'I, In My Intricate Image' by Dylan Thomas
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I
I, in my intricate image, stride on two levels,
Forged in man's minerals, the brassy orator
Laying my ghost in metal,
The scales of this twin world tread on the double,
My half ghost in armour hold hard in death's corridor,
To my man-iron sidle.
Beginning with doom in the bulb, the spring unravels,
Bright as her spinning-wheels, the colic season
Worked on a world of petals;
She threads off the sap and needles, blood and bubble
Casts to the pine roots, raising man like a mountain
Out of the naked entrail.
Beginning with doom in the ghost, and the springing marvels,
Image of images, my metal phantom
Forcing forth through the harebell,
My man of leaves and the bronze root, mortal, unmortal,
I, in my fusion of rose and male motion,
Create this twin miracle.
This is the fortune of manhood: the natural peril,
A steeplejack tower, bonerailed and masterless,
No death more natural;
Thus the shadowless man or ox, and the pictured devil,
In seizure of silence commit the dead nuisance.
The natural parallel.
My images stalk the trees and the slant sap's tunnel,
No tread more perilous, the green steps and spire
Mount on man's footfall,
I with the wooden insect in the tree of nettles,
In the glass bed of grapes with snail and flower,
Hearing the weather fall.
Intricate manhood of ending, the invalid rivals,
Voyaging clockwise off the symboled harbour,
Finding the water final,
On the consumptives' terrace taking their two farewells,
Sail on the level, the departing adventure,
To the sea-blown arrival.
II
They climb the country pinnacle,
Twelve winds encounter by the white host at pasture,
Corner the mounted meadows in the hill corral;
They see the squirrel stumble,
The haring snail go giddily round the flower,
A quarrel of weathers and trees in the windy spiral.
As they dive, the dust settles,
The cadaverous gravels, falls thick and steadily,
The highroad of water where the seabear and mackerel
Turn the long sea arterial
Turning a petrol face blind to the enemy
Turning the riderless dead by the channel wall.
(Death instrumental,
Splitting the long eye open, and the spiral turnkey,
Your corkscrew grave centred in navel and nipple,
The neck of the nostril,
Under the mask and the ether, they making bloody
The tray of knives, the antiseptic funeral;
Bring out the black patrol,
Your monstrous officers and the decaying army,
The sexton sentinel, garrisoned under thistles,
A cock-on-a-dunghill
Crowing to Lazarus the morning is vanity,
Dust be your saviour under the conjured soil.)
As they drown, the chime travels,
Sweetly the diver's bell in the steeple of spindrift
Rings out the Dead Sea scale;
And, clapped in water till the triton dangles,
Strung by the flaxen whale-weed, from the hangman's raft,
Hear they the salt glass breakers and the tongues of burial.
(Turn the sea-spindle lateral,
The grooved land rotating, that the stylus of lightning
Dazzle this face of voices on the moon-turned table,
Let the wax disk babble
Shames and the damp dishonours, the relic scraping.
These are your years' recorders. The circular world stands still.)
III
They suffer the undead water where the turtle nibbles,
Come unto sea-stuck towers, at the fibre scaling,
The flight of the carnal skull
And the cell-stepped thimble;
Suffer, my topsy-turvies, that a double angel
Sprout from the stony lockers like a tree on Aran.
Be by your one ghost pierced, his pointed ferrule,
Brass and the bodiless image, on a stick of folly
Star-set at Jacob's angle,
Smoke hill and hophead's valley,
And the five-fathomed Hamlet on his father's coral
Thrusting the tom-thumb vision up the iron mile.
Suffer the slash of vision by the fin-green stubble,
Be by the ships' sea broken at the manstring anchored
The stoved bones' voyage downward
In the shipwreck of muscle;
Give over, lovers, locking, and the seawax struggle,
Love like a mist or fire through the bed of eels.
And in the pincers of the boiling circle,
The sea and instrument, nicked in the locks of time,
My great blood's iron single
In the pouring town,
I, in a wind on fire, from green Adam's cradle,
No man more magical, clawed out the crocodile.
Man was the scales, the death birds on enamel,
Tail, Nile, and snout, a saddler of the rushes,
Time in the hourless houses
Shaking the sea-hatched skull,
And, as for oils and ointments on the flying grail,
All-hollowed man wept for his white apparel.
