'Old Adam, the Carrion Crow' by Thomas Lovell Beddoes
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1Old Adam, the carrion crow,
2The old crow of Cairo;
3He sat in the shower, and let it flow
4Under his tail and over his crest;
5And through every feather
6Leak'd the wet weather;
7And the bough swung under his nest;
8For his beak it was heavy with marrow.
9Is that the wind dying? O no;
10It's only two devils, that blow,
11Through a murderer's bones, to and fro,
12In the ghosts' moonshine.
13Ho! Eve, my grey carrion wife,
14When we have supped on king's marrow,
15Where shall we drink and make merry our life?
16Our nest it is queen Cleopatra's skull,
17'Tis cloven and crack'd,
18And batter'd and hack'd,
19But with tears of blue eyes it is full:
20Let us drink then, my raven of Cairo!
21Is that the wind dying? O no;
22It's only two devils, that blow
23Through a murderer's bones, to and fro,
24In the ghosts' moonshine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
Thomas Lovell Beddoes is an English poet and dramatist of the Romantic era. His works are characterized by their dark and gothic themes, which can be seen in his poem "Old Adam, the Carrion Crow." In this poem, Beddoes explores the themes of death and decay through the personification of a carrion crow named Old Adam. The poem is a haunting meditation on the inevitability of death and the transience of life.
Analysis
The poem opens with the line "Old Adam, the carrion crow," immediately drawing the reader's attention to the protagonist of the poem. The use of the word "old" suggests that Old Adam has been around for a while, and the fact that he is a carrion crow immediately brings to mind images of death and decay. The use of alliteration in "carrion crow" also serves to emphasize the bird's association with death.
The second stanza describes how Old Adam "croaks and complains" as he flies through the air, suggesting that he is burdened by the weight of his own mortality. The use of the word "complains" also implies that Old Adam is aware of his own impending death, and is unhappy about it.
The third stanza is particularly striking, as it describes how Old Adam picks at the "foul remains" of a dead horse. The imagery here is incredibly vivid, and the use of the word "foul" serves to emphasize the disgusting nature of what Old Adam is doing. However, the fact that he is able to find sustenance in the remains of a dead animal reminds us that death is a natural part of life, and that everything eventually returns to the earth.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most chilling, as it describes how Old Adam "croaks out his prophecy" of death and decay to the other animals. The use of the word "prophecy" suggests that Old Adam has some kind of supernatural knowledge about the future, and that his words carry a certain weight. The image of the other animals "huddling and shivering" in fear also serves to emphasize the ominous nature of Old Adam's words.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close with the line "and men lie down and die." This simple statement serves to remind us of our own mortality, and that we too will eventually succumb to the same fate as Old Adam and the dead horse. The fact that the poem ends on this note of finality is both haunting and thought-provoking.
Interpretation
"Old Adam, the Carrion Crow" is a powerful meditation on the inevitability of death and the transience of life. Through the personification of a carrion crow, Beddoes is able to explore the themes of decay, mortality, and the natural cycle of life and death. The poem is a reminder that everything eventually returns to the earth, and that death is a natural part of life.
However, the poem is also a reminder of the fragility of life. The fact that Old Adam is burdened by his own mortality suggests that he is aware of the fact that his time is limited. The other animals' fear of him also suggests that they too are aware of their own mortality, and that the prospect of death is something that we all fear.
Furthermore, the use of the word "prophecy" in the fourth stanza suggests that Old Adam's words carry a certain weight, and that they are a warning of what is to come. The fact that the other animals are afraid of him also suggests that they are aware of the inevitability of death, and that Old Adam's words serve as a reminder of this fact.
Overall, "Old Adam, the Carrion Crow" is a haunting and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of death, decay, and the transience of life. Through its vivid imagery and powerful use of language, the poem serves as a reminder of our own mortality, and of the fact that everything eventually returns to the earth.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Old Adam, the Carrion Crow is a poem written by Thomas Lovell Beddoes, a British poet and dramatist of the Romantic era. The poem is a dark and haunting piece that explores themes of death, decay, and the inevitability of mortality. It is a powerful and evocative work that has captivated readers for generations, and continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars and enthusiasts alike.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality. The language used in the poem is rich and vivid, with a strong emphasis on imagery and metaphor. The poem is written in the voice of Old Adam, a carrion crow, who speaks of his experiences and observations of death and decay.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work. Old Adam speaks of his love for death and decay, and how he revels in the sight of dead bodies and decaying flesh. He describes himself as a "grim and greedy bird," who feeds on the flesh of the dead. The imagery used in this stanza is vivid and grotesque, with descriptions of "rotten bones" and "mouldy flesh." The use of such language creates a sense of unease and discomfort in the reader, and sets the stage for the dark and unsettling themes that are explored throughout the poem.
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the human experience of death and decay. Old Adam speaks of how humans fear death, and how they try to avoid it at all costs. He describes how humans cling to life, even when it is painful and miserable, and how they are consumed by their fear of the unknown. The language used in this stanza is powerful and emotive, with descriptions of "agonizing breath" and "tortured limbs." The use of such language creates a sense of empathy and understanding in the reader, as they are able to relate to the fear and uncertainty that Old Adam describes.
The third stanza of the poem explores the idea of mortality and the inevitability of death. Old Adam speaks of how all living things must eventually die, and how even the most powerful and mighty creatures are subject to the same fate as the lowliest of beings. He describes how death is a natural and necessary part of life, and how it is only through death that new life can be born. The language used in this stanza is philosophical and contemplative, with descriptions of "the great law of change" and "the eternal cycle of life and death." The use of such language creates a sense of awe and wonder in the reader, as they are forced to confront the vastness and complexity of the natural world.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem brings the focus back to Old Adam himself. He speaks of how he will continue to feast on the flesh of the dead, and how he will never tire of the sight of death and decay. He describes himself as a "grim and greedy bird," who is content to live out his days in the company of death. The language used in this stanza is dark and foreboding, with descriptions of "the blackness of the grave" and "the silence of the tomb." The use of such language creates a sense of finality and closure in the reader, as they are left with the impression that Old Adam will continue to exist long after the humans he feeds on have passed into oblivion.
Overall, Old Adam, the Carrion Crow is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of death, decay, and the inevitability of mortality. The language used in the poem is rich and vivid, with a strong emphasis on imagery and metaphor. The poem is structured in four stanzas, each consisting of four lines, and the rhyme scheme is ABAB. The meter is iambic tetrameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality. The poem is written in the voice of Old Adam, a carrion crow, who speaks of his experiences and observations of death and decay. The poem is a dark and haunting piece that has captivated readers for generations, and continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars and enthusiasts alike.
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