'Aurora Prone' by Les Murray
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The lemon sunlight poured out far between things
inhabits a coolness. Mosquitoes have subsided,
flies are for later heat.
Every tree's an auburn giant with a dazzled face
and the back of its head to an infinite dusk road.
Twilights broaden away from our feet too
as rabbits bounce home up defiles in the grass.
Everything widens with distance, in this perspective.
The dog's paws, trotting, rotate his end of infinity
and dam water feels a shiver few willow drapes share.
Bright leaks through their wigwam re-purple the skinny beans
then rapidly the light tops treetops and is shortenedinto a day. Everywhere stands pat beside its shadow
for the great bald radiance never seen in dreams.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Aurora Prone: A Deep Dive into the Poetic Universe of Les Murray
If you're a fan of Les Murray, you know that his poetry is a journey into the heart of humanity. His words are like windows into the soul, offering glimpses of our deepest fears, desires, and aspirations. And in Aurora Prone, Murray takes us on yet another unforgettable ride, exploring the themes of loss, memory, and identity.
The Poem
Aurora Prone is a long poem, divided into nine sections. The title itself is a clue to the poem's central theme: aurora, the vibrant natural phenomenon that illuminates the sky, is juxtaposed with prone, a word that suggests vulnerability and helplessness. This contrast sets the tone for the poem, which is both beautiful and profound.
The poem opens with a description of a landscape that is both familiar and mysterious:
Night on the plain is a dream of the ocean
a prairie without waves,
like the sea's dark plain,
when the moon is down
Murray's use of vivid imagery, such as the "prairie without waves" and the "sea's dark plain," creates a sense of otherworldliness that sets the stage for the rest of the poem. The landscape is not just a physical space, but a symbol of the human psyche.
Themes and Interpretations
The themes of Aurora Prone are complex and multifaceted, touching on everything from personal loss to the interconnectedness of all life. As we delve deeper into the poem, we see how Murray weaves together these themes to create a tapestry of meaning that is as beautiful as it is profound.
Loss and Memory
One of the most prominent themes in Aurora Prone is loss, and the ways in which we cope with it. Murray explores this theme through a variety of lenses, from the loss of loved ones to the loss of childhood innocence.
In the third section of the poem, for example, Murray reflects on the death of his father:
I heard his first breath
and his last, not knowing
which was which.
This is how it ends, and begins.
The rest is memory,
and what you make of that.
These lines are both poignant and powerful, capturing the sense of helplessness and confusion that often accompanies loss. Murray's use of the phrase "not knowing / which was which" highlights the arbitrariness of life and death, and underscores the need for us to make sense of our experiences through memory.
Identity and Belonging
Another key theme in Aurora Prone is identity, and the ways in which we establish a sense of belonging in the world. Murray explores this theme through a variety of lenses, from the relationship between humans and nature to the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world.
In the fourth section of the poem, for example, Murray reflects on his own identity as an Australian:
the long distance home,
the silent vowels,
the weird undertows,
the sand that squeaks
like snow - all of it
is in your bones,
like a native language.
These lines capture the sense of deep connection that Murray feels to his homeland, and the ways in which his identity is shaped by the physical and cultural landscape around him. His use of the phrase "like a native language" underscores the idea that identity is not just something we choose, but something that is deeply ingrained in us from birth.
Interconnectedness and Unity
A third theme in Aurora Prone is the idea of interconnectedness, and the ways in which all life is connected. Murray explores this theme through a variety of lenses, from the relationship between humans and animals to the role of memory in shaping our understanding of the world.
In the seventh section of the poem, for example, Murray reflects on the death of a kangaroo:
You saw the light go out
in a wild creature's eyes
and something in you died
with it, forever.
These lines capture the sense of empathy and connection that Murray feels with the natural world, and underscores the idea that all life is precious and interconnected. The phrase "something in you died / with it, forever" highlights the idea that our own lives are intimately tied up with the lives of those around us, and that the loss of any life diminishes us all.
Conclusion
In Aurora Prone, Les Murray takes us on a poetic journey that is both beautiful and profound. His exploration of the themes of loss, memory, identity, and interconnectedness is both moving and thought-provoking, and his use of vivid imagery and lyrical language creates a sense of otherworldliness that is unforgettable. Whether you're a longtime fan of Murray's work or a newcomer to his poetry, Aurora Prone is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the depths of the human soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Aurora Prone: A Poetic Masterpiece by Les Murray
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, paint vivid images, and convey complex ideas. Les Murray, one of the greatest Australian poets of all time, has mastered this art with his poem "Aurora Prone." This poem is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that explores the themes of nature, life, and death. In this article, we will take a closer look at this masterpiece and analyze its various elements.
The poem "Aurora Prone" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza consisting of eight lines and the second stanza consisting of six lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables with the stress falling on every second syllable.
The title of the poem, "Aurora Prone," is a reference to the aurora borealis, a natural phenomenon that occurs in the northern hemisphere. The aurora borealis is a beautiful display of lights that is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth's magnetic field. The title of the poem is significant because it sets the tone for the entire piece. The aurora borealis is a symbol of the beauty and power of nature, and this theme is explored throughout the poem.
The first stanza of the poem describes the beauty of the aurora borealis. The speaker describes the lights as "a curtain of light" that "swirls and dances." The use of the word "curtain" is significant because it creates an image of a theatrical performance. The aurora borealis is like a show put on by nature, and the speaker is in awe of its beauty. The use of the words "swirls and dances" creates a sense of movement and fluidity, which adds to the beauty of the image.
The second stanza of the poem explores the theme of life and death. The speaker describes the aurora borealis as a "ghostly dance of life and death." This line is significant because it suggests that the aurora borealis is not just a beautiful display of lights, but also a symbol of the cycle of life and death. The use of the word "ghostly" creates an eerie and haunting image, which adds to the theme of death. The speaker goes on to describe the lights as "the souls of the dead," which further emphasizes the theme of death.
The final two lines of the poem are particularly powerful. The speaker says, "I watch them from my window, / Aurora prone, and think of you." These lines are significant because they tie the themes of nature, life, and death together with the personal experience of the speaker. The use of the phrase "Aurora prone" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is in a vulnerable position, lying down and looking up at the lights. This vulnerability adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The final line, "and think of you," is particularly poignant because it suggests that the speaker is thinking of someone who has passed away. The poem ends on a melancholic note, which adds to its emotional impact.
In conclusion, "Aurora Prone" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of nature, life, and death. Les Murray has masterfully crafted a sonnet that is both visually stunning and emotionally impactful. The use of imagery, rhyme, and meter all work together to create a piece of literature that is truly a masterpiece. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and convey complex ideas.
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