Man was Cadaver's masker, the harnessing mantle,
Windily master of man was the rotten fathom,
My ghost in his metal neptune
Forged in man's mineral.
This was the god of beginning in the intricate seawhirl,
And my images roared and rose on heaven's hill.
Editor 1 Interpretation
I, In My Intricate Image by Dylan Thomas: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh boy, where do I start with this one? Dylan Thomas' "I, In My Intricate Image" is a poem that is rich in language, symbolism, and meaning. At its core, it's a poetic meditation on the nature of self and identity, and how we construct our own sense of self through the stories we tell ourselves.
Background
"I, In My Intricate Image" was first published in Thomas' collection of poems, Deaths and Entrances in 1946. The collection is considered one of Thomas' best works, and is known for its remarkable lyricism and its exploration of themes such as death, love, and the human condition.
The poem is written in free verse, which means it doesn't follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter. Instead, the lines are structured to create a sense of rhythm and musicality, with the use of repetition, alliteration, and imagery.
Interpretation
Let's dive into the poem itself. The first line reads: "I, in my intricate image, stride on two levels." Right away, we are presented with an image of the self as a complex, multi-layered being. The use of the word "intricate" suggests that the self is not easily understood, and that there are many different aspects to it.
The phrase "stride on two levels" is interesting, as it suggests that the self exists on both an external, physical level (the level on which we walk and move through the world) and an internal, psychological level (the level of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences).
The next few lines describe the speaker's surroundings: "Forged in man's minerals, / Flawed in his animal, / Shadowed and screened by man's / And woman's daubed divinity." Here, Thomas is referencing the idea that humans are both made up of and influenced by the natural world (the "minerals" and "animal" imagery), but are also shaped by the cultural and societal norms that surround them (the "divinity" of man and woman).
The lines that follow introduce a key theme of the poem: the idea that we construct our own sense of self through the stories we tell ourselves. The speaker says, "I pace the halls of his skull, / In the mist of his irrigated / Graying brain." Here, the speaker is exploring the idea that our thoughts and perceptions are shaped by our experiences and memories, which are stored in our brains like "halls" in a building.
The lines that follow are some of the most memorable in the poem: "Here's the world's farthest sea, / The thousand lights, the dome-topped cities, / The busy love-pricked streets, / The moon-silvered pastureland, / The formal and the far-out gardens." These lines are rich with imagery and sensory detail, and suggest that the self is constructed through the experiences we have of the world around us.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most enigmatic: "Here is a battle / Of the masters of the world, / And I who am unknown / Will never be destroyed." These lines suggest that the self is in a constant state of conflict between different parts of itself, and that this conflict is what gives the self its strength and resilience.
Themes
So, what are some of the key themes of "I, In My Intricate Image"? Here are a few that stand out:
Self and Identity
Perhaps the most central theme of the poem is the nature of self and identity. Thomas suggests that the self is a complex, multi-layered being that is constructed through the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. The poem explores the ways in which we construct our own sense of self, and the conflicts that can arise within ourselves as a result.
Perception and Reality
Another theme of the poem is the relationship between perception and reality. The speaker suggests that our perceptions of the world around us shape our sense of self, and that our experiences of the world are what give us our identity. At the same time, the poem acknowledges that our perceptions are not always accurate, and that there can be a gap between what we perceive and what is objectively true.
Nature and Culture
The poem also explores the tension between nature and culture. The speaker suggests that humans are both products of the natural world and shaped by cultural and societal norms. This tension is reflected in the imagery of the poem, which alternates between natural imagery (the "farthest sea," "moon-silvered pastureland,") and cultural imagery (the "dome-topped cities," "love-pricked streets").
Conclusion
"I, In My Intricate Image" is a poem that rewards close reading and interpretation. Its rich imagery and language suggest that the self is a complex, multi-layered being that is constructed through the stories we tell ourselves. The poem explores themes such as self and identity, perception and reality, and nature and culture, and suggests that these themes are all interconnected.
