'Poem On His Birthday' by Dylan Thomas

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In the mustardseed sun,
By full tilt river and switchback sea
Where the cormorants scud,
In his house on stilts high among beaks
And palavers of birds
This sandgrain day in the bent bay's grave
He celebrates and spurns
His driftwood thirty-fifth wind turned age;
Herons spire and spear.

Under and round him go
Flounders, gulls, on their cold, dying trails,
Doing what they are told,
Curlews aloud in the congered waves
Work at their ways to death,
And the rhymer in the long tongued room,
Who tolls his birthday bell,
Toils towards the ambush of his wounds;
Herons, steeple stemmed, bless.

In the thistledown fall,
He sings towards anguish; finches fly
In the claw tracks of hawks
On a seizing sky; small fishes glide
Through wynds and shells of drowned
Ship towns to pastures of otters. He
In his slant, racking house
And the hewn coils of his trade perceives
Herons walk in their shroud,

The livelong river's robe
Of minnows wreathing around their prayer;
And far at sea he knows,
Who slaves to his crouched, eternal end
Under a serpent cloud,
Dolphins dive in their turnturtle dust,
The rippled seals streak down
To kill and their own tide daubing blood
Slides good in the sleek mouth.

In a cavernous, swung
Wave's silence, wept white angelus knells.
Thirty-five bells sing struck
On skull and scar where his loves lie wrecked,
Steered by the falling stars.
And to-morrow weeps in a blind cage
Terror will rage apart
Before chains break to a hammer flame
And love unbolts the dark

And freely he goes lost
In the unknown, famous light of great
And fabulous, dear God.
Dark is a way and light is a place,
Heaven that never was
Nor will be ever is always true,
And, in that brambled void,
Plenty as blackberries in the woods
The dead grow for His joy.

There he might wander bare
With the spirits of the horseshoe bay
Or the stars' seashore dead,
Marrow of eagles, the roots of whales
And wishbones of wild geese,
With blessed, unborn God and His Ghost,
And every soul His priest,
Gulled and chanter in young Heaven's fold
Be at cloud quaking peace,

But dark is a long way.
He, on the earth of the night, alone
With all the living, prays,
Who knows the rocketing wind will blow
The bones out of the hills,
And the scythed boulders bleed, and the last
Rage shattered waters kick
Masts and fishes to the still quick starts,
Faithlessly unto Him

Who is the light of old
And air shaped Heaven where souls grow wild
As horses in the foam:
Oh, let me midlife mourn by the shrined
And druid herons' vows
The voyage to ruin I must run,
Dawn ships clouted aground,
Yet, though I cry with tumbledown tongue,
Count my blessings aloud:

Four elements and five
Senses, and man a spirit in love
Tangling through this spun slime
To his nimbus bell cool kingdom come
And the lost, moonshine domes,
And the sea that hides his secret selves
Deep in its black, base bones,
Lulling of spheres in the seashell flesh,
And this last blessing most,

That the closer I move
To death, one man through his sundered hulks,
The louder the sun blooms
And the tusked, ramshackling sea exults;
And every wave of the way
And gale I tackle, the whole world then,
With more triumphant faith
That ever was since the world was said,
Spins its morning of praise,

I hear the bouncing hills
Grow larked and greener at berry brown
Fall and the dew larks sing
Taller this thunderclap spring, and how
More spanned with angles ride
The mansouled fiery islands! Oh,
Holier then their eyes,
And my shining men no more alone
As I sail out to die.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poem on His Birthday by Dylan Thomas: A Masterpiece in the Art of Self-Reflection

As one of the most celebrated poets of the twentieth century, Dylan Thomas left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day. His works, characterized by their rich imagery, emotional depth, and musicality, are a testament to his unparalleled mastery of the craft. Among his most beloved works is "Poem on His Birthday," a stunningly introspective piece that offers a rare glimpse into the poet's innermost thoughts and feelings.

Written on the occasion of Thomas's thirtieth birthday, the poem is a meditation on the passage of time, the transience of life, and the struggles of the human condition. Through a series of vivid and poignant images, Thomas paints a picture of a world that is both beautiful and cruel, a world in which joy and sorrow, light and darkness, are inextricably intertwined. In this literary analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism of "Poem on His Birthday" and attempt to unravel the profound insights that lay hidden beneath its surface.

The Theme of Time and Transience

At its core, "Poem on His Birthday" is a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. Thomas begins the poem by describing the world around him as "old and cold and darkened," a place where "the light [...] falls through the dark." This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is suffused with a sense of melancholy and introspection. Thomas recognizes that time is both a blessing and a curse, that it brings with it the gifts of experience and wisdom, but also the burden of loss and decay.

Throughout the poem, Thomas explores the different facets of time and its effects on the human experience. He describes the "tongueless silence" of the stars, which have witnessed the passing of millennia, and contrasts it with the "babble of our own children" who are just beginning their journey through life. He notes the "ravaged faces" of the elderly, who have borne the brunt of time's cruelty, and wonders whether he too will one day be "tossed on the deluge of my death-bed."

The theme of time is also reflected in the structure of the poem itself. Thomas employs a complex, multi-layered structure that reflects the cyclical nature of time and the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which contains nine lines. The first and last lines of each stanza are identical, while the other seven lines are connected through a series of internal rhymes and repetitions. This structure gives the poem a sense of unity and coherence, while also suggesting that the past is always present, and the future is always looming.

