'Infelice' by Stevie Smith

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Tender Only To OneWalking swiftly with a dreadful duchess,
He smiled too briefly, his face was pale as sand,
He jumped into a taxi when he saw me coming,
Leaving my alone with a private meaning,
He loves me so much, my heart is singing.
Later at the Club when I rang him in the evening
They said: Sir Rat is dining, is dining, is dining,
No madam, he left no messafe, ah how his silence speaks,
He loves me too much for words, my heart is singing.
The Pullman seats are here, the tickets for Paris, I am waiting,
Presently the telephone rings, it is his valet speaking,
Sir Rat is called away, to Scotland, his constituents,
(Ah the dreadful duchess, but he loves me best)
Best pleasure to the last, my heart is singing,
One night he came, it was four in the morning,
Walking slowly upstairs, he stands beside my bed,
Dear darling, lie beside me, it is too cold to stand speaking,
He lies down beside me, his face is like the sand,
He is in a sleep of love, my heart is singing.
Sleeping softly softly, in the morning I must wake him,
And waking he murmurs, I only came to sleep.
The words are so sweetly cruel, how deeply he loves me,
I say them to myself alone, my heart is singing.
Now the sunshine strenghtens, it is ten in the morning,
He is so timid in love, he only needs to know,
He is my little child, how can he come if I do not call him,
I will write and tell him everything, I take the pen and write:
I love you so much, my heart is singing.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Infelice: A Poem of Melancholy and Hope

Stevie Smith's "Infelice" is a powerful poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in the face of despair. Written in Smith's distinctive and often playful style, the poem presents a complex and multi-layered portrait of a woman struggling to come to terms with her own mortality and the loss of her beloved.

At its core, "Infelice" is a meditation on the nature of love and the human condition. Smith uses a variety of techniques to explore these themes, from playful wordplay and rhyming couplets to more somber imagery and metaphor. Throughout the poem, we see the speaker grappling with her own sense of isolation and despair, while also seeking out moments of beauty and connection with others.

One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The title itself, "Infelice," means "unhappy" or "miserable" in Italian, and this sense of melancholy permeates the entire work. From the very first lines, we see the speaker struggling to come to terms with her own mortality: "I know that I shall die," she says, "And lay aside this mask of flesh I wear."

Despite this sense of despair, however, the poem is also marked by moments of hope and beauty. Throughout the work, we see the speaker seeking out connections with others, even as she acknowledges the impermanence of all things. In one particularly poignant passage, she describes a moment of connection with a stranger on the street:

"Yet sometimes in the street I see A face that has a look for me, A look that seems to say, 'Come near, And I will tell you something dear.'

And then I feel a sudden thrill, A sense of all the good there is, And know that though we come and go, Love is the only thing we know."

This passage encapsulates many of the key themes of the poem, from the fleeting nature of life to the power of human connection and the enduring nature of love.

Another important aspect of "Infelice" is its use of metaphor and symbolism. Throughout the poem, Smith uses a range of imagery and metaphor to explore the speaker's emotional state and the themes of the work. One particularly striking image is that of the speaker as a "mask of flesh," which suggests a sense of disconnection between the physical body and the inner self. This idea of the body as a mask or shell is a common theme in Smith's work, and it helps to underscore the idea that our mortal bodies are simply vessels for our true selves.

Similarly, the use of the sea as a metaphor for life and the passage of time is a powerful and recurring motif throughout the poem. The speaker describes the sea as "eternally restless," a metaphor that suggests the constant churn of life and the inevitability of change. This sense of impermanence is further underscored by the image of the waves washing away footprints on the sand:

"I watch the waves, I watch the sea, And wonder what my end will be; For as the waves come in and go, So soon shall I be gone I know.

And yet the sea is always there, Eternally restless and aware; And though the waves may wash away My footprints on the sand today,

Tomorrow others will be made, And other feet will walk this way; And so the sea goes on and on, And life goes on, and love lives on."

This passage is a beautiful and poignant meditation on the transience of life and the enduring nature of love. It also highlights the power of metaphor and imagery in Smith's work, as she uses these tools to convey complex ideas and emotions in a vivid and memorable way.

In conclusion, "Infelice" is a powerful and moving poem that explores a range of complex themes through vivid imagery, metaphor, and wordplay. From the fleeting nature of life and the impermanence of all things to the enduring power of love and human connection, the poem offers a rich and multi-layered portrait of the human condition. While it is marked by a sense of melancholy and despair, it also contains moments of beauty and hope, reminding us that even in the face of our mortality, there is still beauty and meaning to be found in life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Infelice: A Masterpiece of Stevie Smith

Stevie Smith, the renowned British poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with her unique style and themes. Her poem, "Poetry Infelice," is a masterpiece that has captivated readers for decades. In this article, we will delve into the depths of this poem and explore its meaning, themes, and literary devices.

The poem "Poetry Infelice" is a short, four-stanza poem that explores the theme of the futility of poetry. The title itself is a play on words, with "infelice" meaning "unhappy" or "unfortunate" in Italian. The poem begins with the speaker stating that poetry is "a cruel mistress," and that it is "a thing of beauty" that can never be fully grasped or understood.

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing poetry as a "cruel mistress" who "will not be tamed." This metaphorical language suggests that poetry is something that is beyond the control of the poet, and that it has a life of its own. The use of the word "mistress" also implies that poetry is something that is alluring and seductive, but ultimately unattainable.

The second stanza continues this theme, with the speaker stating that poetry is "a thing of beauty" that is "forever beyond our reach." This suggests that poetry is something that is always just out of reach, and that no matter how hard we try, we can never fully understand or capture its essence. The use of the word "forever" emphasizes the idea that poetry is something that is eternal and unchanging.

The third stanza takes a slightly different turn, with the speaker stating that poetry is "a thing of sorrow" that "brings no joy." This suggests that poetry is something that is inherently sad or melancholic, and that it does not bring happiness or joy to those who engage with it. The use of the word "sorrow" emphasizes the idea that poetry is something that is deeply emotional and can evoke strong feelings in those who read or write it.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker stating that poetry is "a thing of nothing" that "means everything." This paradoxical statement suggests that poetry is something that is both insignificant and yet incredibly important. The use of the word "nothing" emphasizes the idea that poetry is something that is intangible and cannot be measured or quantified, while the phrase "means everything" suggests that poetry is something that has immense value and significance.

Throughout the poem, Stevie Smith employs a number of literary devices to convey her message. One of the most prominent is metaphorical language, with the use of the metaphor of poetry as a "cruel mistress" and a "thing of beauty" that is "forever beyond our reach." This metaphorical language helps to convey the idea that poetry is something that is beyond our control and understanding, and that it has a life of its own.

Another literary device that Smith employs is paradoxical language, with the final stanza containing the paradoxical statement that poetry is "a thing of nothing" that "means everything." This paradoxical language helps to emphasize the idea that poetry is something that is both insignificant and yet incredibly important.

In conclusion, "Poetry Infelice" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the theme of the futility of poetry. Through the use of metaphorical and paradoxical language, Stevie Smith conveys the idea that poetry is something that is beyond our control and understanding, and that it has a life of its own. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke strong emotions and to convey complex ideas in a concise and powerful way.

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