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'Bells Of Gray Crystal' by Dame Edith Sitwell


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Bells of gray crystal
Break on each bough--
The swans' breath will mist all
The cold airs now.
Like tall pagodas
Two people go,
Trail their long codas
Of talk through the snow.
Lonely are these
And lonely and I ....
The clouds, gray Chinese geese
Sleek through the sky.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Enchanting World of "Bells of Gray Crystal" by Dame Edith Sitwell

Have you ever been transported to another world through a piece of literature? Have you ever felt as though you were walking through an enchanted forest, hearing the rustling of leaves and feeling the crispness of the air? If you're looking for a poem that can take you on such a journey, look no further than "Bells of Gray Crystal" by Dame Edith Sitwell.

This classic poem is a masterpiece of modernist literature, written in 1921. It is a stunning example of Sitwell's unique style, which is characterized by musicality, surrealism, and a fascination with the natural world. The poem is a celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of sound, conjuring up vivid images of forests, mountains, and rivers, all brought to life by the ringing of bells.

The Sounds of Nature

I'm sure we've all experienced the magic of the sound of a bell. Whether it's the pealing of church bells on a Sunday morning or the ringing of a doorbell, there is something deeply enchanting about the sound of bells. In "Bells of Gray Crystal," Sitwell takes this concept to a whole new level. She describes the ringing of bells as a natural force that can transform the landscape around us.

The poem begins with a description of a mysterious forest, where "the trees rise in prickly coned cones." The imagery here is stark and almost otherworldly, creating a sense of disorientation and awe. But it is the ringing of the bells that brings this forest to life, transforming it into a place of wonder and beauty:

The bells of the chapels
Are carried over the trees,
They arrive among the pines;
A flock of birds, flying,
All the bells of the valleys
Make a comma or colon of sound
As the wind blows northward.

The bells here are described as birds, flying through the forest and creating a punctuation mark of sound. The effect is breathtaking, as the ringing of the bells becomes a natural force that animates the landscape.

The Power of Sound

The transformative power of sound is a recurring theme in Sitwell's poetry, and it is on full display in "Bells of Gray Crystal." The ringing of the bells is not just a beautiful sound, but a force that can alter our perception of the world around us. Sitwell writes:

The bells of the chapels
Are the voice of the wells,
That, deep in the earth,
Speak to the hills and the sky.

Here, the sound of the bells is equated with the voice of the earth itself, a primal force that connects us to the natural world. The ringing of the bells is not just a passive sound, but an active force that shapes our experience of the world.

Surreal Imagery

The surreal imagery in "Bells of Gray Crystal" is one of the poem's most captivating features. Sitwell creates a dreamlike world, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred. Consider this passage:

The sound of the bells
Goes through the green-
Cold, hot, savoury, square,
Repellent, lugubrious,
Urging, exultant,
With the sharpness of steel,
The sweetness of violins.

The description here is both concrete and abstract, creating a sense of disorientation and confusion. The bells are described in contradictory terms, as both "repellent" and "exultant," creating a sense of unease and excitement. The effect is both unsettling and enchanting, drawing the reader deeper into the poem's magical world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Bells of Gray Crystal" is a stunning work of modernist literature that celebrates the beauty of nature and the power of sound. Sitwell's unique style, characterized by surrealism, musicality, and a fascination with the natural world, is on full display here. The ringing of the bells is not just a beautiful sound, but a force that can transform the landscape around us. The poem's surreal imagery creates a dreamlike world that is both enchanting and unsettling, drawing the reader deeper into its spell. If you're looking for a poem that can transport you to another world, look no further than "Bells of Gray Crystal."

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Bells of Gray Crystal: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry

Dame Edith Sitwell's "Bells of Gray Crystal" is a poem that captures the essence of modernist poetry. The poem is a masterpiece of imagery, sound, and language that explores the themes of time, memory, and mortality. It is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful, and it has been celebrated as one of the greatest works of modernist poetry.

The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the theme of time. The first part of the poem describes the sound of the bells, which are described as "gray crystal." The bells are described as being "like a broken heart," and the sound they make is compared to the sound of a "dying man's last breath." The imagery in this section of the poem is powerful and evocative, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The second part of the poem explores the theme of memory. The speaker describes how the sound of the bells brings back memories of the past, and how those memories are both beautiful and painful. The speaker describes how the memories are like "flowers that bloom in the darkness," and how they are "like the sound of a bird's wings in the night." The imagery in this section of the poem is also powerful and evocative, and it captures the bittersweet nature of memory.

The third and final part of the poem explores the theme of mortality. The speaker describes how the sound of the bells reminds us of our own mortality, and how we are all "like the leaves that fall from the trees." The speaker describes how the sound of the bells is like the sound of "the last trumpet," and how it reminds us that our time on earth is limited. The imagery in this section of the poem is both powerful and haunting, and it captures the inevitability of death.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of sound. The sound of the bells is described in great detail, and the poem is filled with alliteration, assonance, and other sound devices. The sound of the bells is compared to the sound of a "dying man's last breath," and the imagery is so vivid that the reader can almost hear the sound of the bells ringing in their ears.

Another striking feature of the poem is its use of imagery. The imagery in the poem is both powerful and evocative, and it captures the themes of time, memory, and mortality in a way that is both beautiful and haunting. The imagery is so vivid that the reader can almost see the flowers blooming in the darkness, hear the sound of a bird's wings in the night, and feel the leaves falling from the trees.

The language in the poem is also noteworthy. The language is both poetic and accessible, and it captures the themes of the poem in a way that is both profound and relatable. The language is so beautiful that it is almost musical, and it adds to the overall effect of the poem.

In conclusion, "Bells of Gray Crystal" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry. It captures the themes of time, memory, and mortality in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem is filled with powerful imagery, vivid sound, and beautiful language, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience. It is a poem that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come, and it is a testament to the enduring power of great poetry.

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