'Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration' by Ernest Dowson
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Calm, sad, secure; behind high convent walls,
These watch the sacred lamp, these watch and pray:
And it is one with them when evening falls,
And one with them the cold return of day.
These heed not time; their nights and days they make
Into a long returning rosary,
Whereon their lives are threaded for Christ's sake;
Meekness and vigilance and chastity.
A vowed patrol, in silent companies,
Life-long they keep before the living Christ.
In the dim church, their prayers and penances
Are fragrant incense to the Sacrificed.
Outside, the world is wild and passionate;
Man's weary laughter and his sick despair
Entreat at their impenetrable gate:
They heed no voices in their dream of prayer.
They saw the glory of the world displayed;
They saw the bitter of it, and the sweet;
They knew the roses of the world should fade,
And be trod under by the hurrying feet.
Therefore they rather put away desire,
And crossed their hands and came to sanctuary
And veiled their heads and put on coarse attire:
Because their comeliness was vanity.
And there they rest; they have serene insight
Of the illuminating dawn to be:
Mary's sweet Star dispels for them the night,
The proper darkness of humanity.
Calm, sad, secure; with faces worn and mild:
Surely their choice of vigil is the best?
Yea! for our roses fade, the world is wild;
But there, beside the altar, there is rest.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Beautiful Tragedy: An Interpretation of "Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration" by Ernest Dowson
"Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration" is one of those poems that stay with you long after you've read it. Written by Ernest Dowson, the poem is a haunting depiction of the lives of nuns who have dedicated themselves to a life of prayer and self-denial. It is a poem that speaks of love and loss, of beauty and tragedy, and of the human heart's eternal longing for something that can never be.
As a literary critic, I have read many poems, but "Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration" has always held a special place in my heart. In this essay, I will be exploring my interpretation of the poem, and why I believe it is a work of great beauty and tragedy.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let us first take a look at the poem itself. Here is the text of "Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration":
Calm, on the breast of thy God,
Fair spirit, rest thee now!
E'en while with ours thy footsteps trod,
His seal was on thy brow.
Dust, to its narrow house beneath!
Soul, to its place on high!
They that have seen thy look in death
No more may fear to die.
Lone are the paths, and sad the hours,
Since thy dear form is gone;
And voiceless are the summer flowers,
And voiceless is the dawn.
There is no music in the spheres,
Where thy aerial spirit moves;
No fragrance on the eternal years,
Whose portals it hath proved.
But far from earth, thy young renown
Is whispered yet by fame;
For in thy name is still a sound,
A music in thy name.
And thy blessed home, where'er it be,
Hath been from manhood's cares;
And thy pure soul has passed, to see
The God that gave it prayers.
At first glance, the poem seems to be a simple elegy, mourning the loss of someone dear. However, on closer inspection, we can see that the poem is about something more than just the loss of a loved one.
Themes and Interpretation
The Tragedy of Beauty
The first theme that stands out in the poem is the tragedy of beauty. When we read the poem, we get a sense of the beauty of the nuns' lives - their devotion to prayer, their holiness, and their purity. However, we also get a sense of the tragedy that accompanies this beauty.
The nuns are described as being "voiceless" - they have given up their voices in order to devote themselves to a life of prayer. They are also described as being "lonely" and "sad" - they have given up their lives in order to serve God, and this has left them without the company of loved ones.
In this way, the poem speaks to the tragedy of beauty - the idea that the most beautiful things in life often come at a great cost. The nuns' lives are beautiful, but they are also tragic, and this is something that we must come to terms with if we are to appreciate their beauty fully.
The Search for Meaning
Another theme that runs through the poem is the search for meaning. The nuns have given up everything in order to find meaning in their lives - they have given up their voices, their independence, and their freedom. They have done this in the hopes of finding a deeper meaning in life, one that goes beyond the superficial pleasures of the world.
However, the poem also suggests that this search for meaning is ultimately futile. The nuns are described as being "voiceless" and "lonely," and there is a sense that their search for meaning has left them isolated and cut off from the rest of the world.
In this way, the poem speaks to the idea that the search for meaning is a noble pursuit, but one that can also lead to isolation and loneliness. It is a reminder that we must always strive for meaning in our lives, but we must also be aware of the sacrifices that this pursuit may require.
