'January 1939' by Dylan Thomas

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Because the pleasure-bird whistles after the hot wires,
Shall the blind horse sing sweeter?
Convenient bird and beast lie lodged to suffer
The supper and knives of a mood.
In the sniffed and poured snow on the tip of the tongue of the year
That clouts the spittle like bubbles with broken rooms,
An enamoured man alone by the twigs of his eyes, two fires,
Camped in the drug-white shower of nerves and food,
Savours the lick of the times through a deadly wood of hair
In a wind that plucked a goose,
Nor ever, as the wild tongue breaks its tombs,
Rounds to look at the red, wagged root.
Because there stands, one story out of the bum city,
That frozen wife whose juices drift like a fixed sea
Secretly in statuary,
Shall I, struck on the hot and rocking street,
Not spin to stare at an old year
Toppling and burning in the muddle of towers and galleries
Like the mauled pictures of boys?
The salt person and blasted place
I furnish with the meat of a fable.
If the dead starve, their stomachs turn to tumble
An upright man in the antipodes
Or spray-based and rock-chested sea:
Over the past table I repeat this present grace.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dylan Thomas' "Poetry, January 1939": An Analysis of the Complexities of Poetry

As one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, Dylan Thomas has left behind a rich legacy of poetic works that continue to inspire readers and writers alike. Among his many memorable poems, "Poetry, January 1939" stands out for its unique exploration of the nature of poetry itself. In this essay, we will delve into the intricacies of this poem, analyzing its language, structure, and themes to uncover its deeper meanings.

The Poem

Before we begin our analysis, let us first take a look at the poem itself:

In January of 1939
I was seventeen and
Working in a small hotel
In Worcester, Massachusetts.

Snow fell steadily
As I wheeled my
Cheap Second-hand bicycle,
In a long line of bicycles,

Through the icy streets
Of that town, past
The common filled with
Skating children and the moon
Swinging on its string over
The closed white shops.

Down one of the long streets
I looked at a clock-face
Towered above me
And saw that it was not
Only twelve o'clock but cold
As a witch's tit.

(I heard someone say
That once and I laughed)
And pedaled on behind
My rubber hood, over the
Drifts, to work.

I pedaled past a house
Where a woman in a tam
Stood in her doorway,
Watching me even as
She called her children in.

And I thought of snow
And three stops on the
Lunch-houred bus and
The sweetish smell of
Burning maple leaves.

I thought of the boy
Who had drowned himself
And left his hand writing
On the river-bank.

At first glance, "Poetry, January 1939" appears to be a simple, straightforward narrative poem. In fact, it reads almost like a diary entry, chronicling the mundane experiences of the poet as a young man working in a hotel in Worcester, Massachusetts. However, as we will see, there is much more to this poem than meets the eye.

Language and Structure

One of the most striking aspects of "Poetry, January 1939" is its use of language. Thomas is a master of metaphor and imagery, and this poem is no exception. Consider, for example, the opening lines:

Snow fell steadily
As I wheeled my
Cheap Second-hand bicycle,
In a long line of bicycles,

Here, Thomas uses the image of falling snow to create a sense of stillness and solitude, which is then juxtaposed against the image of a long line of bicycles, suggesting movement and community. This contrast is further heightened by the use of the word "steadily," which implies a sense of inevitability or persistence.

Throughout the poem, Thomas employs a range of literary devices to create a vivid and evocative picture of his surroundings. He uses alliteration ("closed white shops") and assonance ("sweetish smell") to create a musical quality to the language. He uses repetition ("I pedaled...") to reinforce the sense of movement and rhythm in the poem. And he uses metaphor ("the moon / Swinging on its string") to imbue the poem with a sense of wonder and magic.

In terms of structure, "Poetry, January 1939" is divided into four stanzas of varying length. The first two stanzas describe the poet's journey to work, while the third stanza introduces a new image - that of a woman in a tam - and the poet's thoughts about the smell of burning maple leaves. The final stanza introduces a more somber note, with the poet reflecting on the suicide of a young boy and the message he left behind.

Themes

At its core, "Poetry, January 1939" is a poem about the power and meaning of poetry itself. Throughout the poem, Thomas uses imagery and metaphor to explore the ways in which poetry can capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Consider, for example, the following lines:

Down one of the long streets
I looked at a clock-face
Towered above me
And saw that it was not
Only twelve o'clock but cold
As a witch's tit.

