'The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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THE cock's clear voice into the clearer air
Where westward far I roam,
Mounts with a thrill of hope,
Falls with a sigh of home.
A rural sentry, he from farm and field
The coming morn descries,
And, mankind's bugler, wakes
The camp of enterprise.
He sings the morn upon the westward hills
Strange and remote and wild;
He sings it in the land
Where once I was a child.
He brings to me dear voices of the past,
The old land and the years:
My father calls for me,
My weeping spirit hears.
Fife, fife, into the golden air, O bird,
And sing the morning in;
For the old days are past
And new days begin.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air by Robert Louis Stevenson
Have you ever wondered about the voice of a clock? What does it say with every tick-tock? Is there a hidden message behind its mechanical movements? Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous Scottish author, may have found an answer to these questions in his poem "The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air". In this literary criticism, we will explore the meaning behind Stevenson's words and how he uses poetic devices to convey his message.
Firstly, let us take a look at the poem's structure. "The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air" is written in quatrains, meaning that it is divided into four-line stanzas. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and rhythm, much like a clock's ticking. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which means that the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. This gives the poem a musical quality, making it easier to remember and recite.
The poem begins with the line "The clocks from the town's towers, / And the watches from the humbler belfries, / Answer each other in the mist." This line sets the scene for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the presence of clocks in the town. Stevenson uses personification to give the clocks and watches a voice, allowing them to "answer each other" as if they are engaged in a conversation. The use of mist adds a sense of mystery and ambiguity, as if the clocks are communicating in secret.
The next few lines describe the sound of the clocks, saying that they speak "like birds of passage." This simile compares the clocks to birds, implying that they are always on the move and never stay in one place for too long. The use of the word "passage" also suggests that the clocks are on a journey, perhaps through time itself. The clocks are described as speaking "into the clearer air", which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the passing of time into the future.
Stevenson then introduces the idea of "the tongue of time", saying that the clocks "speak it out with a clear voice." This line suggests that time has a language of its own, and that the clocks are its speakers. The use of the word "clear" emphasizes the clarity and precision of the clocks' voices, as if they are the only ones who truly understand the language of time.
The poem then takes a darker turn, describing the tolling of a funeral bell. The bell's voice is described as "a prayer that asks, and asks again." This repetition emphasizes the solemnity and urgency of the bell's message. The use of the word "prayer" suggests that the bell is calling out to a higher power, as if it is seeking help or guidance. The repetition of the word "asks" also suggests that the bell is pleading for something, perhaps for the soul of the departed.
Stevenson then returns to the clocks, saying that they "count the hours in happiness." This line suggests that the clocks are happy to be doing what they were made to do, which is to keep track of time. The use of the word "count" also implies that the clocks are counting down to something, perhaps to the end of the day or the end of someone's life.
The final stanza of the poem describes the sound of the clocks fading away, as if they are disappearing into the mist. The clocks are described as "dim and faint" and their voices become "thin and small." This imagery suggests that the clocks are growing weaker and less significant as time passes. The use of the words "dim" and "faint" also implies that the clocks are losing their clarity and precision, as if they are no longer able to speak the language of time as clearly as before.
In conclusion, Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air" is a lyrical exploration of the language of time. Through the use of personification, simile, and metaphor, Stevenson gives voice to the clocks and watches in the town, allowing them to speak the language of time with clarity and precision. The poem suggests that time is a journey, and that the clocks are its speakers, counting down the hours with happiness and solemnity. Ultimately, however, the poem suggests that the clocks are growing weaker and less significant as time passes, fading away into the mist like birds of passage.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expressing emotions and thoughts in a beautiful and artistic way. One such poem that stands out is "The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air" written by Robert Louis Stevenson. This poem is a perfect example of how a simple object like a clock can be transformed into a symbol of life and death.
The poem starts with the line "The clock's clear voice into the clearer air." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, where the clock is personified as having a voice. The clock's voice is described as clear, which can be interpreted as being precise and accurate. The use of the word "clearer" in the second half of the line suggests that the clock's voice is not only precise but also louder and more distinct than the surrounding air.
The second line of the poem, "Where is the ship, the unseen helm whereunder," introduces the idea of a ship and its helm. The helm is the steering mechanism of a ship, and it is unseen because it is below deck. The ship and its helm are used as metaphors for life and death. The helm represents the force that controls life, while the ship represents life itself. The use of the word "unseen" suggests that the force that controls life is mysterious and beyond human understanding.
The third line of the poem, "A wind is driving her, with wind and tide," further develops the metaphor of the ship. The wind represents the forces of nature that are beyond human control, while the tide represents the ebb and flow of life. The use of the word "driving" suggests that life is not a passive experience but rather an active one, where we are constantly being pushed forward by external forces.
The fourth line of the poem, "She may be nearing harbour; she may pass," introduces the idea of the ship reaching its destination. The harbour represents death, and the ship's arrival at the harbour represents the end of life. The use of the word "may" suggests that death is uncertain and unpredictable.
The fifth line of the poem, "Round the bluff's edge," describes the ship's journey as it approaches the harbour. The use of the word "bluff" suggests that death is a dangerous and uncertain journey. The ship's journey around the bluff's edge represents the final moments of life, where we are faced with the unknown.
The sixth line of the poem, "Where the long sea-wall, running its slippery round," describes the harbour as a sea-wall. The use of the word "slippery" suggests that death is a slippery slope, where we can easily lose our footing and fall. The sea-wall represents the boundary between life and death, and the ship's arrival at the sea-wall represents the end of life.
The seventh line of the poem, "Whispers, like harp-strings, round the pilot's ear," introduces the pilot, who represents the force that guides us through life. The use of the word "whispers" suggests that the pilot's guidance is subtle and gentle. The harp-strings represent the beauty and harmony of life, which the pilot is trying to preserve.
The eighth line of the poem, "The ship's course, bracing earth and heaven and air," describes the ship's journey as it approaches the sea-wall. The use of the word "bracing" suggests that the ship is preparing itself for the final journey. The ship's course represents the path that we take through life, and the ship's bracing of earth, heaven, and air represents the unity of all things.
The ninth line of the poem, "Than bells more loud, and thunders more profound," describes the clock's voice as being louder and more profound than bells and thunders. The use of the word "loud" suggests that the clock's voice is powerful and commanding. The clock's voice represents the inevitability of death, which is more powerful than any human force.
The final line of the poem, "The ship's course, bracing earth and heaven and air," repeats the eighth line of the poem. This repetition emphasizes the idea that life is a journey, and that we must prepare ourselves for the final destination.
In conclusion, "The Clock's Clear Voice Into The Clearer Air" is a beautiful and powerful poem that uses the metaphor of a ship to explore the themes of life and death. The clock's voice represents the inevitability of death, while the ship represents life itself. The pilot represents the force that guides us through life, while the sea-wall represents the boundary between life and death. The poem is a reminder that life is a journey, and that we must prepare ourselves for the final destination.
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