'The House Of Dust: Part 01: 04: Up high black walls, up sombre terraces' by Conrad Aiken
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Up high black walls, up sombre terraces,
Clinging like luminous birds to the sides of cliffs,
The yellow lights went climbing towards the sky.
From high black walls, gleaming vaguely with rain,
Each yellow light looked down like a golden eye.
They trembled from coign to coign, and tower to tower,
Along high terraces quicker than dream they flew.
And some of them steadily glowed, and some soon vanished,
And some strange shadows threw.
And behind them all the ghosts of thoughts went moving,
Restlessly moving in each lamplit room,
From chair to mirror, from mirror to fire;
From some, the light was scarcely more than a gloom:
From some, a dazzling desire.
And there was one, beneath black eaves, who thought,
Combing with lifted arms her golden hair,
Of the lover who hurried towards her through the night;
And there was one who dreamed of a sudden death
As she blew out her light.
And there was one who turned from clamoring streets,
And walked in lamplit gardens among black trees,
And looked at the windy sky,
And thought with terror how stones and roots would freeze
And birds in the dead boughs cry . . .
And she hurried back, as snow fell, mixed with rain,
To mingle among the crowds again,
To jostle beneath blue lamps along the street;
And lost herself in the warm bright coiling dream,
With a sound of murmuring voices and shuffling feet.
And one, from his high bright window looking down
On luminous chasms that cleft the basalt town,
Hearing a sea-like murmur rise,
Desired to leave his dream, descend from the tower,
And drown in waves of shouts and laughter and cries.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The House Of Dust: Part 01: 04: Up high black walls, up sombre terraces
Conrad Aiken is one of the most remarkable poets of the 20th century. His poem, The House Of Dust: Part 01: 04: Up high black walls, up sombre terraces is a masterpiece that reveals his exceptional artistic talent. In this poem, Aiken takes us on a journey through the mysterious and unsettling world of the House of Dust. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and haunting symbolism that leave a lasting impression on the reader. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the various elements of this poem and explore their meaning and significance.
Overview of the poem
The poem begins with a description of the House of Dust. Aiken paints a picture of a dark and foreboding place, with high black walls and sombre terraces. As the poem progresses, he introduces a series of characters who inhabit this strange world. These characters are all connected in some way, and their stories intertwine to create a complex and intriguing narrative.
The poem is divided into several sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the House of Dust. In this analysis, we will focus primarily on Part 01: 04, which explores the upper levels of the House of Dust.
Analysis of Part 01: 04
The opening lines
The poem begins with a description of the House of Dust, which is presented as a mysterious and ominous place. The use of the adjective "sombre" to describe the terraces suggests a sense of foreboding, while the phrase "up high black walls" creates a sense of confinement and isolation. These opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, and immediately draw the reader into the dark and unsettling world of the House of Dust.
The characters
In Part 01: 04, Aiken introduces several characters who inhabit the upper levels of the House of Dust. These characters are all connected in some way, and their stories are intertwined. We meet the "blind windows" that "stare down on the street", the "lonely room" with "a single chair", and the "desolate roof" where "starlight falls". Each of these characters has a story to tell, and each contributes to the overall sense of mystery and unease that permeates the poem.
The symbolism
One of the most striking features of this poem is the use of powerful symbolism. The House of Dust itself is a symbol of decay and decline, a place where the past and present coexist in a state of perpetual decay. The "blind windows" and "lonely room" are symbols of isolation and loneliness, while the "desolate roof" represents a sense of hopelessness and despair.
The use of light and darkness is also significant in this poem. The "starlight" that falls on the desolate roof represents a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak world. The darkness that pervades the House of Dust represents the unknown and the unknowable, a place where secrets are hidden and mysteries abound.
The language
Aiken's use of language in this poem is both powerful and evocative. His descriptions of the House of Dust and its inhabitants are vivid and haunting, and his use of metaphor and symbolism is masterful. The repetition of certain phrases, such as "lonely room" and "desolate roof", creates a sense of rhythm and structure that adds to the overall impact of the poem.
The overall meaning
At its core, The House of Dust: Part 01: 04 is a meditation on the human condition. Aiken uses the House of Dust as a metaphor for the decay and decline that is inherent in all human existence. The characters who inhabit this world are all facing their own struggles and challenges, and their stories serve as a reminder of the fragility and impermanence of life.
