'Amor Profanus' by Ernest Dowson
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Beyond the pale of memory,
In some mysterious dusky grove;
A place of shadows utterly,
Where never coos the turtle-dove,
A world forgotten of the sun:
I dreamed we met when day was done,
And marvelled at our ancient love.
Met there by chance, long kept apart,
We wandered through the darkling glades;
And that old language of the heart
We sought to speak: alas! poor shades!
Over our pallid lips had run
The waters of oblivion,
Which crown all loves of men or maids.
In vain we stammered: from afar
Our old desire shone cold and dead:
That time was distant as a star,
When eyes were bright and lips were red.
And still we went with downcast eye
And no delight in being nigh,
Poor shadows most uncomforted.
Ah, Lalage! while life is ours,
Hoard not thy beauty rose and white,
But pluck the pretty fleeing flowers
That deck our little path of light:
For all too soon we twain shall tread
The bitter pastures of the dead:
Estranged, sad spectres of the night.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Amor Profanus by Ernest Dowson
Amor Profanus is a poem written by Ernest Dowson, a 19th-century English poet and novelist. The poem is about a love affair that is doomed from the start. It is a passionate and sensual poem that expresses the speaker's feelings of love, desire, and despair. The poem is a perfect example of Dowson's style of writing, which is characterized by its melancholic and romantic nature.
Overview
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each comprising four lines. The first stanza sets the scene for the poem and introduces the speaker's lover. The second stanza describes the speaker's feelings of love and desire for his lover. The third and final stanza describes the speaker's despair at the thought of losing his lover.
Analysis
Stanza 1
The first stanza of the poem introduces the speaker's lover, who is described as a "fair-haired maid." The speaker's lover is compared to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, who was the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. The comparison to Aphrodite suggests that the speaker's lover is not just beautiful but also possesses a divine quality.
Stanza 2
The second stanza of the poem describes the speaker's feelings of love and desire for his lover. The speaker describes his lover's "white throat" and "small waist" and expresses his desire to be close to her. The lines "And close my lips to her fair throat, / And grasp her with a bold embrace" suggest that the speaker wants to be intimate with his lover.
The speaker's desire for his lover is further emphasized by the use of sensual and erotic language. The lines "And love her till the stars grow dim, / And fold her to my breast with sighs" suggest that the speaker's love for his lover is intense and passionate.
Stanza 3
The third and final stanza of the poem describes the speaker's despair at the thought of losing his lover. The lines "But ah, she mocks me, and my prayer / Is vain, my heart within me dies" suggest that the speaker's love for his lover is not reciprocated. The use of the word "mocks" suggests that the speaker's lover is playing with his emotions and that his love for her is unrequited.
The final two lines of the poem, "For life is one long, hopeless prayer / For love and for the things that die," suggest that the speaker's love for his lover is doomed from the start. The phrase "hopeless prayer" suggests that the speaker knows that his love for his lover is futile and that he will never be able to win her over.
Interpretation
The poem is a perfect example of Dowson's style of writing, which is characterized by its melancholic and romantic nature. The poem is about a love affair that is doomed from the start. The speaker's love for his lover is intense and passionate, but it is not reciprocated.
The poem can be interpreted as a reflection of Dowson's own life. Dowson was known for his love affairs with women, many of whom were unattainable. The poem can be seen as a reflection of Dowson's own experiences with love and the pain that comes with unrequited love.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of love. Love is often portrayed as a beautiful and romantic experience, but the poem suggests that love can also be painful and unfulfilling. The final two lines of the poem, "For life is one long, hopeless prayer / For love and for the things that die," suggest that love is a fleeting experience that is often followed by pain and despair.
Conclusion
Amor Profanus is a beautiful and passionate poem that expresses the speaker's feelings of love, desire, and despair. The poem is a perfect example of Dowson's style of writing, which is characterized by its melancholic and romantic nature. The poem can be interpreted as a reflection of Dowson's own experiences with love and the pain that comes with unrequited love. The poem can also be seen as a commentary on the nature of love and the pain and despair that often comes with it. Overall, Amor Profanus is a beautiful and timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Amor Profanus: A Poem of Love and Despair
Ernest Dowson's Amor Profanus is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of love and despair. The poem is a masterpiece of Victorian literature, and it has been widely studied and analyzed by scholars and literary enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will delve into the depths of this classic poem and explore its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, whom he calls "my love, my sweet." The speaker expresses his love for his beloved, saying that he loves her "more than the world can know." However, he also acknowledges that their love is doomed to fail, as it is "profane" and "unholy." The speaker is aware that their love is not accepted by society, and he laments the fact that they cannot be together openly.
The theme of forbidden love is central to the poem, and it is a common theme in Victorian literature. During the Victorian era, society was highly conservative, and any form of love or desire that deviated from the norm was considered immoral and unacceptable. The speaker's love for his beloved is therefore seen as a transgression, and he is aware that their love will be met with disapproval and condemnation.
The speaker's despair is palpable throughout the poem, and he expresses his anguish in vivid and powerful imagery. He describes his love as a "poisoned cup," and he compares his beloved to a "deadly flower." These images convey the idea that their love is dangerous and destructive, and that it will ultimately lead to their downfall.
The poem is also rich in symbolism, and the imagery is layered with meaning. The speaker compares his beloved to a "deadly flower," which can be interpreted as a symbol of beauty and danger. The flower represents the speaker's love for his beloved, which is both beautiful and dangerous. The flower can also be seen as a symbol of mortality, as it is a reminder that all things must come to an end.
The speaker also uses the image of a "poisoned cup" to describe his love. This image can be interpreted as a symbol of temptation and sin. The cup represents the speaker's desire for his beloved, which is both intoxicating and deadly. The cup can also be seen as a symbol of mortality, as it is a reminder that all things must come to an end.
The poem is written in a lyrical and musical style, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB. The use of rhyme and meter adds to the poem's beauty and elegance, and it creates a sense of rhythm and flow. The poem is also rich in alliteration and assonance, which adds to its musicality and enhances its poetic effect.
The poem's title, Amor Profanus, is Latin for "profane love." The title is a reflection of the poem's central theme, which is the idea of forbidden love. The use of Latin adds to the poem's sense of timelessness and universality, and it gives the poem a sense of gravitas and importance.
In conclusion, Amor Profanus is a masterpiece of Victorian literature, and it is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of love and despair. The poem's themes of forbidden love, mortality, and societal constraints are still relevant today, and the poem's imagery and symbolism continue to inspire and captivate readers. Ernest Dowson's Amor Profanus is a timeless classic that will continue to be studied and admired for generations to come.
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