'Corona' by Paul Celan
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Autunm eats its leaf out of my hand: we are friends.
From the nuts we shell time and we teach it to walk:
then time returns to the shell.
In the mirror it's Sunday,
in dream there is room for sleeping,
our mouths speak the truth.
My eye moves down to the sex of my loved one:
we look at each other,
we exchange dark words,
we love each other like poppy and recollection,
we sleep like wine in the conches,
like the sea in the moon's blood ray.
We stand by the window embracing, and people look up from
the street:
it is time they knew!
It is time the stone made an effort to flower,
time unrest had a beating heart.
It is time it were time.
It is time.
Translated by Michael Hamburger
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Understanding Paul Celan's "Corona"
As a literary critic, it is always exciting to engage with works that challenge us to explore the depths of language and human experience. One such work is "Corona", a poem by Paul Celan that has captivated readers for decades.
At first glance, "Corona" appears to be a simple love poem. The speaker addresses his beloved, using the metaphor of a wreath of flowers to express his devotion. However, a closer examination reveals a complex web of allusions, symbols, and themes that invite us to ponder the nature of love, language, and existence itself.
The Wreath of Flowers
The central metaphor of "Corona" is the wreath of flowers, which represents both the speaker's love for his beloved and the fragility of that love. The wreath is made of snowdrops, a symbol of hope and renewal, but also of death and mourning. It encircles the beloved's head, suggesting both protection and imprisonment.
The wreath is also a traditional symbol of victory or honor, suggesting that the speaker sees his love as a triumph or achievement. However, the wreath is incomplete, suggesting that the speaker's love is incomplete or flawed. The missing flower may represent the lover's imperfection, or the beloved's absence or unattainability.
The Book of Hours
The title of the poem, "Corona", refers to the Book of Hours, a collection of prayers and meditations used by devout Catholics. The Book of Hours is structured around the theme of the passing of time, with each prayer marking a different hour of the day or night.
The reference to the Book of Hours suggests that the speaker sees his love as a spiritual quest, or a form of devotion. The poem is divided into three parts, each corresponding to a different hour of the day. The first part is set at midnight, suggesting a time of darkness, uncertainty, and introspection. The second part is set at dawn, suggesting a time of hope, renewal, and possibility. The third part is set at noon, suggesting a time of clarity, illumination, and confrontation.
The Holocaust
Paul Celan was a Holocaust survivor, and his poems are often infused with references to his experiences of persecution, trauma, and loss. "Corona" is no exception. The poem contains several references to the Holocaust, including the allusion to the "black milk" of dawn, which may refer to the smoke of crematoria, and the image of "the snow of the paperflies", which may represent the ashes of the dead.
The Holocaust references in "Corona" suggest that the speaker's love is haunted by the specter of death and destruction. The wreath of flowers may represent a fragile attempt to resist or transcend the forces of violence and despair. The Book of Hours may represent a desperate attempt to find meaning and faith in a world that has been shattered.
The Language
One of the most striking features of "Corona" is its use of language. Paul Celan was a master of words, and his poems are renowned for their linguistic richness and complexity. "Corona" is no exception. The poem is full of puns, allusions, and wordplay that invite us to explore the multiple layers of meaning and association that words can contain.
For example, the line "your hair, which is not dark, is dark to me" is both a paradox and a pun. It suggests that the speaker sees his beloved's hair as both light and dark, and that his perception of her is colored by his own subjectivity. The line "the bright ridge of the book's spine" is both a description and a metaphor. It suggests that the book is a physical object that can be held and touched, but also a symbol of the speaker's quest for knowledge and enlightenment.
The Interpretation
So, what does it all mean? What is the message or purpose of "Corona"? As with any work of art, the answer is not straightforward or definitive. However, one possible interpretation is that "Corona" is a meditation on the human condition, and the paradoxical nature of love, language, and existence.
The wreath of flowers may represent the human desire for love and connection, and the fragility and imperfection of those desires. The Book of Hours may represent the human search for meaning and transcendence, and the limitations and illusions of those quests. The Holocaust references may represent the human capacity for evil and destruction, and the resilience and hope that can emerge from those traumas.
