'From The Long Sad Party' by Mark Strand
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Someone was saying
something about shadows covering the field, about
how things pass, how one sleeps towards morning
and the morning goes.
Someone was saying
how the wind dies down but comes back,
how shells are the coffins of wind
but the weather continues.
It was a long night
and someone said something about the moon shedding its
white
on the cold field, that there was nothing ahead
but more of the same.
Someone mentioned
a city she had been in before the war, a room with two
candles
against a wall, someone dancing, someone watching.
We begin to believe
the night would not end.
Someone was saying the music was over and no one had
noticed.
Then someone said something about the planets, about the
stars,
how small they were, how far away.
Editor 1 Interpretation
From The Long Sad Party: A Poem of Beauty and Melancholy
Mark Strand's "From The Long Sad Party" is a poem that takes the reader on a journey through the complexities of the human condition. With its poignant imagery and evocative language, the poem invites the reader to explore the depths of emotion that come with being human. At its core, the poem is a reflection on the paradoxical nature of life, the moments of joy and sorrow that come with it, and the inevitability of change.
The Poem's Structure
The poem is divided into three stanzas, with the first and third stanzas consisting of four lines each, and the second stanza consisting of six lines. The structure of the poem is simple yet effective, allowing the reader to focus on the words without distraction. The short lines also give the poem a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is trying to capture a fleeting moment before it disappears.
The Use of Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. From the opening lines, the reader is transported to a world of beauty and melancholy:
The house was quiet and the world was calm.
The reader became the book; and summer night
Was like the conscious being of the book.
The house was quiet and the world was calm.
The imagery here is rich and evocative. The sense of stillness and calmness in the world is contrasted with the idea of the reader becoming the book, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The summer night is personified as a conscious being, adding a sense of mystery and intrigue to the scene. The repetition of the opening line at the end of the stanza reinforces the sense of stillness and calmness, while also suggesting that this moment is fleeting and will soon pass.
Throughout the rest of the poem, Strand continues to use imagery to great effect. In the second stanza, he describes the scene at the party:
The women were beautiful and the men stood
Staring or leaned against the doorways.
Their flesh trembled in the white cloth
Like the twitching of moth wings, or the
Lifeless chrysalis fixed and still.
Here, the women are described as beautiful, while the men are reduced to staring or leaning against the doorways. The description of their flesh trembling in the white cloth is both sensual and eerie, adding to the sense of unease that permeates the poem. The comparison to moth wings and chrysalises emphasizes the fragility of life and the idea that everything is in a state of constant change.
The Themes of the Poem
At its core, "From The Long Sad Party" is a poem about the human condition. It explores the paradoxical nature of life, the moments of joy and sorrow that come with it, and the inevitability of change. The poem's themes are universal, resonating with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
One of the themes that runs through the poem is the idea of transience. The opening lines of the poem suggest that the moment of stillness and calmness is fleeting, and this sense of impermanence is echoed throughout the rest of the poem. The party-goers are described as "lifeless chrysalises fixed and still," emphasizing the idea that everything is in a state of constant change.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of beauty in sadness. The poem's title, "From The Long Sad Party," suggests that sadness is a central theme of the poem. However, the sadness is not portrayed as something to be avoided or overcome, but rather as something that can be beautiful in its own way. The women at the party are described as beautiful, and their beauty is contrasted with the stillness and unease of the men.
The Poem's Meaning
At its core, "From The Long Sad Party" is a poem about the complexities of the human condition. It explores the paradoxical nature of life, the moments of joy and sorrow that come with it, and the inevitability of change. The poem's imagery is rich and evocative, transporting the reader to a world of beauty and melancholy. The themes of the poem are universal, resonating with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Ultimately, the poem is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the beauty that can be found in sadness. It is a reminder that even in the midst of sorrow, there is still hope and beauty to be found. Strand's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
From The Long Sad Party: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Mark Strand's From The Long Sad Party is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of relationships. The poem is a reflection on the nature of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a party that is taking place. The party is long and sad, and the guests are leaving one by one. The speaker is left alone, and he reflects on the nature of love and relationships. He realizes that love is fleeting and that all relationships eventually come to an end. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of loss.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes the party as "long" and "sad," which immediately creates a sense of melancholy. The use of the word "long" suggests that the party has been going on for a while, and that the guests are tired and ready to leave. The word "sad" suggests that there is a sense of loss or sadness in the air. The combination of these two words creates a powerful image of a party that is coming to an end.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes the guests leaving one by one. He watches as they say their goodbyes and walk out the door. The use of the word "ghosts" to describe the departing guests is particularly effective. It creates a sense of emptiness and loss, as if the guests were never really there in the first place. The image of the empty room at the end of the stanza reinforces this sense of loss and emptiness.
The third stanza is where the poem really begins to delve into the deeper themes of love and loss. The speaker reflects on the nature of love and how it is always changing. He says that love is "a changing sky," which suggests that it is constantly shifting and evolving. The use of the word "sky" is particularly effective, as it creates an image of something vast and infinite. The speaker is suggesting that love is something that is beyond our control, something that is bigger than us.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker reflects on the passage of time. He says that "time is a tree" and that it "grows on the past." This is a powerful image that suggests that time is something that is always moving forward, but that it is also rooted in the past. The use of the word "tree" is particularly effective, as it creates an image of something that is both strong and fragile. The speaker is suggesting that time is something that is both powerful and fragile, something that we cannot control.
The fifth stanza is where the poem really begins to explore the theme of loss. The speaker says that "love is a loss," which suggests that love is something that we can never really hold onto. The use of the word "loss" is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of sadness and emptiness. The speaker is suggesting that love is something that we can never really possess, something that is always slipping away from us.
In the sixth stanza, the speaker reflects on the nature of relationships. He says that "relationships are like glass," which suggests that they are fragile and easily broken. The use of the word "glass" is particularly effective, as it creates an image of something that is beautiful but also delicate. The speaker is suggesting that relationships are something that we need to handle with care, something that we need to be mindful of.
The seventh stanza is where the poem really begins to explore the theme of time. The speaker says that "time is a face on the water," which suggests that time is something that is always changing and shifting. The use of the word "water" is particularly effective, as it creates an image of something that is fluid and constantly moving. The speaker is suggesting that time is something that we cannot control, something that is always slipping away from us.
In the eighth stanza, the speaker reflects on the nature of memory. He says that "memory is a mirror," which suggests that memory is something that reflects back to us who we are. The use of the word "mirror" is particularly effective, as it creates an image of something that is both reflective and fragile. The speaker is suggesting that memory is something that we need to handle with care, something that we need to be mindful of.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker reflects on his own sense of loss. He says that he is "alone" and that he is "afraid." The use of these two words creates a powerful image of someone who is lost and alone. The speaker is suggesting that he is afraid of the future, afraid of what is to come. The final line of the poem, "the world is a room," reinforces this sense of loss and emptiness. The speaker is suggesting that the world is a place that is empty and devoid of meaning.
In conclusion, From The Long Sad Party is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of relationships. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of loss. The themes of love, loss, time, and memory are explored in a way that is both powerful and poignant. The imagery and language used in the poem are particularly effective, creating a sense of melancholy and emptiness that is both haunting and beautiful. This is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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