'Turns And Movies: Rose And Murray' by Conrad Aiken


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After the movie, when the lights come up,
He takes her powdered hand behind the wings;
She, all in yellow, like a buttercup,
Lifts her white face, yearns up to him, and clings;
And with a silent, gliding step they move
Over the footlights, in familiar glare,
Panther-like in the Tango whirl of love,
He fawning close on her with idiot stare.
Swiftly they cross the stage. O lyric ease!
The drunken music follows the sure feet,
The swaying elbows, intergliding knees,
Moving with slow precision on the beat.
She was a waitress in a restaurant,
He picked her up and taught her how to dance.
She feels his arms, lifts an appealing glance,
But knows he spent last evening with Zudora;
And knows that certain changes are before her.

The brilliant spotlight circles them around,
Flashing the spangles on her weighted dress.
He mimics wooing her, without a sound,
Flatters her with a smoothly smiled caress.
He fears that she will someday queer his act;
Feeling his anger. He will quit her soon.
He nods for faster music. He will contract
Another partner, under another moon.
Meanwhile, 'smooth stuff.' He lets his dry eyes flit
Over the yellow faces there below;
Maybe he'll cut down on his drinks a bit,
Not to annoy her, and spoil the show. . .
Zudora, waiting for her turn to come,
Watches them from the wings and fatly leers
At the girl's younger face, so white and dumb,
And the fixed, anguished eyes, ready for tears.

She lies beside him, with a false wedding-ring,
In a cheap room, with moonlight on the floor;
The moonlit curtains remind her much of spring,
Of a spring evening on the Coney shore.
And while he sleeps, knowing she ought to hate,
She still clings to the lover that she knew,—
The one that, with a pencil on a plate,
Drew a heart and wrote, 'I'd die for you.'

Editor 1 Interpretation

Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray by Conrad Aiken

Have you ever been so captivated by a piece of literature that you couldn't help but be swept away by its beauty and depth? That's exactly what I experienced when I first read Conrad Aiken's "Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray." This classic poem is a masterpiece of modernist literature, filled with complex imagery and deep insights into the human condition.

At the heart of the poem is the story of two individuals, Rose and Murray, whose lives are intertwined in a complex dance of love and pain. Through a series of vignettes, Aiken explores the various turns and movies of their relationship, from the early days of passion and hope to the later stages of disillusionment and regret.

The Structure of the Poem

One of the most striking features of "Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray" is its unconventional structure. The poem is divided into five parts, each of which consists of a series of short, fragmented scenes. These scenes are presented in a non-linear fashion, with the reader jumping back and forth in time as the story of Rose and Murray unfolds.

This fragmented structure serves to underscore the central theme of the poem, which is the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human relationships. By presenting the story of Rose and Murray in a series of disconnected fragments, Aiken captures the sense of transience and impermanence that characterizes their relationship.

The Imagery of the Poem

Another defining feature of "Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray" is its rich and evocative imagery. Aiken uses a wide variety of sensory details to create a vivid and immersive world for the reader.

For example, in the opening lines of the poem, Aiken writes:

The man who stands above the bird, his knife Sharp as a Turkish scimitar, first removes A thigh and leg, half the support On which the living glory stood.

These lines are filled with vivid sensory details, from the sharpness of the knife to the weight of the bird's leg. They create a sense of immediacy and physicality that draws the reader into the scene.

Throughout the poem, Aiken uses imagery to explore the complex emotional landscape of Rose and Murray's relationship. For example, in one scene, he describes Rose as "a thin ghost / In a blue dress / Haunting the sunlit street." This image of Rose as a ghost suggests a sense of loss and absence, as if she is no longer fully present in the world.

The Theme of Love and Loss

At its core, "Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray" is a meditation on the theme of love and loss. Aiken explores the complex emotions that arise when two people come together and then begin to drift apart.

The poem is filled with bittersweet moments of tenderness and regret. In one scene, for example, Aiken writes:

And now you'll stay with me forever, Like my own blood, like the rain, And I'll love you all the more For loving me when I was in pain.

This scene captures the paradoxical nature of love, which can bring both joy and sorrow. Aiken suggests that even in the midst of pain and loss, there is a kind of beauty and grace that arises from our connections with others.

The Significance of the Title

The title of the poem, "Turns and Movies," is itself significant. It suggests a kind of circular motion, a sense of movement that is both cyclical and repetitive.

This sense of circularity is echoed throughout the poem, as Aiken explores the ways in which Rose and Murray's relationship moves through various stages of passion, disillusionment, and regret, only to return again to a state of tentative hopefulness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray" is a brilliant and haunting poem that explores the complex emotions that arise in human relationships. Through its fragmented structure, rich imagery, and nuanced exploration of the theme of love and loss, Aiken creates a powerful and deeply moving work of modernist literature.

Whether you're a fan of poetry or simply looking for a thought-provoking read, "Turns and Movies: Rose and Murray" is a must-read. So why not curl up with this classic poem today and experience its beauty and depth for yourself?

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Turns And Movies: Rose And Murray by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the fleeting nature of life. This poem is a beautiful representation of the human experience, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of our emotions and experiences.

The poem is divided into two parts, each of which tells the story of a different character. The first part is about Rose, a young woman who is in love with a man named Murray. The second part is about Murray, who is struggling to come to terms with his own mortality.

In the first part of the poem, we are introduced to Rose, who is described as a young woman with a "heart of fire." She is deeply in love with Murray, and she longs for him to reciprocate her feelings. However, Murray is distant and aloof, and he seems to be more interested in his own pursuits than in Rose.

Despite Murray's indifference, Rose remains devoted to him. She spends her days dreaming of him and imagining a future together. She is willing to do anything to win his love, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.

The second part of the poem shifts the focus to Murray, who is struggling with his own mortality. He is haunted by the knowledge that he will one day die, and he is consumed by a sense of dread and despair.

Murray's thoughts are filled with images of death and decay. He imagines himself as a "rotting corpse" and he is tormented by the thought of his own mortality. He is unable to find solace in anything, and he is consumed by a sense of hopelessness.

Despite the darkness of Murray's thoughts, there is a sense of beauty and poetry in his words. He describes the world around him in vivid detail, and he captures the essence of the human experience in a way that is both haunting and beautiful.

The poem ends with a sense of ambiguity. We are left wondering what will become of Rose and Murray, and whether they will ever find the happiness they seek. However, this ambiguity is part of the poem's beauty. It captures the fleeting nature of life and the uncertainty of the future.

Overall, Turns And Movies: Rose And Murray is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the essence of the human experience. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture our emotions and experiences, and it is a reminder of the beauty and fragility of life.

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