'Birth-Dues' by Robinson Jeffers

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Joy is a trick in the air; pleasure is merely
contemptible, the dangled
Carrot the ass follows to market or precipice;
But limitary pain -- the rock under the tower
and the hewn coping
That takes thunder at the head of the turret-
Terrible and real. Therefore a mindless dervish
carving himself
With knives will seem to have conquered the world.


The world's God is treacherous and full of
unreason; a torturer, but also
The only foundation and the only fountain.
Who fights him eats his own flesh and perishes
of hunger; who hides in the grave
To escape him is dead; who enters the Indian
Recession to escape him is dead; who falls in
love with the God is washed clean
Of death desired and of death dreaded.


He has joy, but Joy is a trick in the air; and
pleasure, but pleasure is contemptible;
And peace; and is based on solider than pain.
He has broken boundaries a little and that will
estrange him; he is monstrous, but not
To the measure of the God.... But I having told
you--
However I suppose that few in the world have
energy to hear effectively-
Have paid my birth-dues; am quits with the
people.


Submitted by Holt

Editor 1 Interpretation

Birth-Dues by Robinson Jeffers: An Exploration of Nature and Humanity

Robinson Jeffers' poem, Birth-Dues, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the natural world and its relationship with humanity. The poem is a celebration of birth, life, and death, and explores the cycle of life in a way that is both profound and moving. Jeffers was a master of the art of poetry, and Birth-Dues is one of his greatest works. The poem is a testament to his skill as a writer and his understanding of the human condition.

A Brief Overview of the Poem

Birth-Dues is a long poem that consists of 23 stanzas, each with six lines. The poem is written in free verse, and the lines are unrhymed. The poem is divided into four sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the cycle of life. The first section is about birth, the second is about life, the third is about death, and the fourth is about reincarnation.

Birth

The first section of the poem is about birth. Jeffers writes about the joy and wonder of new life and the connection between the mother and the child. He uses vivid imagery to describe the birth process and the beauty of the newborn. He writes:

The nightingales are sobbing in
The orchards of our mothers,
And hearts that we broke long ago
Have long been breaking others;
Tears are round, the sea is deep:
Roll them overboard and sleep.

These lines are powerful and emotive. Jeffers uses the image of nightingales sobbing in the orchards of our mothers as a metaphor for the pain of childbirth. The line "hearts that we broke long ago have long been breaking others" is a reference to the cycle of life. The tears that are being shed are a symbol of the pain and suffering that is an inevitable part of life. The sea is deep, and the only way to find peace is to "roll them overboard and sleep."

Life

The second section of the poem is about life. Jeffers writes about the beauty of the natural world and the way in which humans are connected to it. He uses the image of the sea to illustrate this connection. He writes:

The sea is wine-red and navy
Brilliantly jewelled with stars,
Hiems’ towering headland
Has smitten the horse of Mars
With a white gold whip; the foaming
Haunches are barley-sugar cream.

Jeffers is describing the beauty of the sea and the stars. He is also using the image of the sea to suggest the connection between humans and nature. He compares the sea to wine and suggests that it is something that can be enjoyed and appreciated. He also uses the image of the horse of Mars to describe the power and majesty of nature. The foaming haunches are described as "barley-sugar cream," which is a reference to the sweetness and beauty of life.

Death

The third section of the poem is about death. Jeffers writes about the inevitability of death and the way in which it is a part of the cycle of life. He writes:

Our ghosts drag leathern wings,
Our dreams release to the winds
What we have been.

These lines are powerful and emotive. Jeffers is describing the way in which death releases us from the constraints of our physical bodies and allows us to become something more. He suggests that our "ghosts" are something that we carry with us, even after we die. He also suggests that our dreams are a way of releasing our true selves into the world.

Reincarnation

The fourth section of the poem is about reincarnation. Jeffers writes about the way in which life is a cycle, and that death is not the end. He suggests that we are reborn into new forms and that our souls live on. He writes:

Our fathers wrung their bread from stocks and stones
And fenced their gardens with the Red Sea foam,
And in the sepulchres of dolphins
They celebrated victory.

These lines are rich with imagery and meaning. Jeffers is suggesting that our ancestors were connected to nature in a way that we have lost. He is also suggesting that death is not the end, but rather a new beginning. The image of the dolphins celebrating victory is a powerful one, suggesting that even in death, there is something to be celebrated.

Conclusion

Robinson Jeffers' poem, Birth-Dues, is a masterpiece of poetry. It explores the cycle of life in a way that is both profound and moving. The poem is a celebration of birth, life, and death, and suggests that there is something beyond death. Jeffers' use of imagery and metaphor is powerful and emotive, and his understanding of the human condition is profound. Birth-Dues is a testament to his skill as a writer and his understanding of the natural world. It is a poem that deserves to be read and celebrated for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Birth-Dues: A Poem of Nature and the Human Condition

Robinson Jeffers’ Birth-Dues is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human condition, exploring themes of birth, death, and the cyclical nature of life. Written in 1920, the poem is a meditation on the natural world and the role of humanity within it. Jeffers’ writing is both lyrical and philosophical, and his words resonate with a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and power of the natural world.

The poem begins with an evocative description of the natural world, as Jeffers describes the “great trees” and “the green hills” that surround him. He speaks of the “wilderness” and the “roaring sea,” painting a vivid picture of the rugged, untamed landscape that he inhabits. Jeffers’ language is rich and descriptive, and his words create a sense of the sublime, as if the natural world is a force that is both beautiful and terrifying.

As the poem progresses, Jeffers turns his attention to the human condition, exploring the idea of birth and the role that it plays in our lives. He speaks of the “birth-pangs” that we all experience, both literally and metaphorically, and he suggests that these pains are a necessary part of the human experience. Jeffers’ writing is deeply philosophical, and he suggests that the pain of birth is a kind of initiation, a rite of passage that we must all go through in order to fully experience life.

Jeffers’ writing is also deeply rooted in the natural world, and he suggests that the pain of birth is a reflection of the pain that is inherent in the natural world. He speaks of the “struggle and the agony” that is present in all living things, and he suggests that this struggle is a necessary part of the cycle of life. Jeffers’ writing is both poetic and profound, and his words suggest that the natural world is a kind of teacher, guiding us through the trials and tribulations of life.

As the poem progresses, Jeffers turns his attention to the idea of death, exploring the role that it plays in the cycle of life. He speaks of the “darkness” that surrounds us all, and he suggests that death is a kind of release, a way of returning to the natural world from which we came. Jeffers’ writing is both beautiful and haunting, and his words suggest that death is a natural part of the cycle of life, a necessary step in the journey that we all must take.

Throughout the poem, Jeffers’ writing is deeply rooted in the natural world, and he suggests that the natural world is a kind of mirror, reflecting back to us the beauty and the pain of our own lives. He speaks of the “great trees” and the “roaring sea,” suggesting that these natural forces are a kind of mirror, reflecting back to us the beauty and the pain of our own lives. Jeffers’ writing is both lyrical and philosophical, and his words suggest that the natural world is a kind of teacher, guiding us through the trials and tribulations of life.

In conclusion, Birth-Dues is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human condition, exploring themes of birth, death, and the cyclical nature of life. Jeffers’ writing is both lyrical and philosophical, and his words resonate with a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and power of the natural world. Through his writing, Jeffers suggests that the natural world is a kind of mirror, reflecting back to us the beauty and the pain of our own lives, and he suggests that the natural world is a kind of teacher, guiding us through the trials and tribulations of life. Birth-Dues is a timeless poem that speaks to the human experience, and its words will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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