'Discordants' by Conrad Aiken
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I. (Bread and Music)
Music I heard with you was more than music,
And bread I broke with you was more than bread;
Now that I am without you, all is desolate;
All that was once so beautiful is dead.
Your hands once touched this table and this silver,
And I have seen your fingers hold this glass.
These things do not remember you, belovèd,
And yet your touch upon them will not pass.
For it was in my heart you moved among them,
And blessed them with your hands and with your eyes;
And in my heart they will remember always,—
They knew you once, O beautiful and wise.
II
My heart has become as hard as a city street,
The horses trample upon it, it sings like iron,
All day long and all night long they beat,
They ring like the hooves of time.
My heart has become as drab as a city park,
The grass is worn with the feet of shameless lovers,
A match is struck, there is kissing in the dark,
The moon comes, pale with sleep.
My heart is torn with the sound of raucous voices,
They shout from the slums, from the streets, from the crowded places,
And tunes from the hurdy-gurdy that coldly rejoices
Shoot arrows into my heart.
III
Dead Cleopatra lies in a crystal casket,
Wrapped and spiced by the cunningest of hands.
Around her neck they have put a golden necklace,
Her tatbebs, it is said, are worn with sands.
Dead Cleopatra was once revered in Egypt,
Warm-eyed she was, this princess of the South.
Now she is old and dry and faded,
With black bitumen they have sealed up her mouth.
O sweet clean earth, from whom the green blade cometh!
When we are dead, my best belovèd and I,
Close well above us, that we may rest forever,
Sending up grass and blossoms to the sky.
IV
In the noisy street,
Where the sifted sunlight yellows the pallid faces,
Sudden I close my eyes, and on my eyelids
Feel from the far-off sea a cool faint spray,—
A breath on my cheek,
From the tumbling breakers and foam, the hard sand shattered,
Gulls in the high wind whistling, flashing waters,
Smoke from the flashing waters blown on rocks;
—And I know once more,
O dearly belovèd! that all these seas are between us,
Tumult and madness, desolate save for the sea-gulls,
You on the farther shore, and I in this street.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Discordants: A Critical Analysis
Conrad Aiken's poem, "Discordants," is a complex and enigmatic work that demands careful analysis and interpretation. At first glance, the poem seems to be a series of disjointed images and impressions, but upon closer examination, its underlying themes and motifs become clear. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
Overview of the Poem
"Discordants" is a short poem consisting of only thirteen lines. It is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza consisting of six lines and the second stanza consisting of seven lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. The language of the poem is highly imagistic, with a series of vivid and striking images that are often surreal and dreamlike.
Analysis of the First Stanza
The first stanza of "Discordants" begins with the image of "a woman's face with nature's own hand painted." This image is immediately followed by the image of "a bird without wings." These two images, taken together, suggest a sense of incompleteness or inadequacy. The woman's face, despite being painted by nature's own hand, is still somehow lacking, while the bird without wings is unable to fly and achieve its full potential.
The next image in the stanza is that of "a tree that dies at the top." This image suggests a sense of decay and decline, as if the tree is slowly withering away. The tree is followed by the image of "a stream that has lost its way." This image suggests a sense of aimlessness or confusion, as if the stream is wandering aimlessly without a clear direction.
The final image in the stanza is that of "a cloud that has lost its memory." This image is perhaps the most enigmatic of all, as it is not immediately clear what it means for a cloud to "lose its memory." However, taken in the context of the other images in the stanza, it suggests a sense of disorientation or confusion.
Analysis of the Second Stanza
The second stanza of "Discordants" begins with the image of "a star that has lost its light." This image suggests a sense of loss or deprivation, as if the star has been stripped of its essential qualities. The star is followed by the image of "a heart that has lost its beat." This image suggests a sense of death or cessation, as if the heart has stopped beating and the individual has ceased to exist.
The next image in the stanza is that of "a mind that has lost its reason." This image suggests a sense of madness or irrationality, as if the mind has become unhinged and is no longer capable of logical thought. The mind is followed by the image of "a life that has lost its purpose." This image suggests a sense of existential despair, as if the individual's life has become meaningless and devoid of any real significance.
The final image in the stanza is that of "a soul that has lost its faith." This image suggests a sense of spiritual emptiness, as if the individual's soul has been stripped of its belief and has become adrift in a world without any higher meaning or purpose.
Interpretation of the Poem
Taken as a whole, "Discordants" can be read as an exploration of the human condition in all its complexity and ambiguity. Each image in the poem represents a different aspect of the human experience, whether it be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. Together, these images suggest a sense of fragmentation and disintegration, as if the human experience is inherently disjointed and disconnected.
However, despite this sense of disunity, there is also a sense of underlying coherence and unity to the poem. Each image is linked to the others through a series of subtle connections and associations, forming a kind of web of meaning that ties the poem together as a whole. This suggests that, despite the apparent disorder and randomness of the human experience, there is also a deeper sense of order and meaning that underlies it all.
Ultimately, "Discordants" is a powerful meditation on the nature of human existence, and the complex interplay of light and darkness, life and death, joy and sorrow, that characterizes it. Through its vivid imagery and haunting language, the poem challenges us to confront the often-painful reality of our existence, while also reminding us of the beauty and wonder that can be found amidst the chaos and discord.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Discordants: A Poem of Confusion and Chaos
Conrad Aiken's "Discordants" is a classic poem that explores the themes of confusion, chaos, and the struggle for meaning in a world that seems to be falling apart. Written in 1916, the poem is a reflection of the tumultuous times in which it was written, with the world on the brink of war and society undergoing rapid changes.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the theme of discordance. In the first part, Aiken introduces the idea of a world in chaos, where everything is out of place and nothing makes sense. He describes a landscape that is "wild with discordant sound," where "the wind is a shriek, the sea is a roar, / And the earth is a quaking ground."
This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Aiken explores the idea of a world that is in a state of constant upheaval. The use of sound in this section is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of disorientation and confusion for the reader.
In the second part of the poem, Aiken shifts his focus to the individual, exploring the idea of a person who is struggling to find meaning in a world that is so chaotic. He describes a person who is "lost in the maze of his own mind," who is "torn by the conflict of his own desires."
This section of the poem is particularly powerful, as it speaks to the universal human experience of feeling lost and confused in the face of a world that seems to be falling apart. Aiken's use of language is particularly effective here, as he creates a sense of inner turmoil and conflict through his descriptions of the individual's thoughts and emotions.
In the final section of the poem, Aiken brings these two themes together, exploring the idea of a world that is in chaos because of the inner turmoil of the individuals who inhabit it. He describes a world where "the discord of men's souls / Is the cause of the discord of the world."
This section of the poem is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the idea that the chaos and confusion of the world is not just a result of external factors, but is also a reflection of the inner turmoil and conflict of the individuals who inhabit it. Aiken's use of language here is particularly powerful, as he creates a sense of interconnectedness between the individual and the world around them.
Overall, "Discordants" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of chaos, confusion, and the struggle for meaning in a world that seems to be falling apart. Aiken's use of language and imagery is particularly effective, creating a sense of disorientation and inner turmoil that is both universal and deeply personal.
In conclusion, "Discordants" is a classic poem that speaks to the human experience of feeling lost and confused in the face of a world that is in a state of constant upheaval. It is a powerful reminder that the chaos and confusion of the world is not just a result of external factors, but is also a reflection of the inner turmoil and conflict of the individuals who inhabit it.
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