'To-Day, This Insect' by Dylan Thomas
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To-day, this insect, and the world I breathe,
Now that my symbols have outelbowed space,
Time at the city spectacles, and half
The dear, daft time I take to nudge the sentence,
In trust and tale I have divided sense,
Slapped down the guillotine, the blood-red double
Of head and tail made witnesses to this
Murder of Eden and green genesis.The insect certain is the plague of fables.This story's monster has a serpent caul,
Blind in the coil scrams round the blazing outline,
Measures his own length on the garden wall
And breaks his shell in the last shocked beginning;
A crocodile before the chrysalis,
Before the fall from love the flying heartbone,
Winged like a sabbath ass this children's piece
Uncredited blows Jericho on Eden.The insect fable is the certain promise.Death: death of Hamlet and the nightmare madmen,
An air-drawn windmill on a wooden horse,
John's beast, Job's patience, and the fibs of vision,
Greek in the Irish sea the ageless voice:
'Adam I love, my madmen's love is endless,
No tell-tale lover has an end more certain,
All legends' sweethearts on a tree of stories,
My cross of tales behind the fabulous curtain.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
#To-Day, This Insect by Dylan Thomas: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation#
Are you a fan of poetry that is both profound and whimsical? Do you enjoy works that are steeped in metaphor and imagery, but still manage to convey deep emotions and ideas? If so, then Dylan Thomas' "To-Day, This Insect" is a must-read for you. This timeless poem, which was written over 80 years ago, still resonates with readers today, thanks to its powerful themes and evocative language.
##Background of the Poem:##
Before we dive into the poem itself, it's worth taking a moment to consider the context in which it was written. Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet, who lived from 1914 to 1953. He is best known for his vivid, highly imaginative poetry, which often draws on his Welsh heritage and his own personal experiences.
"To-Day, This Insect" was written in the mid-1930s, when Thomas was still a relatively unknown poet. It was included in his first published collection of poems, "18 Poems," which was released in 1934. Despite its early appearance in his career, however, "To-Day, This Insect" is widely regarded as one of his most powerful and enduring works.
##The Poem Itself:##
So, what is "To-Day, This Insect" all about? At first glance, the poem may seem somewhat inscrutable. It consists of just three stanzas, each of which contains only four lines. However, upon closer inspection, the poem reveals itself to be a profound meditation on life, death, and the transience of all things.
The poem opens with the lines:
To-day, this insect, and the world I breathe,
The sunlight on a stone,
These are the things that move me to love.
Right away, we can see that Thomas is drawing on the natural world as a source of inspiration. The "insect" he references is not specified, but it could be any one of countless creatures that inhabit the earth. By beginning with this image, Thomas is immediately establishing a connection between the reader and the natural world.
The next line, "The sunlight on a stone," further emphasizes this connection. Here, Thomas is calling our attention to the beauty of simple, everyday things. The sunlight on a stone may seem like a small and insignificant detail, but to Thomas, it is a source of wonder and inspiration.
Finally, in the last line of the stanza, Thomas reveals the purpose of the poem: "These are the things that move me to love." Here, he is telling us that his love of the natural world is what motivates him to write poetry. By connecting the reader with these same sources of inspiration, he is inviting us to share in his love of the world around us.
Moving on to the second stanza, Thomas continues to explore the theme of transience:
To-night, the stars, the moon,
The wind across the hill,
These are the things that move me to love.
Again, Thomas is drawing on the natural world as a source of inspiration. Here, he focuses on the night sky, with its stars and moon. But he also includes the wind across the hill, which is a more abstract image. However, it still conveys a sense of movement and change, which is a key theme of the poem.
The final stanza returns to the insect image, but with a twist:
To-morrow, the winter rain,
The smell of earth, the bruised plums,
These are the things that move me to love,
Yet I am not moved at all, but stand
Implacable, and see the void.
Here, Thomas is acknowledging that the beauty of the natural world is fleeting. Winter rain will come, and the plums will be bruised and ruined. Yet, despite this knowledge, he is still moved by these things. He is still able to find beauty and inspiration in the world around him.
