'October Evening' by Robinson Jeffers
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Male-throated under the shallow sea-fog
Moaned a ship's horn quivering the shorelong granite.
Coyotes toward the valley made answer,
Their little wolf-pads in the dead grass by the stream
Wet with the young season's first rain,
Their jagged wail trespassing among the steep stars.
What stars? Aldebaran under the dove-leash
Pleiades. I thought, in an hour Orion will be risen,
Be glad for summer is dead and the sky
Turns over to darkness, good storms, few guests, glad rivers.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
October Evening by Robinson Jeffers
October Evening is a poem by Robinson Jeffers that explores the beauty of nature and the complexities of human existence. In this 14-line poem, Jeffers manages to capture the essence of the autumn season and the emotions that come with it. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, he transports the reader to a world of vibrant colors and fleeting moments.
The Beauty of Nature
The poem begins with a description of the sky at dusk, as the sun sets and the stars begin to appear:
The light passes
From ridge to ridge,
From flower to flower—
The hepaticas, wide-spread
Under the light
Grow faint—
The petals reach inward,
The blue tips bend
Toward the bluer heart
And the flowers are lost.
The language here is rich and evocative, with words like "hepaticas" and "blue tips" conjuring images of delicate flowers in various shades of blue. The use of color is particularly striking, with the "blue tips" of the flowers bending "toward the bluer heart". This creates a sense of depth and movement within the poem, as though the flowers are alive and responding to the changing light.
As the poem progresses, Jeffers continues to use vivid imagery to paint a picture of the natural world. He describes the "forest of oak", with its "tall trees" and "flashing leaves", and the "green hill" that rises up behind it. These images are both beautiful and haunting, conveying a sense of the majesty and power of nature. They also create a contrast with the later sections of the poem, which deal with the human world and its failings.
The Complexity of Human Existence
The latter half of October Evening shifts focus from nature to humanity, as Jeffers turns his attention to the "fugitive human soul". He describes the "gray trunks" of the trees, which he says are "like the pillars of a destroyed temple". This metaphor suggests a sense of loss and decay, as though the natural world has been destroyed by human activity.
As the poem progresses, Jeffers becomes more explicit in his critique of humanity. He describes the "crooked paths" that humans have created, and the "ghosts of drunken men" who have passed through them. He suggests that humanity has lost its way, becoming disconnected from the natural world and succumbing to vice and debauchery.
Despite this bleak assessment of humanity, the poem ends on a note of hope. Jeffers writes:
But the dark glory
Of the woods, the sibilant
Susurrus of the leaves,
The gray
Trunk mossed with age,
The vibrant
Hepaticas the whole
Wilderness in flower
Gradually
Render the untenable
Positions
Of the lost
Fugitive human soul
Absurd,
And he finds peace
In the joy
Of the wood-beauty,
The lonesome, dripping beauty,
The ferns, the mosses, the
Marble
Basins of the solitary waterfalls.
Here, Jeffers suggests that there is still hope for humanity, if only we can re-connect with the natural world. The beauty of the woods, with its "fern, mosses, and marble basins", offers a kind of salvation for the "lost fugitive human soul". It is through nature that we might find peace and meaning in an otherwise chaotic world.
Interpretation
October Evening is a rich and complex poem that rewards careful study and interpretation. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the relationship between humanity and nature, and the ways in which we might find meaning and solace in the natural world.
Jeffers is a poet who is deeply concerned with the environment, and his work often reflects a sense of urgency about the need to protect and preserve the natural world. In October Evening, we see this concern reflected in the way he contrasts the beauty of nature with the failings of humanity. Through his use of vivid imagery and lyrical language, he encourages us to look beyond our own individual concerns and consider the wider world around us.
At the same time, Jeffers is also a poet who is deeply concerned with the human condition. His work often explores the complexity and contradictions of human existence, and the ways in which we struggle to find meaning and purpose in an indifferent universe. In October Evening, we see this concern reflected in the way he describes the "fugitive human soul" and its search for meaning in a world that can seem overwhelming and chaotic.
Ultimately, October Evening is a poem that asks us to consider our place in the world, and the ways in which we might find meaning and purpose in an often bewildering and confusing universe. It is a poem that encourages us to look beyond ourselves and our own concerns, and to consider the wider world around us. And it is a poem that offers hope and solace in the face of the many challenges and uncertainties of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
October Evening: A Masterpiece of Nature Poetry
Robinson Jeffers, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was known for his love of nature and his ability to capture the beauty and power of the natural world in his poetry. His poem "October Evening" is a perfect example of his mastery of nature poetry, as it vividly describes the sights, sounds, and sensations of a fall evening in California. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem, and discover why it continues to captivate readers more than 90 years after it was first published.
The poem begins with a simple, declarative sentence: "O suns and skies and clouds of June." This opening line immediately sets the tone for the poem, as it contrasts the warmth and brightness of summer with the coolness and darkness of fall. The speaker is addressing the natural world directly, as if in conversation with it, and this creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in.
The next few lines describe the beauty of the summer landscape, with its "azure hills" and "golden air." The speaker seems to be reminiscing about a time when the world was full of light and warmth, and this creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. However, this idyllic scene is quickly disrupted by the arrival of fall, which is described as a "gray shadow" that "creeps over the hills."
The imagery in this section of the poem is particularly powerful, as it captures the way in which the changing seasons can transform the landscape. The "azure hills" of summer become "gray" and "shadowy," and the "golden air" is replaced by a "chill wind." This creates a sense of unease and foreboding, as if something ominous is about to happen.
The next few lines of the poem describe the arrival of nightfall, which is depicted as a gradual process that unfolds over the course of several stanzas. The speaker describes the way in which the light fades from the sky, leaving behind a "pale glow" that is "like a mist." This creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty, as if the world is being transformed into something unfamiliar and unknown.
As the night deepens, the speaker becomes more introspective, reflecting on the passage of time and the transience of life. He describes the way in which the stars seem to "burn out" one by one, and how the darkness seems to "swallow up" everything in its path. This creates a sense of existential dread, as if the speaker is confronting the inevitability of his own mortality.
However, the poem does not end on a note of despair or hopelessness. Instead, the final stanza offers a glimmer of hope, as the speaker describes the way in which the darkness is transformed by the arrival of the moon. He describes the moon as a "silver sickle" that "cuts its way" through the darkness, illuminating the landscape and creating a sense of beauty and wonder.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful, as they capture the way in which the natural world can inspire feelings of awe and reverence. The speaker describes the way in which the moon seems to "float" above the landscape, casting a "magic spell" over everything it touches. This creates a sense of enchantment and wonder, as if the world is being transformed into something mystical and otherworldly.
In conclusion, "October Evening" is a masterpiece of nature poetry that captures the beauty and power of the natural world in all its complexity. Through its vivid imagery, powerful language, and evocative themes, the poem offers a profound meditation on the passage of time, the transience of life, and the enduring beauty of the natural world. Whether read in the context of Jeffers' larger body of work or as a standalone piece, "October Evening" is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and captivate readers more than 90 years after it was first published.
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