'I Fellowed Sleep' by Dylan Thomas
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I fellowed sleep who kissed me in the brain,
Let fall the tear of time; the sleeper's eye,
Shifting to light, turned on me like a moon.
So, planning-heeled, I flew along my man
And dropped on dreaming and the upward sky.I fled the earth and, naked, climbed the weather,
Reaching a second ground far from the stars;
And there we wept I and a ghostly other,
My mothers-eyed, upon the tops of trees;
I fled that ground as lightly as a feather.'My fathers' globe knocks on its nave and sings.'
'This that we tread was, too, your father's land.'
'But this we tread bears the angelic gangs
Sweet are their fathered faces in their wings.'
'These are but dreaming men. Breathe, and they fade.'Faded my elbow ghost, the mothers-eyed,
As, blowing on the angels, I was lost
On that cloud coast to each grave-grabbing shade;
I blew the dreaming fellows to their bed
Where still they sleep unknowing of their ghost.Then all the matter of the living air
Raised up a voice, and, climbing on the words,
I spelt my vision with a hand and hair,
How light the sleeping on this soily star,
How deep the waking in the worlded clouds.There grows the hours' ladder to the sun,
Each rung a love or losing to the last,
The inches monkeyed by the blood of man.
And old, mad man still climbing in his ghost,
My fathers' ghost is climbing in the rain.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I Fellowed Sleep": An Exploration of Dylan Thomas' Dreamlike Poetry
Introduction
Dylan Thomas, one of the most celebrated British poets of the 20th century, was known for his vivid and imaginative style. His poems often evoke a dreamlike quality, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. One such poem is "I Fellowed Sleep," first published in 1946. The poem is a haunting exploration of the speaker's encounter with Sleep, personified as a mysterious figure. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the various themes and literary devices used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
Summary of the Poem
"I Fellowed Sleep" is a 24-line poem that follows a loose ABAB rhyme scheme. The speaker begins by describing how he "fellowed" or followed Sleep, personified as a "man" with a "red skin" and a "black mask." The speaker notes that Sleep moves "silent as a glove" and invites him to join him on his journey. The speaker accepts, following Sleep "deep into the dark."
As they travel, the speaker observes the "horses" that Sleep rides, which are "whispering in their sleep." The speaker also sees "a woman" who is "dead to love," and a "man" who is "dead to music." These figures seem to represent the various states of being that one can experience in sleep.
The speaker then discovers that Sleep is leading him to a "cottage, dark as moss," where "Sleep passed through and left me." The speaker realizes that he has been left alone in the dark, but he is not afraid. He "saw the stars" and felt "the silence roar" around him, as if he had entered into a different realm.
The poem ends with the speaker contemplating the experience and asking himself if it was real. He wonders if he has truly "fellowed Sleep" or if it was all just a dream.
Literary Devices
Throughout the poem, Thomas employs various literary devices to create a dreamlike atmosphere and convey the speaker's experience. One of the most prominent devices is personification, as Sleep is given human-like qualities and is portrayed as a mysterious figure. Sleep's "red skin" and "black mask" suggest a certain danger or otherness, which adds to the poem's overall eerie tone.
Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. Thomas paints vivid pictures of the setting, describing the journey as going "deep into the dark" and the cottage as "dark as moss." The horses and the sleeping figures also create a surreal landscape that seems to exist beyond the bounds of reality.
The use of rhyme and repetition also adds to the poem's hypnotic quality. The ABAB rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality, while the repetition of the word "sleep" creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the theme of the poem.
Themes
"I Fellowed Sleep" touches on a number of themes that are commonly found in Thomas' poetry. One of the most prominent themes is the blurring of reality and fantasy. The poem questions the nature of the experience, leaving the reader unsure if it was real or imagined. This theme is further reinforced by the surreal imagery and dreamlike atmosphere.
Another theme in the poem is the exploration of the subconscious mind. The sleeping figures that the speaker observes represent different aspects of the mind, such as love and music. The poem suggests that when we sleep, we enter into a realm where these aspects can be explored and experienced in a new way.
The poem also touches on the theme of mortality. The speaker's encounter with Sleep suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something to be embraced as a journey into the unknown.
Interpretation
"I Fellowed Sleep" is a deeply symbolic poem that invites multiple interpretations. One possible interpretation is that the poem represents the journey of the soul after death. Sleep as a personification of death, leads the speaker on a journey through the afterlife, where he encounters various aspects of life and is ultimately left alone to contemplate his existence.
Another interpretation is that the poem represents the exploration of the subconscious mind. The sleeping figures that the speaker observes represent different aspects of the mind, and the journey through the dark represents the journey into the unknown depths of the mind.
A third interpretation is that the poem represents the journey of the poet. Thomas himself struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout his life, and the poem may represent his own journey through darkness and back into the light.
Conclusion
"I Fellowed Sleep" is a haunting and surreal poem that explores themes of reality and fantasy, the subconscious mind, and mortality. Through its use of vivid imagery, repetition, and personification, the poem creates a dreamlike atmosphere that invites multiple interpretations. Whether read as a journey through the afterlife, a journey into the subconscious, or a journey of the poet, the poem is a powerful exploration of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry I Fellowed Sleep: A Masterpiece of Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his unique style of writing that blends surrealism, symbolism, and vivid imagery. His poem "Poetry I Fellowed Sleep" is a masterpiece that showcases his poetic genius. The poem is a journey of the speaker's mind as he explores the realm of dreams and the power of poetry.
The poem begins with the speaker saying that he followed sleep, which is a metaphor for entering the world of dreams. The first stanza sets the tone of the poem with its surreal imagery and vivid descriptions. The speaker describes how he saw "the horses of the sea" and "the birds of the air" in his dream. These images are symbolic and represent the freedom and beauty of nature.
The second stanza is where the speaker encounters poetry. He says that he saw "the poet climb" and "the word sprout." This imagery is powerful and represents the creative process of writing poetry. The speaker is witnessing the birth of a poem, and he is in awe of the power of words.
The third stanza is where the speaker becomes one with poetry. He says that he "became the word" and "the word became a man." This is a powerful metaphor that represents the transformative power of poetry. The speaker is no longer just a witness to poetry; he has become poetry.
The fourth stanza is where the speaker realizes the power of poetry. He says that he saw "the world fall dead" and "the moon sprout." This imagery is symbolic and represents the power of poetry to create and destroy. The speaker realizes that poetry has the power to change the world.
The fifth stanza is where the speaker wakes up from his dream. He says that he "woke to hear the sea" and "the birds of the air." This imagery is symbolic and represents the return to reality. The speaker has experienced the power of poetry, but he must now return to the real world.
The final stanza is where the speaker reflects on his experience. He says that he "saw the world anew" and "the word upon the page." This imagery is symbolic and represents the transformative power of poetry. The speaker has seen the world in a new light, and he realizes the power of words to change the world.
Overall, "Poetry I Fellowed Sleep" is a powerful poem that showcases Dylan Thomas's poetic genius. The poem is a journey of the speaker's mind as he explores the realm of dreams and the power of poetry. The imagery is vivid and surreal, and the metaphors are powerful and symbolic. The poem is a testament to the transformative power of poetry and its ability to change the world.
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