'Prothalamion' by Delmore Schwartz

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"little soul, little flirting,
little perverse one
where are you off to now?
little wan one, firm one
little exposed one...
and never make fun of me again."


Now I must betray myself.
The feast of bondage and unity is near,
And none engaged in that great piety
When each bows to the other, kneels, and takes
Hand in hand, glance and glance, care and care,
None may wear masks or enigmatic clothes,
For weakness blinds the wounded face enough.
In sense, see my shocking nakedness.

I gave a girl an apple when five years old,
Saying, Will you be sorry when I am gone?
Ravenous for such courtesies, my name
Is fed like a raving fire, insatiate still.
But do not be afraid.
For I forget myself. I do indeed
Before each genuine beauty, and I will
Forget myself before your unknown heart.

I will forget the speech my mother made
In a restaurant, trapping my father there
At dinner with his whore. Her spoken rage
Struck down the child of seven years
With shame for all three, with pity for
The helpless harried waiter, with anger for
The diners gazing, avid, and contempt
And great disgust for every human being.
I will remember this. My mother's rhetoric
Has charmed my various tongue, but now I know
Love's metric seeks a rhyme more pure and sure.

For thus it is that I betray myself,
Passing the terror of childhood at second hand
Through nervous, learned fingertips.
At thirteen when a little girl died,
I walked for three weeks neither alive nor dead,
And could not understand and still cannot
The adult blind to the nearness of the dead,
Or carefully ignorant of their own death.
--This sense could shadow all the time's curving fruits,
But we will taste of them the whole night long,
Forgetting no twelfth night, no fete of June,
But in the daylight knowing our nothingness.

Let Freud and Marx be wedding guests indeed!
Let them mark out masks that face us there,
For of all anguish, weakness, loss and failure,
No form is cruel as self-deception, none
Shows day-by-day a bad dream long lived
And unbroken like the lies
We tell each other because we are rich or poor.
Though from the general guilt not free
We can keep honor by being poor.

The waste, the evil, the abomination
Is interrupted. the perfect stars persist
Small in the guilty night,
and Mozart shows
The irreducible incorruptible good
Risen past birth and death, though he is dead.
Hope, like a face reflected on the windowpane,
Remote and dim, fosters a myth or dream,
And in that dream, I speak, I summon all
Who are our friends somehow and thus I say:

"Bid the jewellers come with monocles,
Exclaiming, Pure! Intrinsic! Final!
Summon the children eating ice cream
To speak the chill thrill of immediacy.
Call for the acrobats who tumble
The ecstasy of the somersault.
Bid the self-sufficient stars be piercing
In the sublime and inexhaustible blue.

"Bring a mathematician, there is much to count,
The unending continuum of my attention:
Infinity will hurry his multiplied voice!
Bring the poised impeccable diver,
Summon the skater, precise in figure,
He knows the peril of circumstance,
The risk of movement and the hard ground.
Summon the florist! And the tobacconist!
All who have known a plant-like beauty:
Summon the charming bird for ignorant song.

"You, Athena, with your tired beauty,
Will you give me away? For you must come
In a bathing suit with that white owl
Whom, as I walk, I will hold in my hand.
You too, Crusoe, to utter the emotion
Of finding Friday, no longer alone;
You too, Chaplin, muse of the curbstone,
Mummer of hope, you understand!"

But this is fantastic and pitiful,
And no one comes, none will, we are alone,
And what is possible is my own voice,
Speaking its wish, despite its lasting fear;
Speaking of its hope, its promise and its fear,
The voice drunk with itself and rapt in fear,
Exaggeration, braggadocio,
Rhetoric and hope, and always fear:

"For fifty-six or for a thousand years,
I will live with you and be your friend,
And what your body and what your spirit bears
I will like my own body cure and tend.
But you are heavy and my body's weight
Is great and heavy: when I carry you
I lift upon my back time like a fate
Near as my heart, dark when I marry you.
"The voice's promise is easy, and hope
Is drunk, and wanton, and unwilled;
In time's quicksilver, where our desires grope,
The dream is warped or monstrously fulfilled,
In this sense, listen, listen, and draw near:
Love is inexhaustible and full of fear."