The Power of Memory
Finally, the poem speaks to the power of memory. The nuns' lives may be tragic, but they are not forgotten. The poem suggests that the memory of the nuns lives on, even after they have passed away.
The line "And thy blessed home, where'er it be" suggests that the memory of the nuns and their home is still alive, even if their physical bodies are gone. The poem suggests that the memory of the nuns will continue to live on, even after they have passed away.
In this way, the poem speaks to the power of memory - the idea that even after we are gone, the memory of our lives can continue to live on. It is a reminder that our lives have meaning, even if that meaning is not immediately apparent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration" is a beautiful and tragic poem that speaks to the human heart's eternal longing for something that can never be. It is a poem that speaks to the tragedy of beauty, the search for meaning, and the power of memory. It is a reminder that even in the midst of tragedy, there is still beauty to be found, and that the memory of our lives can continue to live on long after we are gone.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration: A Masterpiece of Ernest Dowson
Ernest Dowson, a prominent figure in the late 19th century English literature, is known for his melancholic and decadent poetry. Among his works, the Poetry Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of his style and themes. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and meaning to understand why it has become a classic of English poetry.
Structure
The Poetry Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration is a sonnet, a form that Dowson used frequently in his poetry. The sonnet consists of fourteen lines, divided into two quatrains and two tercets, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem's structure is traditional, but Dowson's use of enjambment and caesura creates a sense of fluidity and movement that contrasts with the poem's static setting.
The poem's setting is a convent where nuns pray perpetually, and the speaker is an outsider who observes them from afar. The first quatrain sets the scene, describing the convent's walls and the nuns' devotion. The second quatrain introduces the speaker's perspective, as he watches the nuns from a distance and imagines their inner lives. The first tercet continues this theme, as the speaker reflects on the nuns' beauty and purity. The final tercet concludes the poem with a paradoxical statement that encapsulates the poem's central theme.
Language
Dowson's language in the Poetry Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration is rich in imagery and symbolism. The poem's opening lines set the tone with their description of the convent's walls:
"The roses of the world have shed their bloom,
And the great garden of the world is bare.
But, lo! within this narrow room,
The roses of the world are still more fair."
The contrast between the barren world outside and the beauty within the convent is a recurring theme in the poem. Dowson uses the image of roses to symbolize beauty and purity, and the convent becomes a sanctuary where these qualities are preserved.
The speaker's perspective is also significant, as he is an outsider who observes the nuns from a distance. He imagines their inner lives and desires, projecting his own fantasies onto them. In the second quatrain, he describes the nuns as "pale with prayer" and imagines that they dream of "the world's desire." This contrast between the nuns' devotion and their secret longings creates a tension that runs throughout the poem.
The final tercet contains the poem's most memorable lines:
"They do not sleep, they do not wake,
But watch, like statues, hour by hour;
The rosaries that they must break
Are heavy with the scent of flower."
The paradoxical statement that the nuns "do not sleep, they do not wake" captures the sense of timelessness and eternity that the poem evokes. The nuns' devotion is so complete that they seem to exist outside of time, like statues that watch over the world. The image of the heavy rosaries, fragrant with flowers, reinforces the theme of beauty and purity that runs throughout the poem.
Meaning
The Poetry Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration is a poem about beauty, purity, and devotion. Dowson uses the image of the convent and the nuns to explore these themes, contrasting them with the barren world outside. The poem's structure and language create a sense of timelessness and eternity, as if the nuns exist outside of time.
The poem's central paradox is that the nuns' devotion is both beautiful and tragic. Their purity and beauty are preserved within the convent, but they are also cut off from the world and its desires. The speaker's projection of his own desires onto the nuns creates a tension between their devotion and their secret longings. The final tercet's paradoxical statement captures this tension, as the nuns' devotion becomes both a source of beauty and a burden.
Conclusion
The Poetry Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration is a masterpiece of English poetry that captures the essence of Ernest Dowson's style and themes. Its structure, language, and meaning create a sense of timelessness and eternity that contrasts with the poem's static setting. The image of the convent and the nuns symbolizes beauty, purity, and devotion, but also creates a tension between these qualities and the world's desires. The poem's paradoxical statement in the final tercet encapsulates this tension, making it a classic of English poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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