'Once It Was The Colour Of Saying' by Dylan Thomas
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Once it was the colour of saying
Soaked my table the uglier side of a hill
With a capsized field where a school sat still
And a black and white patch of girls grew playing;
The gentle seaslides of saying I must undo
That all the charmingly drowned arise to cockcrow and kill.
When I whistled with mitching boys through a reservoir park
Where at night we stoned the cold and cuckoo
Lovers in the dirt of their leafy beds,
The shade of their trees was a word of many shades
And a lamp of lightning for the poor in the dark;
Now my saying shall be my undoing,
And every stone I wind off like a reel.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Once It Was The Colour Of Saying: An Expansive Literary Criticism
Introduction
Dylan Thomas, a renowned Welsh poet, is famous for his complex and evocative use of language. One of his most famous poems, "Once It Was The Colour Of Saying," is a prime example of his mastery of language. The poem is rich in symbolism, metaphor, and imagery that help to convey its themes. This essay will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of the poem.
Overview
The poem, "Once It Was The Colour Of Saying," is a six-stanza poem that is written in free verse. The poem is about the power of words and how they can shape our perception of the world. The opening stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem:
Once it was the colour of saying
Soaked my table the uglier side of a hill
With a capsized field where a school sat still
And a black and white patch of girls grew playing;
The gentle seaslides of saying I must undo
That all the charmingly drowned arise to cockcrow and kill.
The imagery in this stanza is evocative and vivid. The "uglier side of a hill" and "capsized field" suggest a world that is in chaos. The "black and white patch of girls grew playing" is an allusion to childhood innocence and the simplicity of language. The "gentle seaslides of saying" suggest the fluidity of language and how it can shape our perception of the world.
Symbolism
The poem is rich in symbolism, and one of the most prominent symbols is the table. The table represents a space where language is shared and created. The image of the table being soaked in the "colour of saying" suggests that language permeates every aspect of our lives. The table is also a metaphor for the poet's mind, where language is created and shaped.
The "capsized field" is another powerful symbol in the poem. The image of a field that has been upturned suggests a world in chaos. The school that sits still within the field is a symbol of the rigid structures that govern our lives. The "black and white patch of girls" represents the simplicity of childhood and the power of language to shape our perceptions.
Metaphor
The poem is also rich in metaphor. The line "the gentle seaslides of saying" is a metaphor for the fluidity of language. Language can be shaped and molded, just like the waves of the sea. The metaphor of the "charmingly drowned" rising to "cockcrow and kill" suggests the power of language to shape our perceptions of the world.
Tone
The tone of the poem is both melancholic and hopeful. The opening stanza sets a melancholic tone, suggesting a world in chaos. However, the poem ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that language has the power to shape and transform our perceptions of the world. The final stanza of the poem reads:
And the sane owl could speak the colour of saying,
And all the dumbfounded air would gape and listen,
As if a drunkenness took.
For we are all born crying, live in cries,
And die in a cry, so, surely, we should have cried more.
The image of the "sane owl" speaking the "colour of saying" is a powerful symbol of the transformative power of language. The line "we should have cried more" suggests that we should use language to express ourselves more fully.
Conclusion
"Once It Was The Colour Of Saying" is a powerful poem that explores the transformative power of language. The poem is rich in symbolism, metaphor, and imagery that help to convey its themes. The poem is both melancholic and hopeful, suggesting that language has the power to shape and transform our perceptions of the world. Dylan Thomas's mastery of language is evident in this poem, making it a timeless masterpiece of English literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Once It Was The Colour Of Saying: A Masterpiece of Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his lyrical and evocative poetry that captures the essence of life, death, and everything in between. His poem "Once It Was The Colour Of Saying" is a masterpiece that explores the power of language and the way it shapes our perception of the world. In this article, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language to understand its significance and impact.
The poem begins with a vivid image of a landscape that is "the colour of saying." The speaker describes the world as a place where words have a physical presence, where language is not just a tool for communication but a tangible entity that can be seen and felt. This idea is reinforced throughout the poem as the speaker describes how words can change the color of the sky, the shape of the trees, and the texture of the earth.
The poem's central theme is the power of language to shape our perception of reality. The speaker suggests that the world is not fixed and immutable but is constantly changing and evolving based on the words we use to describe it. This idea is particularly relevant in today's world, where language is often used to manipulate and control people's perceptions of reality. The poem reminds us that we have the power to shape our own reality through the words we choose to use.
The poem's structure is also significant. It is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the theme. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the idea of the world as "the colour of saying." The second stanza explores the power of language to change the physical world, while the third stanza reflects on the fleeting nature of language and the way it can be lost over time.
The language of the poem is rich and evocative, with vivid imagery and sensory details that bring the world to life. The use of metaphor and personification is particularly effective in conveying the idea of language as a tangible entity. For example, the speaker describes how "the words went marching down in their thousands" and how "the words crawled away, the words that had been laid down." These images create a sense of movement and life that reinforces the idea of language as a living, breathing thing.
The poem's use of sound is also significant. The repetition of the phrase "once it was" creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, while the use of alliteration and assonance creates a musical quality that enhances the poem's lyrical quality. The poem's rhythm is also important, with a steady beat that creates a sense of momentum and movement.
In conclusion, "Once It Was The Colour Of Saying" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the power of language to shape our perception of reality. Through its vivid imagery, rich language, and evocative sound, the poem reminds us that we have the power to shape our own reality through the words we choose to use. It is a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
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