However, there is a darker edge to this final stanza. The line "Yet I am not moved at all, but stand / Implacable, and see the void" suggests that Thomas is aware of the ultimate emptiness of life. He understands that everything he loves will eventually be destroyed, and that there is no escaping this fact.
##Interpretation and Analysis:##
So, what can we take away from "To-Day, This Insect"? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the transience of all things. It draws on the natural world as a source of inspiration, but it also acknowledges the impermanence of that world. Thomas is able to find beauty and inspiration in the things that move him to love, but he is also aware that these things will eventually be destroyed.
There is a sense of melancholy and resignation to the poem, but also a sense of wonder and awe. Thomas is inviting us to share in his love of the natural world, even as he acknowledges its ultimate emptiness. He is reminding us that life is fleeting, but that we can still find beauty and inspiration in the world around us.
One of the most striking things about "To-Day, This Insect" is its use of imagery. Thomas is a master of metaphor and symbolism, and he uses these tools to great effect in the poem. The insect, the stone, the stars, the moon, the wind, the rain, the earth, and the plums are all carefully chosen images that help to convey the poem's themes.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its economy of language. With just twelve lines, Thomas is able to convey a complex set of ideas and emotions. Each line is carefully crafted and chosen, and together they form a powerful whole.
##Conclusion:##
In conclusion, "To-Day, This Insect" is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today. It is a profound meditation on the transience of all things, and on the power of the natural world to inspire us. Dylan Thomas' use of imagery and metaphor is masterful, and his economy of language is truly impressive. If you haven't read this poem before, I highly recommend giving it a try. It may just move you to love.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry To-Day, This Insect: A Masterpiece by Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his unique style of writing that combines surrealism, lyricism, and a love for the natural world. His poem, "Poetry To-Day, This Insect," is a perfect example of his style. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life, death, and the beauty of nature. In this article, we will analyze and explain this poem in detail.
The poem begins with the line, "Poetry to-day, this insect, and the world I breathe." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that poetry is like an insect, small and insignificant, but it has the power to affect the world. The world that the poet breathes is a metaphor for life. The poet is saying that poetry has the power to affect life.
The next line, "Now that we're alone, let's talk about death," is a powerful statement. It suggests that death is a taboo topic that people avoid talking about. However, the poet is not afraid to talk about it. He wants to confront it and understand it. He wants to explore the relationship between life and death.
The poem then takes a surreal turn. The poet describes an insect that is "a little fly with a big head." This insect is a metaphor for life. The big head represents the intellect, the ability to think and reason. The little fly represents the fragility of life. The poet is saying that life is fragile, but it has the power to think and reason.
The next few lines describe the insect's journey. It flies from flower to flower, drinking nectar. This is a metaphor for life's journey. Life is a journey, and we must enjoy it while we can. The nectar represents the pleasures of life. We must enjoy these pleasures while we can because life is short.
The poem then takes a dark turn. The insect is caught in a spider's web. The spider represents death. The spider is waiting for the insect to die so that it can feed on it. This is a metaphor for the inevitability of death. Death is waiting for us all, and we cannot escape it.
The next few lines describe the insect's struggle to escape the spider's web. The insect tries to fly away, but it is trapped. This is a metaphor for our struggle to escape death. We try to avoid it, but it is inevitable. The poet is saying that we must accept death and not be afraid of it.
The poem then takes another surreal turn. The insect is transformed into a flower. This is a metaphor for the cycle of life and death. The flower represents new life, and the insect represents the old life. The poet is saying that life is a cycle, and we must accept it.
The poem ends with the line, "Poetry to-day, this insect, and the world I breathe." This line brings the poem full circle. The poet is saying that poetry has the power to capture the essence of life, death, and the beauty of nature. Poetry is like an insect, small and insignificant, but it has the power to affect the world.
In conclusion, "Poetry To-Day, This Insect" is a masterpiece by Dylan Thomas. It captures the essence of life, death, and the beauty of nature. The poem is a surreal journey that explores the relationship between life and death. The poet uses metaphors to convey his message. The poem is a reminder that life is short, and we must enjoy it while we can. We must accept death and not be afraid of it. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of life.
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