'The Dream' by Louise Bogan
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O God, in the dream the terrible horse began
To paw at the air, and make for me with his blows,
Fear kept for thirty-five years poured through his mane,
And retribution equally old, or nearly, breathed through his nose.Coward complete, I lay and wept on the ground
When some strong creature appeared, and leapt for the rein.
Another woman, as I lay half in a swound
Leapt in the air, and clutched at the leather and chain.Give him, she said, something of yours as a charm.
Throw him, she said, some poor thing you alone claim.
No, no, I cried, he hates me; he is out for harm,
And whether I yield or not, it is all the same.But, like a lion in a legend, when I flung the glove
Pulled from my sweating, my cold right hand;
The terrible beast, that no one may understand,
Came to my side, and put down his head in love.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep and Pensive Exploration of Louise Bogan’s “The Dream”
What makes a poem great? Is it the beauty of the language? The depth of its meaning? The way it transports us to a new world? These are all important aspects of poetry, but what truly makes a poem great is its ability to evoke emotion and to make the reader think deeply about the world and their place in it. Louise Bogan’s “The Dream” is a perfect example of this kind of poem.
At its core, “The Dream” is a meditation on the nature of life and death. Bogan explores the idea that we are all caught in a cycle of birth and death, and that our lives are but fleeting moments in the grand scheme of things. This is a powerful and universal theme, but what sets Bogan’s poem apart is the way she presents it.
The poem begins with a description of a dream Bogan had in which she was walking through a forest. The forest is described in vivid detail, with images of leaves and branches and sunlight filtering through the trees. This opening stanza is a perfect example of Bogan’s skill as a poet. She is able to create a world with just a few carefully chosen words, and she does it so beautifully that the reader can’t help but be drawn in.
As the poem progresses, Bogan begins to delve deeper into the nature of life and death. She writes:
“All the complicated details
of the attiring and
the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among
the long branches.
Thus having prepared their buds
against a sure winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.”
This stanza is perhaps the most haunting in the entire poem. Bogan describes the trees as “wise” for having prepared for winter, but also as “sleeping in the cold.” This is a powerful metaphor for death, suggesting that even the trees – things that we often think of as eternal – are not immune to the cycle of birth and death.
The poem continues in this vein, with Bogan exploring the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. She writes:
“I cannot say that I have gone
through the worst yet; but if ever again
I feel the wound of fire
I will recall the night
I woke:
the dark trees, the moonless night,
the scent of hay, the creek
and the willow
and the river beyond,
shall always be for me the token of the power
of love to overcome.”
Here, Bogan seems to be suggesting that the only way to overcome the fear of death is through love. This is a common theme in poetry and literature, but Bogan presents it in a new and refreshing way. Rather than simply saying that love conquers all, she suggests that it is the power of love to overcome that is important. It is not enough to simply love – one must also have the strength to face the inevitability of death and to continue living in spite of it.
Overall, “The Dream” is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the deepest parts of the human soul. Bogan’s language is beautiful and evocative, and her themes are universal and timeless. It is a testament to her skill as a poet that she is able to take such a well-worn topic as the cycle of life and death and make it feel fresh and new.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a poem that will make you think deeply about the nature of life and death, then look no further than Louise Bogan’s “The Dream.” This is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, and that is the mark of true greatness.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Dream: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Louise Bogan
Louise Bogan, an American poet, essayist, and literary critic, is known for her unique style of poetry that combines the elements of modernism and traditionalism. Her poem, The Dream, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of life.
The Dream is a short poem that consists of only three stanzas. However, the depth of meaning and the richness of imagery in this poem are truly remarkable. The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream that she had. In the dream, she sees a man who is "strange and beautiful." The man is described as having "eyes like pale fire" and a "face like a moon." The speaker is immediately drawn to this man, and she feels a strong connection with him.
The dream is a metaphor for the speaker's desire for something that is beyond her reach. The man in the dream represents the ideal that the speaker is striving for. He is the embodiment of all that is beautiful and perfect. However, the speaker knows that this ideal is unattainable, and she is left with nothing but the memory of the dream.
The second stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's feelings. She describes herself as being "lonely and afraid." She feels as though she is "lost in a world of stone." The imagery in this stanza is powerful and evocative. The speaker's loneliness and fear are palpable, and the reader can feel her pain.
The third and final stanza of the poem is a resolution of sorts. The speaker acknowledges that the dream is over, and she must return to reality. However, she is not defeated. She knows that the dream has given her something that she can hold onto. She says, "But I have had my dream, / I have spread my dreams under your feet; / Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."
This final stanza is a testament to the power of dreams. The speaker knows that her dream may never come true, but she also knows that it has given her something that is valuable. The dream has given her hope and inspiration. It has given her the courage to keep striving for her ideal, even if it is unattainable.
The Dream is a poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a poem about the desire for something that is beyond our reach. It is a poem about the pain of loneliness and the fear of being lost. It is a poem about the power of dreams and the hope that they can provide.
The imagery in The Dream is particularly noteworthy. Bogan uses vivid and evocative language to create a dreamlike atmosphere. The man in the dream is described as having "eyes like pale fire" and a "face like a moon." These descriptions are both beautiful and haunting. They create an image that is both alluring and mysterious.
The imagery in the second stanza is equally powerful. The speaker describes herself as being "lost in a world of stone." This image is particularly effective because it conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair. The reader can feel the weight of the speaker's loneliness and fear.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker acknowledges that the dream may never come true, but she also knows that it has given her something that is valuable. The line "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams" is particularly poignant. It is a reminder that dreams are fragile and should be treated with care.
In conclusion, The Dream is a masterpiece of poetry. It is a poem that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of life. Bogan's use of imagery is particularly noteworthy, as it creates a dreamlike atmosphere that is both beautiful and haunting. The poem is a testament to the power of dreams and the hope that they can provide. It is a poem that speaks to the human condition and reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope.
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