'The House Of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden' by Conrad Aiken
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You read—what is it, then that you are reading?
What music moves so silently in your mind?
Your bright hand turns the page.
I watch you from my window, unsuspected:
You move in an alien land, a silent age . . .
. . . The poet—what was his name—? Tokkei—Tokkei—
The poet walked alone in a cold late rain,
And thought his grief was like the crying of sea-birds;
For his lover was dead, he never would love again.
Rain in the dreams of the mind—rain forever—
Rain in the sky of the heart—rain in the willows—
But then he saw this face, this face like flame,
This quiet lady, this portrait by Hiroshigi;
And took it home with him; and with it came
What unexpected changes, subtle as weather!
The dark room, cold as rain,
Grew faintly fragrant, stirred with a stir of April,
Warmed its corners with light again,
And smoke of incense whirled about this portrait,
And the quiet lady there,
So young, so quietly smiling, with calm hands,
Seemed ready to loose her hair,
And smile, and lean from the picture, or say one word,
The word already clear,
Which seemed to rise like light between her eyelids . .
He held his breath to hear,
And smiled for shame, and drank a cup of wine,
And held a candle, and searched her face
Through all the little shadows, to see what secret
Might give so warm a grace . . .
Was it the quiet mouth, restrained a little?
The eyes, half-turned aside?
The jade ring on her wrist, still almost swinging? . . .
The secret was denied,
He chose his favorite pen and drew these verses,
And slept; and as he slept
A dream came into his heart, his lover entered,
And chided him, and wept.
And in the morning, waking, he remembered,
And thought the dream was strange.
Why did his darkened lover rise from the garden?
He turned, and felt a change,
As if a someone hidden smiled and watched him . . .
Yet there was only sunlight there.
Until he saw those young eyes, quietly smiling,
And held his breath to stare,
And could have sworn her cheek had turned—a little . . .
Had slightly turned away . . .
Sunlight dozed on the floor . . . He sat and wondered,
Nor left his room that day.
And that day, and for many days thereafter,
He sat alone, and thought
No lady had ever lived so beautiful
As Hiroshigi wrought . . .
Or if she lived, no matter in what country,
By what far river or hill or lonely sea,
He would look in every face until he found her . . .
There was no other as fair as she.
And before her quiet face he burned soft incense,
And brought her every day
Boughs of the peach, or almond, or snow-white cherry,
And somehow, she seemed to say,
That silent lady, young, and quietly smiling,
That she was happy there;
And sometimes, seeing this, he started to tremble,
And desired to touch her hair,
To lay his palm along her hand, touch faintly
With delicate finger-tips
The ghostly smile that seemed to hover and vanish
Upon her lips . . .
Until he knew he loved this quiet lady;
And night by night a dread
Leered at his dreams, for he knew that Hiroshigi
Was many centuries dead,—
And the lady, too, was dead, and all who knew her . .
Dead, and long turned to dust . . .
The thin moon waxed and waned, and left him paler,
The peach leaves flew in a gust,
And he would surely have died; but there one day
A wise man, white with age,
Stared at the portrait, and said, 'This Hiroshigi
Knew more than archimage,—
Cunningly drew the body, and called the spirit,
Till partly it entered there . . .
Sometimes, at death, it entered the portrait wholly . .
Do all I say with care,
And she you love may come to you when you call her . . . '
So then this ghost, Tokkei,
Ran in the sun, bought wine of a hundred merchants,
And alone at the end of day
Entered the darkening room, and faced the portrait,
And saw the quiet eyes
Gleaming and young in the dusk, and held the wine-cup,
And knelt, and did not rise,
And said, aloud, 'Lo-san, will you drink this wine?'
Said it three times aloud.
And at the third the faint blue smoke of incense
Rose to the walls in a cloud,
And the lips moved faintly, and the eyes, and the calm hands stirred;
And suddenly, with a sigh,
The quiet lady came slowly down from the portrait,
And stood, while worlds went by,
And lifted her young white hands and took the wine cup;
And the poet trembled, and said,
'Lo-san, will you stay forever?'—'Yes, I will stay.'—
'But what when I am dead?'
'When you are dead your spirit will find my spirit,
And then we shall die no more.'
Music came down upon them, and spring returning,
They remembered worlds before,
And years went over the earth, and over the sea,
And lovers were born and spoke and died,
But forever in sunlight went these two immortal,
Tokkei and the quiet bride . . .
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden by Conrad Aiken is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and death. Published in 1920, the poem is part of a larger work that consists of four parts and is considered one of the most significant contributions to American modernism. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various aspects of the poem, including its structure, style, and themes, to understand its significance in the context of American literature.