The poem also explores the theme of isolation and loneliness. The characters in the House of Dust are all alone in their own way, and their stories serve as a reminder of how easy it is to become disconnected from the world around us. The House of Dust is a place where the past and present coexist in a state of decay, and it serves as a warning of the dangers of becoming trapped in our own memories and regrets.
Conclusion
The House of Dust: Part 01: 04: Up high black walls, up sombre terraces is a masterful poem that showcases Conrad Aiken's exceptional artistic talent. Through his use of vivid imagery, haunting symbolism, and powerful language, Aiken creates a world that is both mysterious and unsettling. The poem is a meditation on the human condition, exploring themes of decay, decline, and isolation. It is a powerful reminder of the fragility and impermanence of life, and a warning of the dangers of becoming trapped in our own memories and regrets.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The House Of Dust: Part 01: 04: Up high black walls, up sombre terraces is a classic poem written by Conrad Aiken. This poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, and it explores themes of isolation, despair, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning of this poem, its structure, and its literary devices.
The poem begins with the line "Up high black walls, up sombre terraces," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "black" creates a sense of darkness and foreboding, while "sombre" adds to the overall feeling of gloom. The use of the word "up" also creates a sense of height and isolation, as if the speaker is looking up at a towering structure.
The next line, "Clinging like luminous birds to the sides of cliffs," is a metaphor that compares the building to a cliff, and the people inside to birds. This metaphor creates a sense of fragility and vulnerability, as if the people inside the building are clinging to life itself.
The third line, "The yellow lights went zigzagging down the street," is a vivid image that creates a sense of movement and chaos. The use of the word "zigzagging" adds to the feeling of disorientation and confusion.
The fourth line, "And the tall walls of the commercial buildings rose from the street," is a contrast to the first line, which described the building as "black" and "sombre." Here, the buildings are described as "tall," which creates a sense of power and dominance.
The fifth line, "The street itself was a wide aisle of darkness," is a powerful image that creates a sense of emptiness and loneliness. The use of the word "aisle" suggests a sense of emptiness and isolation, as if the speaker is walking alone in a vast, empty space.
The sixth line, "A vestibule lit with incandescent lamps," is a contrast to the previous line, which described the street as dark. Here, the vestibule is described as "lit," which creates a sense of warmth and comfort.
The seventh line, "Then a sudden twist and a wail of pain," is a sudden shift in tone that creates a sense of shock and horror. The use of the word "wail" suggests a sense of agony and despair.
The eighth line, "And a big black engine came snorting down the street," is a powerful image that creates a sense of power and danger. The use of the word "snorting" suggests a sense of aggression and violence.
The ninth line, "The lower floors of the building shook and quivered," is a vivid image that creates a sense of instability and danger. The use of the words "shook" and "quivered" suggests a sense of vulnerability and fragility.
The tenth line, "But the stairway stood unshaken," is a contrast to the previous line, which described the building as shaking. Here, the stairway is described as "unshaken," which creates a sense of stability and safety.
The eleventh line, "Voices rose from the basements," is a powerful image that creates a sense of chaos and confusion. The use of the word "basements" suggests a sense of darkness and danger.
The twelfth line, "And the whole building seemed to be pulsing with life," is a vivid image that creates a sense of energy and vitality. The use of the word "pulsing" suggests a sense of movement and life.
The thirteenth line, "But the stairway stood unshaken," is a repetition of the tenth line, which creates a sense of stability and safety.
The final line, "Voices went moaning foreverly down the long stairway," is a powerful image that creates a sense of despair and hopelessness. The use of the word "moaning" suggests a sense of agony and despair, while the phrase "foreverly down the long stairway" suggests a sense of endlessness and futility.
In terms of structure, the poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to experiment with language and form. The poem is divided into thirteen lines, which creates a sense of brevity and concision. The use of enjambment, where the lines flow into each other without punctuation, creates a sense of movement and fluidity.
In terms of literary devices, the poem is rich in metaphor and imagery. The metaphor of the building as a cliff and the people inside as birds creates a sense of fragility and vulnerability. The use of the word "black" and "sombre" creates a sense of darkness and foreboding, while the use of the word "lit" creates a sense of warmth and comfort. The use of the word "zigzagging" creates a sense of movement and chaos, while the use of the word "snorting" creates a sense of aggression and violence.
Overall, The House Of Dust: Part 01: 04: Up high black walls, up sombre terraces is a powerful poem that explores themes of isolation, despair, and the human condition. The use of metaphor and imagery creates a vivid and haunting portrait of a building and the people inside. The structure of the poem and the use of literary devices add to the overall impact of the poem. This is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
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