metaphors

The poet uses metaphors to describe the beauty of the bride and the groom. The bride is compared to a rose, a lily, and a pearl, which are all symbols of beauty and purity. The groom is compared to a lion, a king, and a hero, which are all symbols of strength and courage. The use of metaphors adds to the beauty and depth of the poem, and creates a sense of wonder and awe.

Allusions

The poem is full of allusions to classical mythology, which adds to its depth and complexity. The poet alludes to the Greek goddesses of love and beauty, Aphrodite and Venus, and the Roman god of marriage, Hymen. The use of allusions adds to the richness and complexity of the poem, and creates a sense of timelessness and universality.

Conclusion

Prothalamion is a masterpiece of poetry that celebrates the beauty of love, marriage, and nature. The poem is a tribute to the joy and happiness that love brings to our lives, and the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us. The poem is full of vivid imagery, metaphors, and allusions, which add to its beauty and depth. The poem is a timeless work of art that will continue to inspire and delight readers for generations to come.

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