Here, Thomas uses the image of a clock-face to suggest the arbitrary and mechanical nature of time, which is then contrasted with the visceral and almost shocking image of a "witch's tit." This metaphor not only captures the coldness of the winter day, but also suggests the power of poetry to evoke strong emotions and challenge our expectations.

Similarly, the image of the woman in the tam and the smell of burning maple leaves suggest a world beyond the confines of the poet's daily routine. These images evoke a sense of nostalgia and yearning, suggesting that poetry can help us to transcend our mundane experiences and connect with something deeper and more meaningful.

Finally, the image of the boy who drowned himself and left his hand writing on the river-bank is perhaps the most powerful and poignant in the poem. Here, Thomas suggests that poetry can serve as a means of communication and connection, even in the face of tragedy and loss. By reflecting on the boy's message, the poet is able to connect with something larger and more profound than his own immediate surroundings.

Conclusion

In the end, "Poetry, January 1939" is a complex and multifaceted poem that rewards careful reading and analysis. Through its use of vivid imagery, musical language, and poignant themes, Thomas explores the power and meaning of poetry itself, showing us how it can help us to connect with the world around us and transcend our mundane experiences. As such, this poem stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry and the enduring legacy of Dylan Thomas as one of its greatest practitioners.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dylan Thomas' Poetry January 1939: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Emotion

Dylan Thomas' Poetry January 1939 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of winter in all its beauty and brutality. Written in Thomas' signature style, the poem is a vivid portrayal of the season's harshness and the poet's own inner turmoil. In this article, we will explore the poem's themes, structure, and language, and analyze its significance in the context of Thomas' body of work.

The poem begins with a powerful image of winter's arrival: "A cold wind blows through the bleakness of January." The use of the word "bleakness" sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Thomas describes the desolate landscape and the poet's own sense of isolation. The wind is a recurring motif throughout the poem, representing the harshness of the season and the poet's own emotional turmoil.

The first stanza sets the scene for the rest of the poem, as Thomas describes the "frosty fields" and the "bare trees." The imagery is stark and vivid, painting a picture of a world stripped of its color and life. The poet's use of personification is particularly effective here, as he describes the trees as "shivering" and the fields as "numb." This creates a sense of empathy between the reader and the natural world, as we are invited to share in the pain and suffering of the season.

The second stanza shifts the focus to the poet's own emotions, as he describes his "lonely heart" and his "aching bones." The use of the word "lonely" is particularly poignant, as it suggests a sense of isolation and despair that is mirrored in the natural world. The poet's use of metaphor is also effective here, as he compares his heart to a "frozen lake" and his bones to "brittle twigs." This creates a sense of fragility and vulnerability that is echoed in the imagery of the winter landscape.

The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, as Thomas describes the "frozen tears" that "cling to my face." This image is both beautiful and haunting, capturing the paradoxical nature of winter as a season of both beauty and brutality. The poet's use of alliteration and assonance is particularly effective here, as he describes the "crystal cold" and the "icy tears." This creates a sense of musicality and rhythm that is echoed throughout the poem.

The fourth stanza returns to the natural world, as Thomas describes the "snowy hills" and the "frosty streams." The imagery is once again stark and vivid, painting a picture of a world frozen in time. The poet's use of metaphor is also effective here, as he compares the hills to "white tombs" and the streams to "icy veins." This creates a sense of morbidity and death that is echoed in the poet's own sense of isolation and despair.

The fifth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, as Thomas describes the "cold moon" that "casts a silver light." The moon is a recurring motif throughout the poem, representing the poet's own sense of longing and his search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. The use of the word "silver" is particularly effective here, as it suggests a sense of beauty and purity that is echoed in the natural world.

In terms of structure, the poem is divided into five stanzas of four lines each. The use of quatrains creates a sense of symmetry and balance that is echoed in the imagery of the winter landscape. The poem is also written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This creates a sense of fluidity and spontaneity that is echoed in the poet's own sense of emotional turmoil.

In terms of language, the poem is characterized by Thomas' use of vivid imagery and metaphor. The poet's use of personification is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of empathy between the reader and the natural world. The use of alliteration and assonance is also effective, creating a sense of musicality and rhythm that is echoed throughout the poem.

In the context of Thomas' body of work, Poetry January 1939 is significant for its exploration of the themes of isolation, despair, and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. The poem is also significant for its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, which would become hallmarks of Thomas' later work.

In conclusion, Dylan Thomas' Poetry January 1939 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of winter in all its beauty and brutality. The poem is characterized by Thomas' use of vivid imagery and metaphor, and is significant for its exploration of the themes of isolation, despair, and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it.

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