This life is endless and my eyes are tired,
So that, again and again, I touch a chair,
Or go to the window, press my face
Against it, hoping with substantial touch,
Colorful sight, or turning things to gain once more
The look of actuality, the certainty
Of those who run down stairs and drive a car.
Then let us be each other's truth, let us
Affirm the other's self, and be
The other's audience, the other's state,
Each to the other his sonorous fame.

Now you will be afraid, when, waking up,
Before familiar morning, by my mute side
Wan and abandoned then, when, waking up,
You see the lion or lamb upon my face
Or see the daemon breathing heavily
His sense of ignorance, his wish to die,
For I am nothing because my circus self
Divides its love a million times.

I am the octopus in love with God,
For thus is my desire inconclusible,
Until my mind, deranged in swimming tubes,
Issues its own darkness, clutching seas
---O God of my perfect ignorance,
Bring the New Year to my only sister soon,
Take from me strength and power to bless her head,
Give her the magnitude of secular trust,
Until she turns to me in her troubled sleep,
Seeing me in my wish, free from self-wrongs.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Prothalamion by Delmore Schwartz

Prothalamion is a classic poem written by Delmore Schwartz, which was first published in 1934. The poem is a lyrical love song, which celebrates the union of a couple in marriage. It is a poem of great beauty and depth, which captures the essence of love and the joy of marriage. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, motifs, and symbolism used in the poem and their significance.

Overview of the Poem

Prothalamion is a long poem divided into five sections, each with its own theme and tone. The poem begins with an invocation to the Muses, asking for their inspiration and guidance in the creation of the poem. The first section of the poem is a description of the natural beauty of the Thames River and the surrounding landscape. The second section introduces the bride and groom, who are described as two lovers deeply in love. The third section is a celebration of the wedding ceremony, with the guests and the wedding procession. The fourth section is a description of the wedding feast, with its abundance of food, wine, and music. The final section of the poem is a prayer for the happiness and prosperity of the newlyweds.

Themes

Love and Marriage: The central theme of the poem is love and marriage. The poem celebrates the joy of love and the union of two people in marriage. The bride and groom are portrayed as deeply in love, and their wedding is a celebration of their union. The poem also explores the idea of marriage as a social institution, with the wedding ceremony and the guests as symbols of social cohesion.

Nature: The natural beauty of the Thames River and the surrounding landscape is a recurring motif in the poem. The river and the landscape are described in vivid and sensual language, conveying a sense of wonder and awe. Nature is also used as a symbol of fertility and abundance, with references to flowers, fruits, and animals.

Time and Memory: The poem also deals with the theme of time and memory. The wedding ceremony is seen as a moment of transformation, marking the passage from the past to the future. The poem also references historical events and figures, such as the Trojan War and King Henry VIII, adding a sense of historical depth to the poem.

Motifs

Water: The Thames River is a recurring motif in the poem, representing the flow of time and the continuity of life. The river is also used as a symbol of love and passion, with references to the waves and the tides.

Music: Music is also a recurring motif in the poem, representing the harmony and joy of the wedding celebration. The poem describes the wedding guests singing and dancing, and the music is used to create a sense of unity and community.

Flowers: Flowers are used as a symbol of beauty and fertility in the poem. The bride is described as a flower, and the wedding procession is depicted as a garden of flowers. The poem also mentions specific flowers, such as roses and lilies, which have symbolic meanings of their own.

Symbolism

The Wedding Ring: The wedding ring is a powerful symbol of love and commitment, and it plays a significant role in the poem. The bride and groom exchange rings during the wedding ceremony, marking their union and their commitment to each other. The ring is also used as a symbol of eternity and continuity, representing the timeless nature of love.

