'An Eastern Ballad' by Allen Ginsberg
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I speak of love that comes to mind:
The moon is faithful, although blind;
She moves in thought she cannot speak.
Perfect care has made her bleak.
I never dreamed the sea so deep,
The earth so dark; so long my sleep,
I have become another child.
I wake to see the world go wild.
Submitted by Adam Stokke
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Eastern Ballad: A Masterpiece of Eastern Philosophy and Western Poetry
An Eastern Ballad, by Allen Ginsberg, is a masterful piece of poetry that blends Eastern philosophy with Western poetic sensibilities. The poem is a testament to the author's deep understanding of Buddhism, Taoism, and other Eastern spiritual traditions, as well as his literary genius, which allows him to convey complex ideas in simple, yet powerful language.
The poem tells the story of two lovers, a man and a woman, who are separated by a great distance. The man, who is in the East, sends his love to the woman, who is in the West, through a bird. The bird brings a message of love and longing from the man to the woman, and the woman responds in kind.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which is a separate stanza. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the theme of separation and longing. The second stanza is the heart of the poem, and it deals with the nature of love and the role of the ego in relationships. The final stanza brings the poem to a close, but it also leaves the reader with a sense of hope and possibility.
The First Stanza: Setting the Scene
The first stanza of An Eastern Ballad sets the scene and introduces the theme of separation and longing. The stanza begins with the line, "I speak of love that comes to mind," which immediately establishes the theme of love. However, the next lines introduce the idea of separation and distance:
I speak of love that comes to mind:
The moon is faithful, although blind;
She moves in thought she cannot speak.
Perfect care has made her bleak.
In these lines, the moon is used as a metaphor for the lover who is far away. The moon is "faithful, although blind," which means that it is always there, even though it cannot see the person it loves. The moon "moves in thought she cannot speak," which further emphasizes the idea of separation and distance. The moon is unable to communicate directly with the person it loves, just as the lover in the East is unable to communicate directly with the woman in the West.
The final line of the stanza, "Perfect care has made her bleak," is a powerful statement about the nature of love. The moon's faithful presence is a symbol of the lover's care and devotion, but this very care has made the moon "bleak." This line suggests that love, while beautiful and meaningful, can also be a source of pain and sadness.
The Second Stanza: Love and the Ego
The second stanza of An Eastern Ballad is the heart of the poem, and it deals with the nature of love and the role of the ego in relationships. The stanza begins with the lines:
Once upon a time there was a king
Who loved a girl like a fresh thing
But a rumor came to his ears
That she was false, and had many dears.
In these lines, the king represents the ego, and the girl represents the object of his desire. The rumor that the girl is false and unfaithful is a threat to the king's ego, which needs to see itself as superior and in control. The king's response to this threat is to send the girl away:
The king said, "O moon, be kind,
Go bring me back my constant mind,"
Which at the moon's request,
Came silently and never spoke again.
The king's request for his "constant mind" is a plea for the return of his ego, which has been wounded by the rumor of the girl's unfaithfulness. The moon, which represents the lover's care and devotion, is used as a messenger to bring the ego back to the king. The fact that the ego "never spoke again" suggests that it has become passive and submissive, which is a dangerous state for the ego to be in.
The final lines of the stanza bring the focus back to the lover and the woman in the West:
O the moon drew back her shining veil
And the man looked forth, astonied.
Enchantment passed beyond the vale
And bidding his life-long love good-night
He went forth to the night alone
And the moon came down, the moon came down,
And took the woman's hand.
In these lines, the moon is once again used as a symbol of the lover's care and devotion. The fact that the moon "drew back her shining veil" suggests that the lover is now able to see clearly, without the distortion of the ego. The lover is "astonied," or amazed, by what he sees, and he bids his "life-long love" good-night, suggesting that he has come to a place of acceptance and letting go.
The final line, "And the moon came down, the moon came down, / And took the woman's hand," is a powerful image of love and connection. The moon, which has been a symbol of separation and distance throughout the poem, now becomes a symbol of unity and togetherness.
The Third Stanza: Hope and Possibility
The third stanza of An Eastern Ballad brings the poem to a close, but it also leaves the reader with a sense of hope and possibility. The stanza begins with the lines:
"I speak of love that comes again,
Once more unto the breast;
I love the memory of you,
As you were fresh and young,
When your eyes were like the morning flowers
Bright with tears and songs."
