'Apollo Musagete, Poetry, And The Leader Of The Muses' by Delmore Schwartz

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Nothing is given which is not taken.Little or nothing is taken which is not freely desired,freely, truly and fully."You would not seek me if you had not found me": this istrue of all that is supremely desired and admired..."An enigma is an animal," said the hurried, harriedschoolboy:And a horse divided against itself cannot stand;And a moron is a man who believes in having too manywives: what harm is there in that?O the endless fecundity of poetry is equaledBy its endless inexhaustible freshness, as in the discoveryof America and of poetry.Hence it is clear that the truth is not strait and narrow but infinite:
All roads lead to Rome and to poetryand to poem, sweet poemand from, away and towards are the same typography.Hence the poet must be, in a way, stupid and naive and alittle child;Unless ye be as a little child ye cannot enter the kingdomof poetry.Hence the poet must be able to become a tiger like Blake; acarousel like Rilke.Hence he must be all things to be free, for all impersonations
a doormat and a monument
to all situations possible or actual
The cuckold, the cuckoo, the conqueror, and the coxcomb.It is to him in the zoo that the zoo cries out and the hyena:
"Hello, take off your hat, king of the beasts, and be seated,Mr. Bones."And hence the poet must seek to be essentially anonymous.
He must die a little death each morning.
He must swallow his toad and study his vomit
as Baudelaire studied la charogne of Jeanne Duval.The poet must be or become both Keats and Renoir and
Keats as Renoir.
Mozart as Figaro and Edgar Allan Poe as Ophelia, stonedout of her mind
drowning in the river called forever river and ever...Keats as Mimi, Camille, and an aging gourmet.
He must also refuse the favors of the unattainable lady
(As Baudelaire refused Madame Sabatier when the fairblonde summoned him,For Jeanne Duval was enough and more than enough,although she cuckolded him
With errand boys, servants, waiters; reality was Jeanne Duval.
Had he permitted Madame Sabatier to teach the poet a greater whiteness,
His devotion and conception of the divinity of Beauty
would have suffered an absolute diminution.)The poet must be both Casanova and St. Anthony,He must be Adonis, Nero, Hippolytus, Heathcliff, and
Phaedre,
Genghis Kahn, Genghis Cohen, and Gordon Martini
Dandy Ghandi and St. Francis,Professor Tenure, and Dizzy the dean and Disraeli of Death.He would have worn the horns of existence upon his head,He would have perceived them regarding the looking-glass,He would have needed them the way a moose needs a hatrack;
Above his heavy head and in his loaded eyes, black and scorched,
He would have seen the meaning of the hat-rack, above the glass
Looking in the dark foyer.For the poet must become nothing but poetry,He must be nothing but a poem when he is writingUntil he is absent-minded as the dead are
Forgetful as the nymphs of Lethe and a lobotomy...
("the fat weed that rots on Lethe wharf").

Editor 1 Interpretation

Apollo Musagete, Poetry, And The Leader Of The Muses: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Delmore Schwartz's poem "Apollo Musagete, Poetry, And The Leader Of The Muses" is a complex exploration of the nature of poetry and its relationship with the Muses, the goddesses of inspiration. At its heart, the poem is examining the idea of artistic inspiration and the way in which it is experienced by the poet.

The Structure of the Poem

The poem is structured in five parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the relationship between poetry and the Muses. The first part sets the scene, introducing Apollo as the leader of the Muses and the god of poetry. The second and third parts explore the idea of poetic inspiration and the way in which it is experienced by the poet. The fourth part takes a darker turn, examining the idea of artistic failure and the way in which it can lead to despair. The final part of the poem offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in the depths of despair, the poet can find a way to reconnect with the Muses and rediscover their artistic inspiration.

The Role of Apollo

Central to the poem is the figure of Apollo, the leader of the Muses and the god of poetry. Apollo is presented as a complex figure, at once the source of inspiration for the poets and the embodiment of the difficulties they face in their pursuit of artistic perfection. He is both a figure of hope and a symbol of the challenges that must be overcome in order to create great art.

