'Piano' by D.H. Lawrence
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Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see
A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.
In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song
Betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong
To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside
And hymns in the cozy parlor, the tinkling piano our guide.
So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamor
With the great black piano appassionato. The glamor
Of childish days is upon me, my manhood is cast
Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Emotional Power of D.H. Lawrence's "Piano"
D.H. Lawrence's "Piano" is a poem that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the tug of nostalgia, the longing for a time gone by. It is a powerful evocation of the emotional power of music, the way that a simple melody can transport us back to a moment in our past, and make us feel the feelings we felt then, all over again.
At only 32 lines, "Piano" is a compact masterpiece of modernist poetry. It was first published in 1918, and has since become one of Lawrence's most famous poems. In this essay, I will explore the themes and symbolism of "Piano," and argue that it is a deeply affecting poem that speaks to the universal human experience of longing.
The Poem
Here is the text of "Piano" in its entirety:
Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see
A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.
In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song
Betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong
To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside
And hymns in the cosy parlour, the tinkling piano our guide.
So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour
With the great black piano appassionato. The glamour
Of childish days is upon me, my manhood is cast
Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.
At first glance, "Piano" seems like a simple poem. It is a description of a woman singing, and of the emotions that this singing evokes in the speaker. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's experience.
The first stanza sets the scene. The speaker is sitting in the dusk, and he hears a woman singing. This singing takes him back in time, to when he was a child. He sees himself sitting under the piano, listening to his mother play and sing.
The second stanza explores the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. The speaker says that the "insidious mastery of song" betrays him, and takes him back to his childhood. He longs to return to the "old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside / And hymns in the cosy parlour, the tinkling piano our guide."
The third and final stanza is the most emotional. The speaker says that he weeps "like a child for the past." He is overwhelmed by the flood of memories and emotions that the music has brought back to him. He realizes that he can never go back to those childhood days, and that his manhood is "cast down in the flood of remembrance."
Themes
The central theme of "Piano" is nostalgia. The speaker is longing for a time gone by, a time when he was a child and life was simpler. He longs for the comfort of his childhood home, for the sound of hymns on the piano, for the warmth of his mother's smile. The poem is a powerful evocation of the universal human experience of longing for the past.
Another theme of the poem is the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. The speaker is transported back in time by the woman's singing, and he feels the emotions that he felt as a child. The poem suggests that music has the ability to connect us to our past in a way that nothing else can.
The third theme of the poem is the passage of time. The speaker realizes that he can never go back to his childhood, that his manhood is "cast down in the flood of remembrance." The poem suggests that time is a powerful force that we cannot escape, and that we must learn to accept the passing of the years.
Symbolism
One of the most powerful symbols in "Piano" is the piano itself. The piano represents the speaker's childhood, his mother, and the comfort and security of his home. The "tingling strings" of the piano evoke the emotions and memories of the speaker's childhood, and the image of his mother's "small, poised feet" pressing the pedals is a poignant symbol of her love and care.
Another important symbol in the poem is the woman's singing. Her singing represents the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. The speaker is transported back in time by her singing, and he feels the emotions that he felt as a child. The woman's voice is a powerful symbol of the emotional power of music.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Piano" is a powerful and affecting poem that speaks to the universal human experience of longing for the past. Through its themes of nostalgia, the power of music, and the passage of time, the poem evokes a sense of emotional resonance that is difficult to shake. The piano and the woman's singing are powerful symbols that add depth and complexity to the poem. "Piano" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and it is no surprise that it has become one of D.H. Lawrence's most famous works.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Piano by D.H. Lawrence: A Timeless Ode to Nostalgia and Memory
As a literary masterpiece, D.H. Lawrence's poem "Piano" is a timeless ode to nostalgia and memory. Written in 1918, the poem captures the essence of a man's longing for his childhood days and the memories that come with it. The poem is a reflection of the poet's own experiences and emotions, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke deep emotions and memories in its readers.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. The second stanza is the longest and most detailed, and it describes the poet's memories of his childhood. The third stanza is a reflection on the poet's current state of mind and his longing for the past.
The poem begins with the poet hearing a woman singing in the street. The sound of the woman's voice triggers a flood of memories in the poet's mind, and he is transported back to his childhood. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, and it is clear from the beginning that the poet is deeply affected by the memories that are flooding back to him.
In the second stanza, the poet describes his memories of his childhood. He remembers sitting under the piano as his mother played, and he describes the feeling of being "soothed" by the sound of the piano. The poet's memories are vivid and detailed, and he describes the scene with great clarity. He remembers the smell of the "smoke of the autumn fires" and the "soft pedal" of the piano. The poet's memories are not just visual, but they are also sensory, and this adds to the power of the poem.
The third stanza is a reflection on the poet's current state of mind. He is filled with a sense of longing for the past, and he wishes that he could go back to his childhood. The poet describes his current surroundings as "cold" and "dark," and he contrasts this with the warmth and light of his childhood memories. The poet's longing for the past is palpable, and it is clear that he is deeply affected by his memories.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the use of imagery. The poet uses vivid and detailed imagery to describe his memories, and this adds to the power of the poem. For example, the poet describes the sound of the piano as "tingling strings" and "the soft pedal's even fall." These descriptions are not just visual, but they are also auditory, and they help to create a sense of nostalgia and longing in the reader.
Another striking aspect of the poem is the use of repetition. The poet repeats the phrase "In the deep heart's core" three times in the poem, and this adds to the power of the poem. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the poet's longing for the past, and it creates a sense of urgency in the reader.
The poem is also notable for its use of language. The poet uses simple and straightforward language to describe his memories, and this makes the poem accessible to a wide range of readers. The language is not overly complex or difficult to understand, and this adds to the power of the poem.
In conclusion, D.H. Lawrence's poem "Piano" is a timeless ode to nostalgia and memory. The poem captures the essence of a man's longing for his childhood days and the memories that come with it. The poem is a reflection of the poet's own experiences and emotions, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke deep emotions and memories in its readers. The use of imagery, repetition, and language all contribute to the power of the poem, and it is a true masterpiece of English literature.
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