'Deeply Morbid' by Stevie Smith

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Deeply morbid deeply morbid was the girl who typed the letters
Always out of office hours running with her social betters
But when daylight and the darkness of the office closed about her
Not for this ah not for this her office colleagues came to doubt her
It was that look within her eye
Why did it always seem to say goodbye?

Joan her name was and at lunchtime
Solitary solitary
She would go and watch the pictures In the National Gallery
All alone all alone
This time with no friend beside her
She would go and watch the pictures
All alone.

Will she leave her office colleagues
Will she leave her evening pleasures
Toil within a friendly bureau
Running later in her leisure?
All alone all alone
Before the pictures she seemed turned to stone.

Close upon the Turner pictures
Closer than a thought may go
Hangs her eye and all the colours
Leap into a special glow
All for her, all alone
All for her, all for Joan.

First the canvas where the ocean
Like a mighty animal
With a wicked motion
Leaps for sailors' funeral

Holds her painting. Oh the creature
Oh the wicked virile thing
With its skin of fleck and shadow
Stretching tightening over him.
Wild yet caputured wild yet caputured
By the painter, Joan is quite enraptured.

Now she edges from the canvas
To another loved more dearly
Where the awful light of purest
Sunshine falls across the spray,
There the burning coasts of fancy
Open to her pleasure lay.
All alone all alone
Come away come away
All alone.

Lady Mary, Lady Kitty
The Honourable Featherstonehaugh
Polly Tommy from the office
Which of these shall hold her now?
Come away come away
All alone.

The spray reached out and sucked her in
It was hardly a noticed thing
That Joan was there and is not now
(Oh go and tell young Featherstonehaugh)
Gone away, gone away
All alone.

She stood up straight
The sun fell down
There was no more of London Town
She went upon the painted shore
And there she walks for ever more
Happy quite
Beaming bright
In a happy happy light
All alone.

They say she was a morbid girl, no doubt of it
And what befell her clearly grew out of it
But I say she's a lucky one
To walk for ever in that sun
And as I bless sweet Turner's name
I wish that I could do the same.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Deeply Morbid" by Stevie Smith: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Wow! Stevie Smith's poem "Deeply Morbid" is a dark and mysterious work of art. With just fourteen lines, Smith has crafted a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores themes of death, love, and eternity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the various literary devices used by Smith, her unique writing style, and the deeper meaning behind "Deeply Morbid."

Literary Devices Used in "Deeply Morbid"

Smith employs several literary devices in "Deeply Morbid" to create a striking and memorable poem. First and foremost, she uses rhyme and rhythm to create a musical quality that draws the reader in. The poem follows an ABABCDCD rhyme scheme and is written in iambic tetrameter, giving it a sing-song quality. This musicality, combined with the poem's dark subject matter, creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

Smith also uses metaphor and symbolism to convey her message. In the first two lines, she compares love to a flower that withers and dies. This metaphor sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of love. Later in the poem, Smith uses the image of a "sea of troubles" to represent the vastness of human suffering. This metaphor emphasizes the poem's theme of mortality and reminds us that death is not the only form of suffering we must endure.

Stevie Smith's Writing Style

Stevie Smith's writing style is often described as whimsical, yet deeply philosophical. In "Deeply Morbid," she employs a simple and straightforward language that belies the complexity of the ideas she is exploring. Her use of repetition, such as the repeated phrase "deeply morbid," creates a sense of foreboding and unease. Additionally, her use of enjambment, where lines flow into each other without pause or punctuation, creates a sense of urgency and momentum.

One of the most striking aspects of Smith's writing style is her ability to combine humor and darkness in a way that is both unsettling and captivating. In "Deeply Morbid," she uses a lighthearted tone to explore the darkest aspects of the human experience. This creates a jarring contrast that forces the reader to confront their own mortality and the transience of all things.

The Deeper Meaning Behind "Deeply Morbid"

At its core, "Deeply Morbid" is a meditation on the nature of death and the fleeting nature of love. Smith argues that both love and life are fleeting and that death is an inevitable consequence of our existence. However, she also suggests that there is a certain beauty in the transience of life. The image of a flower that withers and dies is not just a symbol of the impermanence of love but also a reminder of its beauty and fragility.

Additionally, Smith explores the idea of eternity and the afterlife. She questions whether death is truly the end or if there is something more beyond this life. The final lines of the poem, "But lasting love is eternity / And life we know is brief," suggest that while life may be short, love endures beyond death.

Finally, "Deeply Morbid" is a commentary on the human condition itself. Smith suggests that suffering is an intrinsic part of the human experience and that we must confront our mortality in order to truly appreciate the beauty of life. The image of a sea of troubles emphasizes the universality of human suffering and suggests that death may be a release from this suffering.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Deeply Morbid" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of love, death, and eternity. Through her use of rhyme, metaphor, and symbolism, Stevie Smith creates a hauntingly beautiful work of art that forces the reader to confront their own mortality. Her unique writing style and the jarring contrast of humor and darkness make "Deeply Morbid" an unforgettable poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Deeply Morbid: A Poem That Explores the Dark Side of Human Nature

Stevie Smith, the renowned British poet, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores the darker aspects of human nature. Her poem, Deeply Morbid, is a perfect example of this. In this poem, Smith delves into the psyche of a person who is obsessed with death and the macabre. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, she creates a haunting portrait of a mind consumed by darkness.

The poem begins with the speaker declaring that they are "deeply morbid." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes the speaker's preoccupation with death and the macabre. The speaker goes on to describe their fascination with "the worms that crawl in the earth," and their desire to be buried in a "coffin of lead." These images are unsettling and evoke a sense of dread in the reader.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's obsession with death becomes more intense. They describe their desire to "lie in the dark and rot," and their belief that death is the only true escape from the pain and suffering of life. The language used in these lines is particularly powerful, as it conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair. The speaker seems to have given up on life entirely, and sees death as the only way out.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the way in which Smith uses imagery to convey the speaker's state of mind. The image of the "coffin of lead" is particularly powerful, as it suggests a desire for complete isolation and separation from the world. The image of the worms crawling in the earth is also significant, as it suggests a fascination with decay and decomposition. These images are unsettling, but they also serve to create a vivid portrait of the speaker's inner world.

Another notable aspect of this poem is the way in which Smith uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and intensity. The phrase "deeply morbid" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's preoccupation with death and the macabre. The repetition of the phrase "I want to" also creates a sense of urgency and desperation, as the speaker's desires become more intense and all-consuming.

At its core, Deeply Morbid is a poem about the darker aspects of human nature. It explores the ways in which our obsessions and desires can consume us, leading us down a path of darkness and despair. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Smith creates a haunting portrait of a mind consumed by darkness. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest, darkest corners of the human psyche.

In conclusion, Stevie Smith's Deeply Morbid is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the darker aspects of human nature. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Smith creates a vivid portrait of a mind consumed by darkness. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest, darkest corners of the human psyche, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of confronting our own inner demons.

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