The Trojan War: The poem makes several references to the Trojan War, using it as a symbol of the power of love and the folly of war. The Trojan War is seen as a tragic event, caused by the love of Helen for Paris. The poem suggests that love can be a powerful force, capable of causing both joy and sorrow.

Interpretation

Prothalamion is a poem of great beauty and depth, which celebrates the joy of love and the union of two people in marriage. The poem uses vivid and sensual language to describe the natural beauty of the Thames River and the surrounding landscape, creating a sense of wonder and awe. The bride and groom are portrayed as deeply in love, and their wedding is a celebration of their union. The poem also explores the idea of marriage as a social institution, with the wedding ceremony and the guests as symbols of social cohesion.

The theme of time and memory is also present in the poem, with the wedding ceremony seen as a moment of transformation, marking the passage from the past to the future. The poem also references historical events and figures, adding a sense of historical depth to the poem.

The use of motifs, such as water, music, and flowers, adds a richness and depth to the poem, while the symbolism of the wedding ring and the Trojan War adds layers of meaning and significance.

Overall, Prothalamion is a masterpiece of lyrical poetry, which captures the essence of love and the joy of marriage. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and the soul, and it is a testament to the power of love and the enduring nature of human relationships.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Prothalamion: A Masterpiece of Love and Longing

Delmore Schwartz’s Prothalamion is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of love and longing that captures the essence of human emotions. The poem is a celebration of love, marriage, and the beauty of nature. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem is divided into three parts, each with its own distinct tone and theme. The first part is an introduction to the poem, where the speaker sets the scene and describes the beauty of the Thames River. The second part is a celebration of love and marriage, where the speaker addresses the bride and groom and wishes them a happy life together. The third part is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death.

The poem begins with a description of the Thames River, which is personified as a beautiful woman. The speaker describes the river as “fair, silver Thames,” and compares it to a “queen” who is “crowned with towers.” The river is depicted as a majestic and powerful force of nature, which is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. The speaker’s use of personification and metaphor creates a vivid image of the river, which sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

In the second part of the poem, the speaker addresses the bride and groom and wishes them a happy life together. The speaker describes the bride as “fair” and “lovely,” and the groom as “noble” and “brave.” The speaker’s use of adjectives creates a romantic and idealized image of the couple, which emphasizes their beauty and virtue. The speaker also describes the wedding ceremony, which is depicted as a joyous and festive occasion. The use of imagery and symbolism, such as the “garlands” and “roses,” creates a sense of celebration and happiness.

The third part of the poem is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker describes how everything in life is temporary and how even the most beautiful things must eventually come to an end. The speaker’s use of imagery, such as the “fading rose” and the “waning moon,” creates a sense of melancholy and sadness. The poem ends with the speaker’s realization that life is fleeting and that we must cherish every moment.

The poem’s structure is also worth noting. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which is a common meter in English poetry. The use of this meter creates a sense of rhythm and flow, which adds to the poem’s musicality. The poem is also divided into three parts, each with its own distinct tone and theme. This division creates a sense of progression and development, which adds to the poem’s overall impact.

The poem’s literary devices are also worth exploring. The speaker’s use of personification, metaphor, imagery, and symbolism creates a vivid and powerful image of the world. The use of these devices also adds depth and complexity to the poem, which allows the reader to explore its themes and meanings in greater detail. The poem’s use of repetition, such as the repetition of the word “fair,” creates a sense of unity and coherence, which adds to the poem’s overall impact.

In conclusion, Prothalamion is a masterpiece of love and longing that captures the essence of human emotions. The poem’s celebration of love, marriage, and the beauty of nature is both romantic and idealized. The poem’s reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death is both melancholic and profound. The poem’s structure, literary devices, and use of repetition create a sense of unity and coherence, which adds to the poem’s overall impact. Prothalamion is a classic poem that has stood the test of time, and it will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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