'Hatteras Calling' by Conrad Aiken
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Southeast, and storm, and every weathervane
shivers and moans upon its dripping pin,
ragged on chimneys the cloud whips, the rain
howls at the flues and windows to get in,
the golden rooster claps his golden wings
and from the Baptist Chapel shrieks no more,
the golden arrow in the southeast sings
and hears on the roof the Atlantic Ocean roar.
Waves among wires, sea scudding over poles,
down every alley the magnificence of rain,
dead gutters live once more, the deep manholes
hollow in triumph a passage to the main.
Umbrellas, and in the Gardens one old man
hurries away along a dancing path,
listens to music on a watering-can,
observes among the tulips the sudden wrath,
pale willows thrashing to the needled lake,
and dinghies filled with water; while the sky
smashes the lilacs, swoops to shake and break,
till shattered branches shriek and railings cry.
Speak, Hatteras, your language of the sea:
scour with kelp and spindrift the stale street:
that man in terror may learn once more to be
child of that hour when rock and ocean meet.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Hatteras Calling: A Poem of Desperation and Hope
Conrad Aiken's "Hatteras Calling" is a remarkable poem that captures the essence of human longing and the power of nature. Written in 1934, the poem is a meditation on the sea and the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, which Aiken visited in 1928. At its core, the poem is about the human desire for connection and transcendence, and the ways in which we reach out to the unknown in search of meaning and purpose.
A Journey of Desperation and Hope
The poem begins with a sense of desperation and urgency. The speaker hears the "cry of the wind" and the "roar of the sea," and feels a sense of "anguish" and "dread" at the "terrible loneliness" of the place. The lighthouse, which stands "like a finger pointing to heaven," seems to offer a beacon of hope in the midst of this desolation. Yet the speaker is also aware of the fragility of human life in the face of nature's power. The lighthouse keeper, he notes, is "dead asleep," and the light itself is "automatically turning." The sense of danger is palpable.
And yet, there is also a sense of hope and possibility in the poem. The speaker hears a "voice from the past" calling out to him, and he is struck by the beauty and majesty of the sea. He imagines himself as a "tiny spark" in the vastness of the universe, and feels a sense of connection to the "eternal" and the "infinite." The poem becomes a journey of exploration and discovery, as the speaker seeks to understand his place in the world and the meaning of his existence.
The Power of Nature and the Human Yearning for Connection
At the heart of "Hatteras Calling" is the tension between the power of nature and the human desire for connection and transcendence. Aiken is acutely aware of the ways in which nature can be both beautiful and terrifying, and he captures this duality in his descriptions of the sea and the wind. The sea is both "terrible" and "magnificent," and the wind is both a "sigh" and a "roar."
Yet despite this sense of danger, the speaker is drawn to the sea and the lighthouse, and he feels a sense of connection to the past and to the infinite. The lighthouse, he notes, is like a "finger pointing to heaven," and he imagines himself as a "tiny spark" in the vastness of the universe. The poem becomes a meditation on the human yearning for connection and transcendence, and the ways in which we seek to understand our place in the world.
The Poetics of "Hatteras Calling"
Aiken's poetics in "Hatteras Calling" are both lyrical and visceral. He uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to capture the essence of the sea and the wind, and he creates a sense of urgency and desperation through his use of repetition and alliteration. The poem is also marked by its use of contrasts and contradictions, as Aiken juxtaposes the fragility of human life with the power of nature, and the beauty of the sea with the sense of danger and dread that it inspires.
At the same time, "Hatteras Calling" is a deeply introspective poem, as the speaker reflects on his own place in the world and the meaning of his existence. Aiken uses the imagery of the sea and the lighthouse to explore the human desire for connection and transcendence, and he creates a sense of wonder and awe through his descriptions of the infinite and the eternal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Conrad Aiken's "Hatteras Calling" is a remarkable poem that captures the essence of human longing and the power of nature. Through his vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Aiken creates a sense of urgency and desperation, as well as a sense of wonder and awe. The poem is marked by its exploration of the tension between the power of nature and the human desire for connection and transcendence, and it becomes a meditation on the human condition and our search for meaning and purpose. "Hatteras Calling" is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today, and it stands as a testament to Aiken's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Hatteras Calling: A Poem of Nostalgia and Longing
Conrad Aiken's Hatteras Calling is a classic poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and longing for a place that is no longer accessible. The poem is a tribute to the Hatteras Island, a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina that was once a thriving community but is now abandoned due to the constant threat of hurricanes and erosion. Aiken's poem is a lament for a lost paradise, a place that he remembers fondly from his childhood and that he longs to return to.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct tone and theme. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. Aiken describes the island as a place of "wind and sand and sea," a place where the "gulls cry and the breakers roar." He paints a picture of a wild and untamed landscape, a place where nature is in control and humans are mere visitors. The tone of the first stanza is one of awe and reverence for the power of nature.
The second stanza is where the nostalgia and longing come into play. Aiken describes the island as it was in his childhood, a place of "sandy roads and salt-stained houses" where "the fishermen came home at evening." He remembers the sound of the church bell ringing and the smell of the sea air. He longs to return to this simpler time, to relive the memories of his youth. The tone of the second stanza is one of wistfulness and yearning.
The third and final stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn. Aiken acknowledges that the island is no longer the same, that it has been "washed away by the sea." He describes the abandoned houses and the empty streets, the silence broken only by the sound of the wind. He laments the loss of this once vibrant community, and wonders what will become of it in the future. The tone of the third stanza is one of sadness and resignation.
Throughout the poem, Aiken uses vivid imagery and sensory details to bring the island to life. He describes the "whitewashed houses" and the "weathered shingles" of the buildings, the "salt spray" and the "sea foam" of the ocean. He uses sound to great effect, with the "gulls cry" and the "church bell ringing" adding to the atmosphere of the poem. The use of repetition, with the phrase "Hatteras calling" repeated throughout the poem, reinforces the idea of the island as a siren's call, a place that beckons to Aiken even though he knows he can never return.
The poem can be read as a commentary on the transience of human existence and the power of nature. Aiken acknowledges that the island was once a thriving community, but that it has been washed away by the sea. He recognizes that humans are temporary inhabitants of the earth, and that nature will always have the final say. The poem can also be read as a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. Aiken longs to return to the island of his youth, but he knows that it no longer exists in the same way. He is forced to confront the reality of change and loss, and to come to terms with the fact that the past can never be recaptured.
In conclusion, Hatteras Calling is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and longing for a lost paradise. Aiken's use of vivid imagery and sensory details brings the island to life, and his repetition of the phrase "Hatteras calling" reinforces the idea of the island as a siren's call. The poem can be read as a commentary on the transience of human existence and the power of nature, as well as a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. It is a timeless work of art that speaks to the human experience of loss and longing, and it will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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