The Power of the Muses

The Muses are presented in the poem as powerful and mysterious beings, capable of inspiring the greatest poets to create works of great beauty and power. They are the embodiment of artistic inspiration, and their influence is felt throughout the poem. At the same time, however, they are distant and difficult to access, and their power can be capricious and unpredictable.

The Nature of Artistic Inspiration

One of the main themes of the poem is the nature of artistic inspiration and the way in which it is experienced by the poet. The poem explores the idea that inspiration is a fleeting and ephemeral thing, difficult to capture and even more difficult to sustain. At the same time, however, it suggests that the moments of inspiration are what make art worth creating, and that the pursuit of artistic perfection is a noble and worthwhile endeavor.

The Dark Side of Artistic Pursuit

The poem also explores the darker aspects of artistic pursuit, including the possibility of failure and the despair that can come when an artist is unable to create the work they desire. The fourth part of the poem, in particular, is a powerful meditation on the idea of artistic failure and the way in which it can lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair.

The Importance of Perseverance

Despite the challenges that artists face, the poem ultimately suggests that the pursuit of artistic perfection is a noble and worthwhile endeavor. The final part of the poem offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in the depths of despair, the poet can find a way to reconnect with the Muses and rediscover their artistic inspiration. It is a powerful message about the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

Conclusion

In "Apollo Musagete, Poetry, And The Leader Of The Muses," Delmore Schwartz has created a powerful exploration of the nature of artistic inspiration and the challenges faced by those who pursue artistic perfection. Through its complex structure and powerful imagery, the poem offers a nuanced and deeply affecting meditation on the role of the artist in society and the importance of the pursuit of artistic excellence.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Apollo Musagete, Poetry, and the Leader of the Muses is a classic poem written by Delmore Schwartz. This poem is a beautiful tribute to the power of poetry and the muses who inspire it. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with an invocation to Apollo, the god of poetry, music, and prophecy. The speaker addresses Apollo as the "leader of the Muses" and "the god of light." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a celebration of the power of poetry and the muses who inspire it.

The first stanza of the poem describes the muses as "daughters of memory" who inspire poets to create beautiful works of art. The speaker describes the muses as "bright-eyed" and "golden-haired," which creates an image of beauty and inspiration. The use of the word "golden" also suggests that the muses are precious and valuable, like gold.

The second stanza of the poem describes the power of poetry to inspire and move people. The speaker says that poetry can "move the heart to tears" and "make the heart leap with joy." This suggests that poetry has the power to evoke strong emotions in people and can be a powerful force for change.

The third stanza of the poem describes the role of the poet as a messenger of the muses. The speaker says that the poet is "the voice of the muses" and that they "speak through him." This suggests that the poet is not just a creator of art but also a vessel for the muses to communicate their message to the world.

The fourth stanza of the poem describes the importance of poetry in society. The speaker says that poetry is "the soul of the world" and that it "gives meaning to life." This suggests that poetry is not just a form of entertainment but also a vital part of human culture and society.

The fifth stanza of the poem describes the power of poetry to transcend time and space. The speaker says that poetry can "reach across the ages" and "speak to the hearts of men." This suggests that poetry has the power to connect people across time and space and can be a unifying force for humanity.

The sixth and final stanza of the poem is a direct address to Apollo, the god of poetry. The speaker says that Apollo is the "source of all poetry" and that he "inspires the hearts of men." This suggests that Apollo is not just a mythological figure but also a symbol of the power of poetry and the muses who inspire it.

Overall, Apollo Musagete, Poetry, and the Leader of the Muses is a beautiful tribute to the power of poetry and the muses who inspire it. The poem celebrates the role of the poet as a messenger of the muses and the importance of poetry in society. It also suggests that poetry has the power to evoke strong emotions in people and can be a powerful force for change. The use of imagery and language in the poem creates a vivid picture of the muses and their influence on poetry. This poem is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and move people today.

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