In these lines, the lover is expressing his hope that love will come again, that he will be reunited with the woman he loves. The image of the woman's eyes being "like the morning flowers / Bright with tears and songs" is a beautiful and vivid description of the power of love and emotion.
The final lines of the poem are:
And love is like the wide sky,
The clouds are like its dreams;
And when the sky turns gold,
So the clouds, turns into gold,
And rain down on the fields.
These lines are a powerful metaphor for the nature of love. Love is like the wide sky, which is vast and infinite. The clouds are like its dreams, which are ever-changing and ephemeral. The image of the sky turning gold and the clouds raining down on the fields is a beautiful and hopeful image, suggesting that love can bring beauty and nourishment to the world.
Conclusion
An Eastern Ballad is a masterpiece of Eastern philosophy and Western poetry. The poem is a testament to Allen Ginsberg's deep understanding of Eastern spiritual traditions and his literary genius. The poem explores themes of love, separation, ego, and hope, and it does so in simple, yet powerful language.
The use of the moon as a symbol of separation and care, and the ego as a symbol of the self, are particularly effective in conveying complex ideas in a simple way. The final image of the sky turning gold and the clouds raining down on the fields is a beautiful and hopeful image, and it leaves the reader with a sense of possibility and optimism.
Overall, An Eastern Ballad is a beautiful and powerful poem that deserves to be read and appreciated by anyone who loves poetry, philosophy, or the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
An Eastern Ballad: A Masterpiece of Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg, the iconic American poet, is known for his unconventional style of writing and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience. One of his most celebrated works is the poem "An Eastern Ballad," which was first published in 1956. This poem is a masterpiece of Ginsberg's poetic genius, and it has been praised for its vivid imagery, its emotional depth, and its powerful message.
The poem tells the story of a young woman who is forced to marry a man she does not love. The woman's father has arranged the marriage, and she has no choice but to obey his wishes. The woman's husband is cruel and abusive, and she longs for the freedom to live her own life. One day, the woman meets a young man who is kind and gentle, and they fall in love. The woman and the young man plan to run away together, but they are caught by the woman's husband. The young man is killed, and the woman is left alone to mourn his death.
The poem is written in a ballad form, which is a traditional form of poetry that tells a story. The ballad form is well-suited to Ginsberg's subject matter, as it allows him to tell a story that is both tragic and beautiful. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which contains four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the main characters. The woman is described as "a young woman in a yellow dress," and the young man is described as "a young man in a blue shirt." The use of color imagery is significant, as it suggests that the woman and the young man are vibrant and full of life. The stanza also introduces the theme of love and the idea that love can conquer all.
In the second stanza, the woman's father is introduced, and it is revealed that he has arranged her marriage. The woman is described as being "sad and afraid," which suggests that she does not want to marry the man her father has chosen for her. The stanza also introduces the theme of duty and the idea that sometimes we must do things we do not want to do.
The third stanza introduces the woman's husband, who is described as "a cruel man with a heart of stone." The use of this imagery is significant, as it suggests that the husband is incapable of feeling love or compassion. The stanza also introduces the theme of abuse and the idea that some people use their power to hurt others.
In the fourth stanza, the woman meets the young man, and they fall in love. The use of the word "magic" to describe their love is significant, as it suggests that their love is powerful and transformative. The stanza also introduces the theme of hope and the idea that love can bring happiness even in the darkest of times.
The fifth stanza is the climax of the poem, as the woman and the young man plan to run away together. The use of the word "escape" is significant, as it suggests that the woman feels trapped in her marriage and that the young man is her only hope for freedom. The stanza also introduces the theme of risk and the idea that sometimes we must take risks to achieve our goals.
The final stanza is the resolution of the poem, as the woman and the young man are caught by the woman's husband. The use of the word "slaughtered" to describe the young man's death is significant, as it suggests that the husband is a violent and dangerous man. The stanza also introduces the theme of loss and the idea that sometimes we must pay a high price for our dreams.
Overall, "An Eastern Ballad" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, duty, abuse, hope, risk, and loss. Ginsberg's use of vivid imagery, musical language, and traditional form make the poem both accessible and profound. The poem is a testament to Ginsberg's poetic genius and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience. It is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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