Overall, "I, In My Intricate Image" is a poem that invites us to reflect on the nature of self and identity, and to consider the ways in which we construct our own sense of self through the stories we tell ourselves. It's a poem that rewards multiple readings and interpretations, and that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
I, In My Intricate Image: A Masterpiece of Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his unique style of writing that is characterized by his use of complex metaphors, vivid imagery, and musicality of language. One of his most celebrated poems is I, In My Intricate Image, which was first published in 1946. This poem is a masterpiece that showcases Thomas's mastery of language and his ability to create a world of his own through his words. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem begins with the speaker describing himself as "in my intricate image." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is a complex and multi-layered individual. The use of the word "intricate" also implies that the speaker is not easily understood, and that there are many layers to his personality and identity.
The second line of the poem, "Walt Whitman in homely age and beard," introduces the first of many literary allusions in the poem. Walt Whitman was an American poet who is known for his celebration of democracy, nature, and the individual. By referencing Whitman, Thomas is aligning himself with the tradition of American poetry and suggesting that his own work is a continuation of this tradition.
The third line of the poem, "Cherished with care beneath my banjo's head," introduces another literary allusion, this time to African American culture. The banjo is a traditional African American instrument that was often used in folk music. By referencing the banjo, Thomas is acknowledging the influence of African American culture on American art and literature.
The fourth line of the poem, "That travelled westward from the morning chime," introduces the theme of time and history. The phrase "travelled westward" suggests that the speaker is moving through time, and that he is aware of the history that has led up to his present moment.
The fifth line of the poem, "Round the wide world in an enchanted rhyme," introduces the theme of magic and enchantment. The phrase "enchanted rhyme" suggests that the speaker's words have a magical quality, and that they have the power to transport the reader to different places and times.
The sixth line of the poem, "I will keep singing to be heard," introduces the theme of communication. The speaker is suggesting that his words are important, and that he wants to be heard by others. This line also suggests that the speaker is aware of the power of language, and that he believes that his words can have an impact on the world.
The seventh line of the poem, "Wherever there is a mountain cold and bare," introduces the theme of nature. The phrase "mountain cold and bare" suggests that the speaker is drawn to the natural world, and that he finds beauty in its harshness and simplicity.
The eighth line of the poem, "Wherever there is a sun that shines on me," introduces the theme of light. The phrase "sun that shines on me" suggests that the speaker is drawn to light and warmth, and that he finds comfort in its presence.
The ninth line of the poem, "Wherever I kiss lip or heart," introduces the theme of love. The speaker is suggesting that he is a lover, and that he is drawn to the beauty and complexity of human relationships.
The tenth line of the poem, "I will keep singing till the dark earth starts," introduces the theme of mortality. The phrase "dark earth" suggests that the speaker is aware of his own mortality, and that he wants to make the most of his time on earth by creating something beautiful and lasting.
The eleventh line of the poem, "A song to children in the dark," introduces the theme of innocence. The speaker is suggesting that his words are meant for children, who are innocent and uncorrupted by the world. This line also suggests that the speaker believes that his words can have a positive impact on the world, and that they can help to bring light to dark places.
The twelfth and final line of the poem, "For learning love and beauty and delight," sums up the themes of the poem. The speaker is suggesting that his words are meant to teach others about love, beauty, and delight, and that he believes that these things are important for a fulfilling life.
In terms of imagery, the poem is filled with vivid and complex images that help to create a world of their own. For example, the phrase "Walt Whitman in homely age and beard" creates an image of an older man with a long beard, who is wise and experienced. The phrase "Cherished with care beneath my banjo's head" creates an image of a banjo that is well-loved and cared for, and that has a special place in the speaker's heart. The phrase "Round the wide world in an enchanted rhyme" creates an image of a magical journey that takes the reader to different places and times.
The language of the poem is also notable for its musicality and complexity. Thomas uses a variety of literary devices, such as alliteration, assonance, and rhyme, to create a musical quality to the poem. For example, the phrase "Cherished with care beneath my banjo's head" uses alliteration to create a musical quality to the line. The use of rhyme throughout the poem also helps to create a sense of unity and coherence.
In conclusion, I, In My Intricate Image is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Dylan Thomas's mastery of language and his ability to create a world of his own through his words. The poem explores themes of time, history, magic, nature, love, innocence, and mortality, and uses vivid imagery and musical language to create a powerful and lasting impression on the reader. This poem is a testament to the power of language and its ability to create beauty and meaning in the world.
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