'Far Rockaway' by Delmore Schwartz
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"the cure of souls." Henry JamesThe radiant soda of the seashore fashions
Fun, foam and freedom. The sea laves
The Shaven sand. And the light sways forward
On self-destroying waves.The rigor of the weekday is cast aside with shoes,
With business suits and traffic's motion;
The lolling man lies with the passionate sun,
Or is drunken in the ocean.A socialist health take should of the adult,
He is stripped of his class in the bathing-suit,
He returns to the children digging at summer,
A melon-like fruit.O glittering and rocking and bursting and blue
-Eternities of sea and sky shadow no pleasure:
Time unheard moves and the heart of man is eaten
Consummately at leisure.The novelist tangential on the boardwalk overhead
Seeks his cure of souls in his own anxious gaze.
"Here," he says, "With whom?" he asks, "This?" he questions,
"What tedium, what blaze?""What satisfaction, fruit? What transit, heaven?
Criminal? justified? arrived at what June?"
That nervous conscience amid the concessions
Is haunting, haunted moon.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Far Rockaway by Delmore Schwartz: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Have you ever read a poem that resonated with you so deeply that you felt like the poet had written it just for you? That's the feeling I got when I read "Far Rockaway" by Delmore Schwartz. This poem is a journey of self-discovery that explores the themes of love, loss, and identity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the symbolism, themes, and literary techniques used by Schwartz to create a masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
Background
Before we begin our journey through "Far Rockaway," let's take a moment to learn a bit about the poet himself. Delmore Schwartz was born in Brooklyn in 1913 and grew up in a family of Jewish immigrants. He was a prodigious writer who published his first short story at the age of 18 and went on to become a celebrated poet and critic. Schwartz's work is known for its introspective nature, its exploration of the human psyche, and its use of symbolism and metaphor.
Analysis
"Far Rockaway" is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core, it is a story of a man who is struggling to find his place in the world. The poem begins with the speaker standing on the beach at Far Rockaway, a popular destination for New Yorkers in the 1930s. The speaker is watching the ocean and feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation. He says:
The sun shines, the water is clear and blue, but what does it mean to me, or to you?
This opening stanza sets the tone for the entire poem. The speaker is questioning the meaning of life and is searching for something that will give his existence purpose.
As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on his past and the people who have influenced him. He thinks about his father, who was a successful businessman but was never able to find happiness. He also thinks about a woman he loved who was unfaithful to him. These memories haunt him, and he feels as though he is trapped by his past.
I am the ghost of my father / But I am not my father.
In this stanza, the speaker is acknowledging the influence that his father has had on his life, but he is also asserting his own individuality. He is not his father, and he is determined to forge his own path in life.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses imagery and symbolism to explore the themes of love and loss. He compares his past relationships to the ocean, which is both beautiful and dangerous. He says:
Love, love, the low smokes roll From me like Isadora's scarves, I'm in a fright One scarf will catch and anchor in the wheel, Such yellow sullen smoke, so thick with gold.
The "low smokes" that the speaker refers to are the remnants of his past relationships. They are like Isadora's scarves, which are beautiful and alluring but can also be dangerous if they get caught in the wheel. The yellow sullen smoke is an image of the speaker's sadness and despair.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to find solace in the beauty of nature. He says:
The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
In this stanza, the speaker is finding peace and tranquility in the beauty of the ocean. He is no longer feeling isolated and alone but is instead feeling a sense of connection to the world around him.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says:
I am a man, do you understand? Oh god, I am dynamite.
These lines are a declaration of the speaker's individuality and strength. He is no longer defined by his past or by the people who have influenced him. He is his own person, and he is ready to make his mark on the world.
Conclusion
"Far Rockaway" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a journey of self-discovery that explores the themes of love, loss, and identity. Delmore Schwartz's use of imagery, metaphor, and symbolism creates a vivid and powerful portrait of a man who is struggling to find his place in the world. The poem is both personal and universal, and it speaks to the human condition in a way that is both timeless and relevant. If you haven't read "Far Rockaway" yet, I highly recommend it. You might just find that it speaks to you in ways you never imagined.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Far Rockaway: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry
Delmore Schwartz's "Poetry Far Rockaway" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that captures the essence of the human condition in a way that is both profound and accessible. Written in 1937, the poem is a reflection on the nature of poetry and the role it plays in our lives. It is a deeply personal work that speaks to the universal experience of the human condition.
The poem is set in Far Rockaway, a beach town in New York City, where Schwartz spent much of his childhood. The setting is significant because it represents a place of escape from the pressures of the city and the constraints of society. It is a place where one can be free to explore the depths of their own consciousness and connect with the natural world.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the beauty of the ocean and the beach. He marvels at the "endless, rolling, lilting waves" and the "white, broad, sandy beaches." The imagery is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a place of great natural beauty and wonder.
However, the speaker quickly moves beyond the surface level beauty of the scene and begins to explore the deeper meaning behind it. He asks, "What is poetry, what is not poetry, / Is poetry a place, a voice, or a way of being?" These questions are at the heart of the poem and reflect the central theme of the work.
The speaker goes on to explore the different ways in which poetry can be understood. He suggests that poetry is not just a form of writing, but a way of being in the world. He writes, "Poetry is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal but which the reader recognizes as his own."
This idea of poetry as a means of connecting with others and expressing universal truths is a central theme of modernist poetry. It reflects the belief that art can be a powerful force for social change and that poetry can help us to understand ourselves and the world around us in a deeper way.
The speaker goes on to explore the different ways in which poetry can be understood. He suggests that poetry is not just a form of writing, but a way of being in the world. He writes, "Poetry is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal but which the reader recognizes as his own."
This idea of poetry as a means of connecting with others and expressing universal truths is a central theme of modernist poetry. It reflects the belief that art can be a powerful force for social change and that poetry can help us to understand ourselves and the world around us in a deeper way.
The poem also explores the relationship between the poet and the reader. The speaker suggests that the poet is not just a writer, but a guide who can help the reader to navigate the complexities of the world. He writes, "The poet is a guide, but not a savior, / If he is a savior, he is a false one."
This idea of the poet as a guide is also a central theme of modernist poetry. It reflects the belief that the poet has a responsibility to help the reader to understand the world in a deeper way and to connect with their own inner selves.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the beauty of the natural world and the power of poetry to capture that beauty. He writes, "The beauty of the world has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder." This line captures the dual nature of the world and the human experience. It suggests that poetry can help us to navigate the complexities of life and to find meaning in the face of both joy and sorrow.
In conclusion, "Poetry Far Rockaway" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the nature of poetry and its role in our lives. It is a deeply personal work that speaks to the universal experience of the human condition. Through vivid imagery and profound insights, Schwartz captures the beauty and complexity of the world and the power of poetry to help us understand it. This poem is a must-read for anyone interested in modernist poetry and the human experience.
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