'I Have Longed To Move Away' by Dylan Thomas

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I have longed to move away
From the hissing of the spent lie
And the old terrors' continual cry
Growing more terrible as the day
Goes over the hill into the deep sea;
I have longed to move away
From the repetition of salutes,
For there are ghosts in the air
And ghostly echoes on paper,
And the thunder of calls and notes.I have longed to move away but am afraid;
Some life, yet unspent, might explode
Out of the old lie burning on the ground,
And, crackling into the air, leave me half-blind.
Neither by night's ancient fear,
The parting of hat from hair,
Pursed lips at the receiver,
Shall I fall to death's feather.
By these I would not care to die,
Half convention and half lie.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"I Have Longed To Move Away" by Dylan Thomas: A Deeper Look

Are you familiar with the poem "I Have Longed To Move Away"? If not, you're in for a treat. This Dylan Thomas classic is a beautiful and complex piece that deserves a deeper look. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we'll take a closer look at the themes, structure, and language of this poem.

The Poem

First, let's take a look at the poem itself:

I have longed to move away
From the hissing of the spent lie
And the old terrors' continual cry
Growing more terrible as the day
Goes over the hill into the deep sea;
I have longed to move away
From the repetition of salutes,
For there are ghosts in the air
And ghostly echoes on paper,
And the thunder of calls and notes.
I have longed to move away but am afraid;
Some life, yet unspent, might explode
Out of the old lie burning on the ground,
And, crackling into the air, leave me half-blind.
Neither by night's ancient fear,
The parting of hat from hair,
Pursed lips at the receiver,
Shall I fall foul of the tightened rein,
The ringed eye, the manager's mane.
I have sat too long here.

At first glance, the poem seems to be about the speaker's desire to escape from something that is causing them fear and discomfort. The imagery used in the poem is vivid and evocative, and we can almost feel the speaker's urgency to get away from whatever is haunting them.

Themes

Upon deeper analysis, it becomes clear that the poem is about more than just the speaker's desire to escape. There are several themes at play here, including:

The Desire for Freedom

At its core, "I Have Longed To Move Away" is about the speaker's desire for freedom. They want to escape from something that is holding them back and preventing them from living their life to the fullest. This theme is evident in lines such as "I have longed to move away" and "I have sat too long here." The speaker feels trapped, and they want nothing more than to break free.

The Burden of the Past

Another theme that is present in the poem is the burden of the past. The speaker is haunted by "ghosts in the air" and "ghostly echoes on paper," and they are afraid that "some life, yet unspent, might explode out of the old lie burning on the ground." This suggests that the speaker has experienced some trauma or hardship in their past that continues to affect them in the present.

The Fear of Conformity

Finally, the poem touches on the fear of conformity. The repetition of salutes and the thunder of calls and notes suggest that the speaker is part of a larger organization or system, and they feel suffocated by the expectations placed upon them. They do not want to fall foul of the "tightened rein" or the "manager's mane," and they fear that conforming to these expectations will prevent them from living a fulfilling life.

Structure

Now that we've explored the themes of the poem, let's take a look at its structure. "I Have Longed To Move Away" is a 14-line poem, which makes it a sonnet. However, it does not follow the traditional rhyme scheme of a sonnet (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG). Instead, it has a more free-form structure, with a loose rhyme scheme (AAABCBDDDEEEFF).

The use of enjambment in the poem is also noteworthy. The lines flow into each other, creating a sense of urgency and momentum. This is particularly evident in the first stanza, where the first three lines flow seamlessly into each other:

I have longed to move away
From the hissing of the spent lie
And the old terrors' continual cry

The lack of punctuation in these lines creates a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the speaker is rushing to get their thoughts out.

Language

Finally, let's take a look at the language used in the poem. One of the most striking things about "I Have Longed To Move Away" is its use of vivid and evocative imagery. The hissing of the spent lie, the old terrors' continual cry, and the thunder of calls and notes all create a sense of unease and discomfort.

The use of alliteration and assonance is also noteworthy. In the first stanza, the repetition of the "s" sound in "spend lie" and "old terrors' continual cry" creates a hissing sound that adds to the sense of unease. The repetition of the "g" sound in "growing more terrible as the day goes over the hill" creates a sense of foreboding.

Finally, the use of metaphor in the poem is particularly effective. The "old lie burning on the ground" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's past trauma or hardship, and the fear that it might "explode" suggests that the speaker is still grappling with the emotional fallout of this experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "I Have Longed To Move Away" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores themes of freedom, the burden of the past, and the fear of conformity. Its free-form structure and use of enjambment create a sense of urgency and momentum, and its vivid and evocative imagery and effective use of alliteration, assonance, and metaphor make it a pleasure to read and analyze. Dylan Thomas was a true master of his craft, and this poem is a testament to his skill and artistry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry I Have Longed To Move Away: A Masterpiece by Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his vivid and imaginative use of language in his poetry. His works are often characterized by their musicality, their rich imagery, and their exploration of the human condition. One of his most famous poems, "Poetry I Have Longed To Move Away," is a perfect example of his unique style and vision.

The poem is a meditation on the power of poetry and its ability to transport us to other worlds and other states of being. It begins with the speaker expressing his desire to escape from the mundane world of everyday life and to enter into a realm of pure imagination and creativity. He longs to be free from the constraints of time and space, to be able to explore the depths of his own mind and soul.

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its dreamlike imagery and its sense of longing and yearning. The speaker describes himself as a "stranger" in his own world, a wanderer who is searching for something beyond the ordinary. He speaks of "the green land of poetry," a place where he can find solace and inspiration, and where he can escape from the "grey" and "dull" world of reality.

The second stanza continues this theme of escape and transcendence, as the speaker describes the power of poetry to transport us to other worlds and other times. He speaks of "the bright valleys of song," where he can find beauty and joy, and where he can forget the troubles and sorrows of his everyday life. He also speaks of the "dark woods of error," where he can confront his own fears and doubts, and where he can find the courage to face the challenges of life.

The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful and evocative of the poem, as the speaker describes the transformative power of poetry to change our very being. He speaks of how poetry can "make a stone sing," how it can turn "water into a singing wine," and how it can "make the heart leap." He also speaks of how poetry can "make the blood run backwards," how it can "turn the world upside down," and how it can "make the sky green."

The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a sense of wonder and awe. The speaker describes how he has "longed to move away" from the world of reality and to enter into the world of poetry, where he can find freedom and inspiration. He speaks of how he has "longed to be lost" in the world of imagination, where he can explore the depths of his own soul and discover new truths about himself and the world around him.

In conclusion, "Poetry I Have Longed To Move Away" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a testament to the power of language and imagination to transform our lives and our world. Dylan Thomas's use of vivid imagery, musical language, and profound insights into the human condition make this poem a timeless classic that continues to inspire and move readers today. Whether we are seeking to escape from the mundane world of everyday life or to explore the depths of our own souls, this poem reminds us of the transformative power of poetry to transport us to new worlds and new possibilities.

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