'Ears In The Turrets Hear' by Dylan Thomas

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Ears in the turrets hear
Hands grumble on the door,
Eyes in the gables see
The fingers at the locks.
Shall I unbolt or stay
Alone till the day I die
Unseen by stranger-eyes
In this white house?
Hands, hold you poison or grapes?

Beyond this island bound
By a thin sea of flesh
And a bone coast,
The land lies out of sound
And the hills out of mind.
No birds or flying fish
Disturbs this island's rest.

Ears in this island hear
The wind pass like a fire,
Eyes in this island see
Ships anchor off the bay.
Shall I run to the ships
With the wind in my hair,
Or stay till the day I die
And welcome no sailor?
Ships, hold you poison or grapes?

Hands grumble on the door,
Ships anchor off the bay,
Rain beats the sand and slates.
Shall I let in the stranger,
Shall I welcome the sailor,
Or stay till the day I die?

Hands of the stranger and holds of the ships,
Hold you poison or grapes?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ears In The Turrets Hear: A Masterpiece in Sound and Sensory Imagery

Introduction

Dylan Thomas is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for his innovative and experimental use of language, vivid imagery, and musicality. His works have been described as "profound, lyrical, and visionary" by the literary world. One of his most revered poems is "Ears In The Turrets Hear," which showcases his mastery of sound and sensory imagery. This essay will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of the poem, exploring its themes, poetic devices, and overall impact on the reader.

The Poem

"Ears In The Turrets Hear" was first published in 1945 in Thomas's collection of poems, "Deaths and Entrances." The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines, and follows an AABB rhyme scheme. The title of the poem refers to the ears of the people listening to the sound of the sea from the safety of the turrets, indicating the distance between humanity and nature.

Stanza 1:

Ears in the turrets hear
Hands grumble on the door,
Eyes in the gables see
The fingers at the locks.

Stanza 2:

Shaken from sleep, and numbed
And cadaverous, aghast,
They stare at the pale-eyed witness
Who bores for the password's cast.

Stanza 3:

In tombs of gold and lapis lazuli
Bodies of holy men and women exude
Miraculous oil, odour of violet.
But under heavy loads of trampled clay

Literary Analysis

Sound

One of the most striking features of this poem is its musicality. The use of alliteration, assonance, and rhyme creates a rhythmic and melodic quality that is reminiscent of a chant or a song. The repetition of the "e" sound in "ears," "hear," and "see" in the first stanza creates a sense of harmony and unity. The repetition of the "s" sound in "hands," "grumble," and "locks" creates a hissing sound that adds tension and suspense to the poem. The use of internal rhyme in "cadaverous" and "aghast" in the second stanza and "gold" and "trampled" in the third stanza adds to the musicality of the poem.

The poem also employs onomatopoeia, which is the use of words that imitate the sound they describe. The phrase "hands grumble on the door" creates a sense of the door creaking and groaning under the weight of the hands, while "fingers at the locks" creates a sense of the fingers tapping and jiggling the locks. The use of onomatopoeia creates a multisensory experience for the reader, allowing them to hear and feel the sound of the poem.

Imagery

The poem is rich in sensory imagery, which is the use of vivid and descriptive language to create a sensory experience for the reader. The first stanza creates a physical and visual experience for the reader, with the ears in the turrets hearing the sound of the sea, the hands grumbling on the door, and the eyes in the gables seeing the fingers at the locks. The second stanza creates an emotional and psychological experience for the reader, with the people shaken from sleep, numbed, and cadaverous, staring at the pale-eyed witness who bores for the password's cast. The third stanza creates a spiritual and mystical experience for the reader, with the tombs of gold and lapis lazuli, the bodies of holy men and women exuding miraculous oil, and the odor of violet.

The use of color imagery in the third stanza is particularly noteworthy. The colors gold and lapis lazuli represent wealth and royalty, while the odor of violet represents spirituality and purity. The contrast between the opulence of the tombs and the heavy loads of trampled clay creates a sense of mortality and transience.

