'The House Of Dust: Part 03: 01: As evening falls' by Conrad Aiken
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As evening falls,
And the yellow lights leap one by one
Along high walls;
And along black streets that glisten as if with rain,
The muted city seems
Like one in a restless sleep, who lies and dreams
Of vague desires, and memories, and half-forgotten pain . . .
Along dark veins, like lights the quick dreams run,
Flash, are extinguished, flash again,
To mingle and glow at last in the enormous brain
And die away . . .
As evening falls,
A dream dissolves these insubstantial walls,—
A myriad secretly gliding lights lie bare . . .
The lovers rise, the harlot combs her hair,
The dead man's face grows blue in the dizzy lamplight,
The watchman climbs the stair . . .
The bank defaulter leers at a chaos of figures,
And runs among them, and is beaten down;
The sick man coughs and hears the chisels ringing;
The tired clown
Sees the enormous crowd, a million faces,
Motionless in their places,
Ready to laugh, and seize, and crush and tear . . .
The dancer smooths her hair,
Laces her golden slippers, and runs through the door
To dance once more,
Hearing swift music like an enchantment rise,
Feeling the praise of a thousand eyes.
As darkness falls
The walls grow luminous and warm, the walls
Tremble and glow with the lives within them moving,
Moving like music, secret and rich and warm.
How shall we live tonight? Where shall we turn?
To what new light or darkness yearn?
A thousand winding stairs lead down before us;
And one by one in myriads we descend
By lamplit flowered walls, long balustrades,
Through half-lit halls which reach no end.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The House Of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls
A Masterpiece of Dark and Evocative Imagery
Conrad Aiken's "The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls" is a haunting masterpiece of dark and evocative imagery. This poetic contemplation of the end of the day and the onset of nightfall is a powerful exploration of the emotional and psychological effects of this transitional time. With vivid descriptions and poetic language, Aiken paints a picture of a world on the brink of darkness, where the shadows grow longer and the air grows colder.
The Evocative Imagery of Evening
As evening falls, the world slows down and the atmosphere changes. In the poem, Aiken masterfully captures this sense of stillness and quietude. The imagery he employs is both beautiful and haunting, with a sense of melancholy pervading throughout. The lines "The darkness deepens, and the lights go out./ The windows darken, and the stars come out" are particularly powerful. The contrast between the fading light and the emerging stars is striking, and the sense of impending darkness is palpable.
The House of Dust
The titular House of Dust is a recurring motif throughout the poem, and it serves as a powerful symbol of decay and impermanence. Aiken describes the house as "ruined," and it is clear that it has seen better days. This sense of decay and abandonment is heightened by the imagery of the surrounding landscape. The "weedy lawn" and "broken gate" that surround the house serve as a reminder of the passage of time and the inevitability of decay.
The Liminal Space of Evening
One of the most interesting aspects of "The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls" is the way in which Aiken explores the liminal space of evening. This is a time of transition, when the day is not quite over but the night has not yet begun. Aiken captures this sense of in-betweenness with lines such as "The day's last breaths still faintly echo there" and "The last birds twitter, low and sweetly." These images give the sense that the world is holding its breath, waiting for the night to take over.
The Psychological Subtext
At its core, "The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls" is a meditation on the psychological effects of evening. Aiken uses the imagery of darkness and decay to explore the darker corners of the human psyche. The house, with its broken windows and ruined walls, serves as a metaphor for the human mind. As the night falls and the darkness deepens, the mind is left to confront its own demons.
The Power of Language
Aiken's use of language in "The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls" is simply stunning. His ability to capture the atmosphere of evening with his words is nothing short of masterful. The lines "The shadows deepen, and the winds sigh low" are a perfect example of this. The way in which Aiken uses language to convey the sense of movement and sound is truly impressive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls" is a powerful and evocative poem. Aiken's use of imagery and language is nothing short of masterful, and his exploration of the psychological effects of evening is both subtle and profound. This is a poem that rewards repeated readings, and it is sure to linger in the mind long after the last line has been read.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls - A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery
Conrad Aiken's The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is a masterpiece of poetic imagery, with vivid descriptions of the changing landscape as evening falls. In this article, we will explore the themes and imagery of this classic poem and analyze its significance in the world of literature.
The poem begins with a description of the setting sun, as it casts its last rays of light over the landscape. The imagery is vivid and evocative, with the sun described as "a red wheel / Burning the clouds in the sky." This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests the passing of time and the inevitability of change.
As the sun sets, the landscape begins to change. The trees become "black skeletons" against the fading light, and the sky turns from red to purple. The imagery here is particularly striking, as it captures the beauty and melancholy of the passing of time. The trees, once full of life and vitality, are now reduced to mere skeletons, a reminder of the transience of all things.
The poem then shifts its focus to the house of dust, which is described as "a ghostly house / Of ghosts and shadows." The house is a symbol of the past, a relic of a time long gone. The imagery here is haunting, as it suggests the emptiness and loneliness of the house. The ghosts and shadows that inhabit it are a reminder of the people who once lived there, now reduced to mere memories.
The poem then moves on to describe the landscape around the house of dust. The fields are described as "a sea of grass," and the wind is described as "a mournful sound." The imagery here is powerful, as it captures the desolation and loneliness of the landscape. The sea of grass is a symbol of the emptiness of the world, while the mournful sound of the wind suggests the sadness and melancholy of the passing of time.
As the poem draws to a close, the imagery becomes even more powerful. The moon rises, casting a pale light over the landscape. The imagery here is haunting, as it suggests the coldness and emptiness of the world. The moon, once a symbol of beauty and romance, is now reduced to a pale and lifeless object.
In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 03: 01: As Evening Falls is a masterpiece of poetic imagery. The poem captures the essence of the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life, with vivid descriptions of the changing landscape as evening falls. The imagery is haunting and evocative, capturing the beauty and melancholy of the passing of time. The poem is a reminder of the transience of all things, and a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
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