'All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave' by Dylan Thomas

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All that I owe the fellows of the grave
And all the dead bequeathed from pale estates
Lies in the fortuned bone, the flask of blood,
Like senna stirs along the ravaged roots.
O all I owe is all the flesh inherits,
My fathers' loves that pull upon my nerves,
My sisters tears that sing upon my head
My brothers' blood that salts my open woundsHeir to the scalding veins that hold love's drop,
My fallen filled, that had the hint of death,
Heir to the telling senses that alone
Acquaint the flesh with a remembered itch,
I round this heritage as rounds the sun
His windy sky, and, as the candles moon,
Cast light upon my weather. I am heir
To women who have twisted their last smile,
To children who were suckled on a plague,
To young adorers dying on a kiss.
All such disease I doctor in my blood,
And all such love's a shrub sown in the breath.Then look, my eyes, upon this bonehead fortune
And browse upon the postures of the dead;
All night and day I eye the ragged globe
Through periscopes rightsighted from the grave;
All night and day I wander in these same
Wax clothes that wax upon the aging ribs;
All night my fortune slumbers in its sheet.
Then look, my heart, upon the scarlet trove,
And look, my grain, upon the falling wheat;
All night my fortune slumbers in its sheet.

Editor 1 Interpretation

All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

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Dylan Thomas' "All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave" is a poignant and powerful poem, exploring the themes of death, remembrance, and the value of human relationships. Through vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and a lyrical rhythm, Thomas invites the reader to reflect on the fragility of life, the inevitability of mortality, and the importance of cherishing those we love.

Background and Context

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, known for his use of language, imagery, and unconventional poetic forms. Born in Swansea in 1914, Thomas started writing poetry at a young age and gained recognition as one of the leading poets of his generation. He was a master of the spoken word, and his performances were often described as mesmerizing and hypnotic.

"All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave" was first published in 1946, in Thomas' collection of poems, "Deaths and Entrances". The poem was written during a period of great personal loss for Thomas, who had lost his father, a close friend, and his mother within a short period of time. The poem is a tribute to those who have passed away, and a reflection on the nature of death and remembrance.

Analysis

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each containing four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker acknowledging the inevitability of his own death:

All that I owe the fellows of the grave
And all the dead bequeathed from pale estates
Lies in the fortuned bone, the flask of blood
And marrow, all that is of me that lasts.

The use of the word "owe" suggests a debt that cannot be repaid, and the phrase "pale estates" evokes the idea of the dead as property or possessions. The image of the "fortuned bone, the flask of blood / And marrow" emphasizes the physicality of the speaker's mortality, and the fact that his body will eventually return to the earth.

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the transience of life and the importance of cherishing the time we have:

In this I pay the heavy living's debt
To the old men of love, all my dead dears,
Dead men who dreamed and loved and slept and went
On the high green hill, ate the sweet fruit of their fears.

The phrase "heavy living's debt" suggests that the speaker feels a responsibility to honor the memory of those who have passed away, and to live his own life to the fullest. The use of the word "dears" emphasizes the emotional connection the speaker had with the dead, and the phrase "ate the sweet fruit of their fears" suggests that they lived their lives without regret or hesitation.

In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on the value of human relationships, and the importance of remembering those who have passed away:

And so their ghosts do pay the secret rent
Of my strange being, lest I forget the love
That, dead, still moves inside the living heart,
That, dying, kneels and cries aloud above.

The phrase "secret rent" suggests that the memories of the dead are a hidden cost of the speaker's existence, and the use of the word "ghosts" emphasizes their continued presence in his life. The final two lines convey a sense of emotional intensity, with the speaker describing the love of the dead as something that "still moves inside the living heart" and "kneels and cries aloud above".

Interpretation

At its core, "All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave" is a meditation on the nature of death and remembrance, and the value of human relationships. The poem suggests that death is an inevitable part of life, and that we all have a debt to pay to those who have passed away. The phrase "pale estates" evokes the idea of the dead as property or possessions, suggesting that we all leave something behind when we die.

The poem also suggests that the transience of life is what gives it value. The phrase "ate the sweet fruit of their fears" suggests that the dead lived without regret or hesitation, and that we should do the same. The poem encourages us to live our lives fully, to love deeply, and to cherish the time we have with those we care about.

Finally, the poem emphasizes the importance of remembering those who have passed away. The phrase "secret rent" suggests that the memories of the dead are a hidden cost of our existence, and that we have a responsibility to honor their memory. The final two lines of the poem convey a sense of emotional intensity, suggesting that the love of the dead is something that never truly dies, and that we must continue to honor it even after they are gone.

Conclusion

"All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of death, remembrance, and the value of human relationships. Through vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and a lyrical rhythm, Dylan Thomas invites the reader to reflect on the fragility of life, the inevitability of mortality, and the importance of cherishing those we love. The poem is a tribute to those who have passed away, and a reminder of the debt we all owe to the dead.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has always been a medium of expression for artists to convey their deepest emotions and thoughts. Dylan Thomas, a Welsh poet, is known for his unique style of writing and his ability to capture the essence of life in his works. One of his most celebrated poems is "All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave," which is a poignant reflection on the inevitability of death and the legacy that we leave behind.

The poem begins with a somber tone as the speaker contemplates his own mortality. He acknowledges that death is an inevitable part of life and that he will eventually join the "fellows of the grave." However, he also recognizes that death is not the end and that his legacy will live on long after he is gone. The speaker's acceptance of his own mortality is a recurring theme throughout the poem, and it is this acceptance that allows him to reflect on the importance of his life and the impact that he has had on others.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's legacy. In the first stanza, the speaker reflects on the physical objects that he will leave behind. He acknowledges that his possessions will eventually be sold or given away, but he takes comfort in the fact that they will continue to exist in some form. He also recognizes that his possessions are not the most important part of his legacy, but rather the memories and experiences that he has shared with others.

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the impact that he has had on the people around him. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and that he has hurt others, but he also recognizes that he has brought joy and happiness to many people's lives. He takes comfort in the fact that his legacy is not just about the things he has done, but also about the people he has touched.

The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful of the poem. Here, the speaker reflects on the legacy that he will leave behind in the hearts and minds of others. He acknowledges that his physical body will eventually decay and disappear, but he takes comfort in the fact that his memory will live on. He recognizes that his legacy is not just about the things he has done or the people he has touched, but also about the impact that he has had on the world around him.

Throughout the poem, Thomas uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts. For example, in the first stanza, he describes his possessions as "the books, the pictures, the chairs, the bed" that will "survive me." This imagery creates a sense of permanence and continuity, even in the face of death. Similarly, in the second stanza, Thomas uses the metaphor of a "ripple" to describe the impact that the speaker has had on others. This metaphor conveys the idea that even small actions can have a significant impact on the world around us.

Overall, "All That I Owe The Fellows Of The Grave" is a powerful reflection on the inevitability of death and the legacy that we leave behind. The poem encourages us to think about the impact that we have on the world around us and to consider what we want our legacy to be. It reminds us that our possessions and accomplishments are not the most important part of our legacy, but rather the memories and experiences that we share with others. In the end, it is the impact that we have on the hearts and minds of others that truly matters.

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