'From The Graveyard By The Sea' by Delmore Schwartz
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1961(After Valery)This hushed surface where the doves parade
Amid the pines vibrates, amid the graves;
Here the noon's justice unites all fires when
The sea aspires forever to begin again and again.
O what a gratification comes after long meditation
O satisfaction, after long meditation or ratiocination
Upon the calm of the gods
Upon the divine serenity, in luxurious contemplation!What pure toil of perfect lightning enwombs, consumes,
Each various manifold jewel of imperceptible foam,
And how profound a peace appears to be begotten andbegun
When upon the abyss the sunlight seems to pause,
The pure effects of an eternal cause:
Time itself sparkles, to dream and to know are one....
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry from the Graveyard By The Sea: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you ready to dive into the haunting world of Delmore Schwartz's "Poetry from the Graveyard by the Sea"? This classic poem takes us on a journey through a desolate landscape of death and decay, where the only solace is found in the beauty of language and the power of poetry. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used by Schwartz to create a powerful and evocative work of art.
Background and Context
Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. Delmore Schwartz was an American poet and writer who lived from 1913 to 1966. He was a prominent figure in the literary scene of the 1940s and 50s, and his work was often associated with the "New York Intellectuals" – a group of writers and thinkers who were known for their leftist politics and intellectualism. Schwartz himself struggled with mental illness throughout his life, and his work often reflects his personal struggles with depression and anxiety.
"Poetry from the Graveyard by the Sea" was first published in 1937 in Schwartz's first collection of poetry, "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities." The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, and is divided into 15 stanzas of varying length. The title of the poem sets the tone for the work – it suggests a bleak and desolate landscape, and the use of the word "graveyard" immediately evokes images of death and decay.
Themes
One of the key themes of "Poetry from the Graveyard by the Sea" is the power of poetry to provide solace in the face of death and decay. Throughout the poem, Schwartz uses language to create a sense of beauty and wonder in the face of a bleak and desolate landscape. He writes:
Alone, by day, by night, in solitude, With dreadful liberty, I roam and rave, And like the sea, a thousand waves in motion, A thousand waves at rest, without a shore For ever oscillate within my breast.
Here, Schwartz describes himself as being "alone" and experiencing "dreadful liberty." This sense of isolation and freedom is contrasted with the image of the sea – a vast and powerful force that is both in motion and at rest. The sea is a symbol of the endless cycle of life and death, and Schwartz uses it to suggest that even in the face of death and decay, there is still beauty and wonder to be found.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of mortality and the inevitability of death. Schwartz writes:
And so it is with life that waves are moving And likewise death is borne upon a wave, For death is but a form of life's renewal, A change of form, a journey to the grave.
Here, Schwartz suggests that death is not an end, but a form of renewal and change. He uses the metaphor of the sea to suggest that just as waves are constantly in motion, so too is life – and death is simply another part of that cycle.
Imagery
One of the most striking elements of "Poetry from the Graveyard by the Sea" is the vivid imagery that Schwartz uses to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. Throughout the poem, he describes a desolate landscape of crumbling ruins, decaying corpses, and barren wastelands. For example:
A fungus crawls upon the skull of man, A seaside music from the sickle sound: The bony fingers of the seaweed seek To hold me in the surf.
Here, Schwartz describes the decay of a human skull, and the sound of the sea is compared to the sound of a sickle. The image of the seaweed's "bony fingers" reaching out to hold the speaker in the surf is eerie and unsettling, and suggests a sense of entrapment and confinement.
Another powerful image in the poem is that of the moon:
The moon swings like a blade, slowly, brightly, And the night is like sandpaper on my face, And the moon is like a cold, steel face, And the earth is a pit, gaping.
Here, Schwartz uses the moon as a symbol of coldness and detachment. The moon is compared to a blade and a cold, steel face, suggesting a sense of danger and threat. The image of the earth as a "pit, gaping" is also powerful, suggesting a sense of emptiness and despair.
Language
The language used in "Poetry from the Graveyard by the Sea" is both beautiful and haunting. Schwartz uses rich, vivid language to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, while also exploring complex themes and ideas. For example:
And when the moon swings low and the blue iron sea Lies like a dying mother at my feet, I hear harsh voices of harpies singing, And the mournful bellowing of seals.
Here, Schwartz's use of alliteration (harsh voices of harpies) and metaphor (the sea as a dying mother) creates a sense of unease and discomfort. The image of the seals bellowing mournfully is also powerful – it suggests a sense of loss and sadness.
Throughout the poem, Schwartz also uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example:
The waves lift up their white hands To bid the mourners follow underground Till the forgotten faces of the dead Look out the morning milk-white and the sea Burst from a bed of seaweed as before.
Here, the repetition of the phrase "the waves" creates a sense of movement and rhythm, suggesting the endless cycle of life and death.
Conclusion
"Poetry from the Graveyard by the Sea" is a haunting and evocative poem that explores complex themes of mortality, beauty, and the power of language. Through vivid imagery, rich language, and a powerful use of repetition, Delmore Schwartz creates a sense of atmosphere and mood that is both beautiful and unsettling. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to provide solace and meaning in the face of death and decay, and remains a classic work of American literature to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry From The Graveyard By The Sea: A Masterpiece of Melancholy
Delmore Schwartz's Poetry From The Graveyard By The Sea is a haunting and melancholic masterpiece that captures the essence of human despair and the inevitability of death. Written in 1937, this poem is a reflection of the author's own struggles with mental illness and his fascination with the macabre.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores different themes and emotions. The first part sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its vivid imagery of the graveyard by the sea. The speaker describes the scene in detail, painting a picture of a desolate and eerie landscape. The use of words like "ghostly," "skeletons," and "shadows" creates a sense of foreboding and unease.
The second part of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker's own thoughts and feelings. He reflects on his own mortality and the inevitability of death. The use of the word "I" throughout this section emphasizes the personal nature of these thoughts. The speaker is acutely aware of his own mortality and the fact that he too will one day be buried in the graveyard by the sea.
The final part of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker addresses the reader directly, urging them to embrace life and live it to the fullest. He acknowledges the darkness and despair that can consume us all, but he also reminds us that there is beauty and joy to be found in life. The final lines of the poem, "Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, / And never forget, that until the day / God will deign to reveal the future to man, / The sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: / Wait and hope," are a poignant reminder that even in the face of death, there is still hope.
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of imagery. Schwartz's descriptions of the graveyard by the sea are vivid and haunting. The use of words like "ghostly," "skeletons," and "shadows" create a sense of foreboding and unease. The graveyard is a symbol of death and decay, a reminder that all life must come to an end. The sea, on the other hand, represents the vastness of the unknown. It is a symbol of the afterlife, a place where the dead go to rest.
The speaker's reflections on his own mortality are also incredibly powerful. He is acutely aware of the fact that he too will one day be buried in the graveyard by the sea. This realization fills him with a sense of despair and hopelessness. He is trapped in a cycle of life and death, unable to escape the inevitability of his own demise.
Despite the darkness and despair that permeate this poem, there is also a sense of hope. The speaker urges the reader to embrace life and live it to the fullest. He acknowledges the darkness and despair that can consume us all, but he also reminds us that there is beauty and joy to be found in life. The final lines of the poem are a poignant reminder that even in the face of
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