The language of "Corona" may represent the human capacity for creativity and expression, and the ambiguity and multiplicity of those forms of communication. The poem invites us to explore the depths of our own subjectivity, and to question the assumptions and conventions that shape our understanding of ourselves and the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Paul Celan's "Corona" is a masterpiece of poetic expression and philosophical exploration. It challenges us to confront the paradoxes and mysteries of human existence, and to seek meaning and hope in the face of violence, trauma, and loss. It invites us to engage with language as a tool for both communication and interpretation, and to explore the multiple layers of meaning and association that words can contain. "Corona" is a testament to the power of literature to evoke and enrich our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Corona: A Poem of Love, Loss, and Hope
Paul Celan's "Corona" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and hope. Written in 1967, the poem is a reflection of Celan's personal struggles and the turbulent times in which he lived. The poem is a tribute to his wife, Gisèle Lestrange, who committed suicide in 1970, and is considered one of Celan's most powerful works. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in "Corona" and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem begins with the line "Autumn eats its leaf out of my hand: we are friends." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is acknowledging the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The use of the word "friend" suggests that the speaker has come to terms with this reality and has accepted it as a natural part of life. The image of the leaf being eaten by autumn is a metaphor for the speaker's own mortality.
The next line, "From the nuts we shell time and we teach it to walk: then time returns to the shell." is a reflection on the human experience of time. The speaker is suggesting that we are all like squirrels, shelling time and trying to make the most of it. However, time is ultimately beyond our control and will always return to its original state. This line also introduces the idea of teaching time to walk, which can be interpreted as the human desire to leave a lasting legacy.
The third line, "In the mirror it's Sunday, in dream there is room for sleeping, our mouths speak the truth" is a reflection on the nature of reality. The speaker is suggesting that reality is subjective and can be different depending on the context. In the mirror, it is Sunday, which suggests a sense of calm and rest. In dreams, there is room for sleeping, which suggests a sense of freedom and escape. Our mouths speak the truth, which suggests that our words have power and can shape our reality.
The fourth line, "My eye moves down to the sex of my loved one: we look at each other, we exchange dark words, we love each other like poppy and recollection, we sleep like wine in the conches, like the sea in the moon's blood ray." is a reflection on the speaker's relationship with his loved one. The use of the word "sex" suggests a physical intimacy, but the following lines suggest a deeper emotional connection. The exchange of "dark words" suggests a sense of shared pain or struggle. The comparison to poppy and recollection suggests a sense of nostalgia and longing. The image of sleeping like wine in the conches and the sea in the moon's blood ray suggests a sense of peace and harmony.
The fifth line, "We stand by each other amid the fireworks, madmen eating fire, we shake with the shivers of the sea and the earth" is a reflection on the speaker's relationship with his loved one in the context of the world around them. The use of the word "fireworks" suggests a sense of chaos and destruction. The image of "madmen eating fire" suggests a sense of desperation and madness. Despite this, the speaker and his loved one stand by each other, suggesting a sense of solidarity and strength. The use of the word "shivers" suggests a sense of vulnerability and fear.
The sixth line, "The storm swirls dark leaves and turns loose the sail of the boat which plunges on and on" is a reflection on the nature of change. The storm represents a sense of chaos and uncertainty, while the boat represents a sense of direction and purpose. The use of the word "plunges" suggests a sense of urgency and determination.
The seventh line, "Over the breast of the spring, the land, amid the breasts of the deep, the sea, naked, beautiful, drowned" is a reflection on the beauty and fragility of nature. The use of the word "breast" suggests a sense of nurturing and life-giving. The image of the sea being "drowned" suggests a sense of loss and destruction.
The eighth line, "We live in our bodies like the trees in their skins, like the animals in their fur, only our words are free" is a reflection on the human experience of being embodied. The use of the word "skins" and "fur" suggests a sense of physicality and connection to nature. The idea that only our words are free suggests a sense of limitation and the power of language.
The ninth line, "The world is immense and our life is a small part of it" is a reflection on the human experience of being part of a larger whole. The use of the word "immense" suggests a sense of awe and wonder. The idea that our life is a small part of it suggests a sense of humility and perspective.
The final line, "For a moment we are happy, remembering the past, contemplating the future" is a reflection on the human experience of happiness. The use of the word "moment" suggests a sense of fleetingness. The idea of remembering the past and contemplating the future suggests a sense of nostalgia and hope.
In conclusion, "Corona" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of the human experience. Through its themes, imagery, and symbolism, the poem explores the nature of love, loss, and hope. The poem is a tribute to Celan's wife, but it is also a reflection on the larger human experience of being embodied, being part of a larger whole, and the power of language. The poem is a reminder that despite the chaos and uncertainty of the world around us, there is still beauty and hope to be found.
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