The Structure of the Poem
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden is a sonnet composed of fourteen lines that are divided into two quatrains and two tercets. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic and musical quality.
The first quatrain describes the setting of the poem, which is a room with a screen that divides it into two parts. The second quatrain introduces the screen maiden and describes her physical appearance. The following two tercets explore the emotional and psychological states of the speaker as he contemplates the screen maiden.
The structure of the poem is essential to its meaning as it reflects the dichotomy between the physical and emotional worlds. The screen represents the division between these two worlds and the difficulty in bridging the gap. The sonnet form also reflects the traditional theme of love and loss and the speaker's attempt to come to terms with his emotions.
The Style of the Poem
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden is written in a highly experimental and modernist style that reflects the fragmentation and uncertainty of the post-World War I era. The language is highly metaphorical and symbolic, and the imagery is often surreal and dreamlike.
One of the most striking elements of the poem is the use of color symbolism. The screen maiden is described as having "hair of gold," "lips of ruby red," and "eyes of emerald green," which are all colors associated with wealth, power, and beauty. The use of color adds to the richness and complexity of the poem and creates a vivid and memorable image of the screen maiden.
Another notable stylistic element of the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "on the other side" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the division between the physical and emotional worlds. The repetition creates a sense of unease and uncertainty, reflecting the speaker's struggle to reconcile these two worlds.
The Themes of the Poem
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden explores several significant themes, including love, loss, and death. The screen maiden represents the idealized image of the loved one that exists only in the mind of the speaker. She is both a physical presence and a psychological construct, representing the speaker's desire for love and companionship.
The theme of loss is also central to the poem. The speaker is separated from the screen maiden by the screen, which represents the physical and emotional barriers that prevent him from connecting with her. The speaker is also aware that his idealized image of the screen maiden is not real and that he will never be able to bridge the gap between them.
Finally, the theme of death is present in the poem. The speaker is aware of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. He knows that his idealized image of the screen maiden is fleeting and that it will eventually fade away. The poem suggests that the only way to overcome the fear of death is to connect with others and to embrace life fully.
Conclusion
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden by Conrad Aiken is a masterful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and death. The poem's structure, style, and themes reflect the fragmented and uncertain nature of the post-World War I era and demonstrate Aiken's mastery of modernist poetry.
The poem's use of color symbolism, repetition, and metaphorical language create a vivid and memorable image of the screen maiden and emphasize the division between the physical and emotional worlds. The themes of love, loss, and death are central to the poem, and the speaker's struggle to reconcile these themes reflects the human condition and the struggle to find meaning and connection in a complex and uncertain world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that has captivated readers for generations. This poem is a part of a larger work, The House of Dust, which is a collection of poems that explore the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this particular poem, Aiken tells the story of a young woman who is trapped behind a screen, unable to escape the confines of her own mind.
The poem begins with a description of the screen maiden, who is described as "a shadowy figure / Behind a screen of gauze." This image immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the woman is hidden away from the world, unable to fully engage with it. The use of the word "shadowy" also implies that the woman is not fully formed or realized, further emphasizing her lack of agency.
As the poem progresses, Aiken delves deeper into the woman's psyche, exploring the reasons behind her confinement. He writes, "She sits alone, and dreams / Of love, and of the world / That lies beyond the screen." This passage suggests that the woman is not content with her current situation and longs for something more. However, she is unable to break free from her own thoughts and desires, which keep her trapped behind the screen.
Aiken also uses imagery to convey the woman's sense of isolation and loneliness. He writes, "The wind is blowing / Through the open window-pane, / And the curtains stir and rustle." This passage creates a sense of movement and activity outside of the screen, which only serves to highlight the woman's stillness and inactivity. The use of the word "lonely" in the following line further emphasizes the woman's sense of isolation.
Despite her confinement, the woman is not without agency. Aiken writes, "She lifts her hand, and draws / The screen a little way." This passage suggests that the woman is attempting to break free from her confinement, even if only in a small way. However, her efforts are ultimately futile, as she is unable to fully escape the screen.
The poem concludes with a sense of resignation and acceptance. Aiken writes, "She knows that she is bound, / And that her dreams are vain." This passage suggests that the woman has come to accept her confinement and the limitations it imposes on her. However, the final line of the poem, "Yet still she dreams," suggests that the woman has not given up entirely and still holds onto the hope of something more.
Overall, The House of Dust: Part 03: 02: The Screen Maiden is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of confinement, isolation, and the human desire for something more. Aiken's use of imagery and language creates a vivid and haunting portrait of a woman trapped behind a screen, unable to fully engage with the world around her. Despite its melancholy tone, the poem ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience, as the woman continues to dream and strive for something more, even in the face of her limitations.
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