The Imagery of Light and Darkness

Another important theme in "Poem on His Birthday" is the contrast between light and darkness. Thomas uses vivid and evocative imagery to capture the interplay between these two opposing forces and to explore their symbolic significance. In the opening stanza, he describes the world as "old and cold and darkened," where "the light [...] falls through the dark." This image establishes a sense of desolation and despair, which is later contrasted with moments of joy and illumination.

Throughout the poem, Thomas uses the imagery of light and darkness to convey complex emotions and experiences. He describes the "winking signals" of the stars as a symbol of hope and guidance, and contrasts them with the "tangled bine-stems" that represent the chaos and confusion of life. He speaks of the "blaze of noon" that illuminates the world and the "fire in the heart" that sustains him, but also acknowledges the "shadows of twilight" that herald the approach of night and the "shadow of death" that looms in the distance.

The imagery of light and darkness is also reflected in the language and structure of the poem. Thomas uses a range of techniques, including repetition, alliteration, and internal rhyme, to create a musicality and rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of light and darkness. The use of enjambment and caesura also contributes to the poem's sense of movement and fluidity, as if the words themselves are dancing between light and shadow.

The Symbolism of Birth and Death

One of the most striking features of "Poem on His Birthday" is its use of birth and death as symbolic motifs. Thomas uses these two opposing forces to explore the nature of human existence and the paradoxes of life. He begins the poem by reflecting on the moment of his birth, when he was "caught in the spinning wheels of time," and ends it with a meditation on his eventual death, when he will be "tossed on the deluge of my death-bed."

Throughout the poem, Thomas uses the symbolism of birth and death to explore the themes of time, transience, and the human condition. He describes the "babble of our own children" as a symbol of the hope and promise of new life, but also acknowledges the pain and suffering that are inherent in the act of birth. He speaks of the "ravaged faces" of the elderly, who have borne the burdens of life and who are approaching the end of their journey.

The use of birth and death as symbolic motifs also reflects the cyclical structure of the poem. Thomas suggests that birth and death are not discrete events, but rather part of a larger cycle of life and renewal. The repetition of the opening and closing lines of each stanza reinforces this idea, suggesting that the journey of life is a continuous process of birth, growth, decay, and renewal.

Conclusion

"Poem on His Birthday" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a stunningly introspective piece that captures the complexity and beauty of the human experience. Through its themes of time, transience, and the paradoxes of life, the poem offers a profound meditation on the nature of existence and the struggles that we all face. It is a testament to Dylan Thomas's unparalleled mastery of language and imagery, and a tribute to the enduring power of poetry to touch our hearts and minds. As we celebrate the legacy of this great poet, let us remember the words of "Poem on His Birthday," and the wisdom and insight that it offers us all.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poem On His Birthday: A Celebration of Life and Death

Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his vivid and imaginative use of language. His works are often characterized by their intense emotional depth and their exploration of the themes of life, death, and the human condition. One of his most celebrated poems, Poem On His Birthday, is a powerful meditation on these themes, and a celebration of the beauty and mystery of life.

The poem was written in 1944, on the occasion of Thomas's 30th birthday. It is a deeply personal work, reflecting the poet's own thoughts and feelings about his life and his mortality. The poem is structured as a series of questions and answers, as if the poet is engaged in a dialogue with himself, or with some unseen force. The questions are often rhetorical, and the answers are sometimes elusive, but together they create a powerful sense of the poet's inner turmoil and his search for meaning.

The poem begins with a series of questions about the nature of life and death. "Is my destroyer," the poet asks, "And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose / My youth is bent by the same wintry fever." Here, the poet is acknowledging the inevitability of death, and the fact that he is powerless to resist it. The "crooked rose" is a metaphor for the poet's own life, which has been shaped and twisted by the same forces that will eventually destroy it.

But the poem is not simply a meditation on death. It is also a celebration of life, and a recognition of the beauty and wonder of the world around us. "The force that through the green fuse drives the flower," the poet writes, "Drives my green age." Here, the poet is acknowledging the mysterious and powerful force that animates all living things, and which gives meaning and purpose to our lives.

Throughout the poem, the poet uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey his ideas. He speaks of "the sun that is young once only," and of "the sea that salts all speech." He describes the "blackbird who / Whistles each morning in the thorn bush / Dry whitening over the sockets of the eyes." These images are both beautiful and haunting, and they serve to remind us of the fragility and transience of life.

The poem is also notable for its use of sound and rhythm. Thomas was a master of the musical qualities of language, and his poetry is often characterized by its rich and complex sound patterns. In Poem On His Birthday, he uses repetition, alliteration, and internal rhyme to create a sense of musicality and momentum. The poem is meant to be read aloud, and its rhythms and cadences are designed to draw the reader in and to create a sense of intimacy and connection.

At its heart, Poem On His Birthday is a deeply personal work, reflecting the poet's own struggles with mortality and his search for meaning in a world that can often seem chaotic and meaningless. But it is also a universal work, speaking to the human condition and the eternal questions that we all face. It is a celebration of life and a recognition of the beauty and wonder of the world around us, even in the face of death and decay.

In conclusion, Poem On His Birthday is a powerful and moving work of poetry, one that speaks to the human experience in a profound and meaningful way. It is a celebration of life and a recognition of the beauty and mystery of the world around us, and it is a testament to the power of language to convey the deepest truths of the human heart. Dylan Thomas was a poet of rare talent and vision, and this poem is a testament to his enduring legacy.

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