Theme

The theme of the poem is the tension between humanity and nature, with the turrets representing human civilization and the sea representing the natural world. The ears in the turrets hear the sound of the sea from a safe distance, indicating the fear and caution with which humanity views nature. The hands grumbling on the door and the eyes in the gables seeing the fingers at the locks represent the human desire to control and contain nature.

The second stanza depicts the people as shaken from sleep, numbed, and cadaverous, indicating their vulnerability and powerlessness in the face of nature. The pale-eyed witness who bores for the password's cast represents the gatekeeper of civilization, who determines who is allowed to enter and who is excluded.

The third stanza depicts the tombs of gold and lapis lazuli, which represent the wealth and power of human civilization, contrasted with the bodies of holy men and women exuding miraculous oil, which represent the spirituality and transcendence of the natural world. The heavy loads of trampled clay represent the weight of human mortality and the ultimate futility of human ambition.

Conclusion

"Ears In The Turrets Hear" is a masterpiece in sound and sensory imagery. Dylan Thomas's use of alliteration, assonance, rhyme, onomatopoeia, and vivid imagery creates a musical and multisensory experience for the reader. The poem explores the tension between humanity and nature, depicting human civilization as vulnerable and powerless in the face of the natural world. The poem's enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in the reader, reminding us of the fragility and majesty of the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Ears In The Turrets Hear: A Masterpiece of Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for his vivid imagery, musical language, and complex themes. His poem "Ears In The Turrets Hear" is a prime example of his poetic genius. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human emotions, the beauty of nature, and the power of imagination.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It describes the setting of the poem, a castle on a hill, and the sounds that can be heard from the turrets. The use of the word "turrets" creates a sense of grandeur and mystery, as if the castle is a place of power and magic. The phrase "ears in the turrets hear" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the importance of listening and paying attention to the world around us.

The second stanza introduces the theme of time and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker describes the passing of seasons and the changing of the landscape. The line "the leaves fall in the water" is particularly poignant, as it suggests the inevitability of death and decay. However, the speaker also finds beauty in this transience, as seen in the line "the sun sets in the sea."

The final stanza is the most complex and abstract. It explores the power of imagination and the role of the artist in creating meaning in the world. The speaker describes a "birdless heaven" and a "silent valley," suggesting a world devoid of life and meaning. However, the speaker also suggests that it is the artist's job to create meaning in this world, to "paint the streets with gold." The final line, "the night cracks with laughter," is both mysterious and hopeful, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is still joy and laughter to be found.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of imagery. Thomas creates vivid and evocative images that transport the reader to the world of the poem. The use of sensory language, such as "the smell of hay," "the sound of water," and "the taste of honey," creates a rich and immersive experience for the reader. The images are also highly symbolic, representing larger themes and ideas. For example, the image of the leaves falling in the water can be seen as a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of death.

Another notable aspect of this poem is its use of sound. Thomas was known for his musical language, and "Ears In The Turrets Hear" is no exception. The repetition of the phrase "ears in the turrets hear" creates a rhythmic pattern that is both hypnotic and haunting. The use of alliteration, such as "the sun sets in the sea," creates a sense of harmony and balance. The poem also features internal rhyme, such as "the smell of hay / and fields ripe for harvest," which adds to the musicality of the language.

The themes of this poem are complex and multifaceted. One of the central themes is the passage of time and the transience of life. The speaker observes the changing of the seasons and the passing of time, and finds beauty in this impermanence. However, the poem also suggests that it is the artist's job to create meaning in this fleeting world, to give shape and form to the chaos of existence.

Another theme of the poem is the power of imagination. The speaker describes a world that is devoid of life and meaning, but suggests that it is the artist's job to create meaning in this world. The final line, "the night cracks with laughter," suggests that even in the darkest of times, there is still joy and laughter to be found. This theme is particularly relevant in today's world, where many people feel a sense of despair and hopelessness.

In conclusion, "Ears In The Turrets Hear" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human emotions, the beauty of nature, and the power of imagination. Thomas's use of vivid imagery, musical language, and complex themes creates a rich and immersive experience for the reader. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to inspire, uplift, and transform.

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