'The Crystal' by Sidney Lanier
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At midnight, death's and truth's unlocking time,
When far within the spirit's hearing rolls
The great soft rumble of the course of things --
A bulk of silence in a mask of sound, --
When darkness clears our vision that by day
Is sun-blind, and the soul's a ravening owl
For truth and flitteth here and there about
Low-lying woody tracts of time and oft
Is minded for to sit upon a bough,
Dry-dead and sharp, of some long-stricken tree
And muse in that gaunt place, -- 'twas then my heart,
Deep in the meditative dark, cried out:
"Ye companies of governor-spirits grave,
Bards, and old bringers-down of flaming news
From steep-wall'd heavens, holy malcontents,
Sweet seers, and stellar visionaries, all
That brood about the skies of poesy,
Full bright ye shine, insuperable stars;
Yet, if a man look hard upon you, none
With total lustre blazeth, no, not one
But hath some heinous freckle of the flesh
Upon his shining cheek, not one but winks
His ray, opaqued with intermittent mist
Of defect; yea, you masters all must ask
Some sweet forgiveness, which we leap to give,
We lovers of you, heavenly-glad to meet
Your largesse so with love, and interplight
Your geniuses with our mortalities.
Thus unto thee, O sweetest Shakespeare sole,
A hundred hurts a day I do forgive
('Tis little, but, enchantment! 'tis for thee):
Small curious quibble; Juliet's prurient pun
In the poor, pale face of Romeo's fancied death;
Cold rant of Richard; Henry's fustian roar
Which frights away that sleep he invocates;
Wronged Valentine's unnatural haste to yield;
Too-silly shifts of maids that mask as men
In faint disguises that could ne'er disguise --
Viola, Julia, Portia, Rosalind;
Fatigues most drear, and needless overtax
Of speech obscure that had as lief be plain;
Last I forgive (with more delight, because
'Tis more to do) the labored-lewd discourse
That e'en thy young invention's youngest heir
Besmirched the world with.
Father Homer, thee,
Thee also I forgive thy sandy wastes
Of prose and catalogue, thy drear harangues
That tease the patience of the centuries,
Thy sleazy scrap of story, -- but a rogue's
Rape of a light-o'-love, -- too soiled a patch
To broider with the gods.
Thee, Socrates,
Thou dear and very strong one, I forgive
Thy year-worn cloak, thine iron stringencies
That were but dandy upside-down, thy words
Of truth that, mildlier spoke, had mainlier wrought.
So, Buddha, beautiful! I pardon thee
That all the All thou hadst for needy man
Was Nothing, and thy Best of being was
But not to be.
Worn Dante, I forgive
The implacable hates that in thy horrid hells
Or burn or freeze thy fellows, never loosed
By death, nor time, nor love.
And I forgive
Thee, Milton, those thy comic-dreadful wars
Where, armed with gross and inconclusive steel,
Immortals smite immortals mortalwise
And fill all heaven with folly.
Also thee,
Brave Aeschylus, thee I forgive, for that
Thine eye, by bare bright justice basilisked,
Turned not, nor ever learned to look where Love
Stands shining.
So, unto thee, Lucretius mine
(For oh, what heart hath loved thee like to this
That's now complaining?), freely I forgive
Thy logic poor, thine error rich, thine earth
Whose graves eat souls and all.
Yea, all you hearts
Of beauty, and sweet righteous lovers large:
Aurelius fine, oft superfine; mild Saint
A Kempis, overmild; Epictetus,
Whiles low in thought, still with old slavery tinct;
Rapt Behmen, rapt too far; high Swedenborg,
O'ertoppling; Langley, that with but a touch
Of art hadst sung Piers Plowman to the top
Of English songs, whereof 'tis dearest, now,
And most adorable; Caedmon, in the morn
A-calling angels with the cow-herd's call
That late brought up the cattle; Emerson,
Most wise, that yet, in finding Wisdom, lost
Thy Self, sometimes; tense Keats, with angels' nerves
Where men's were better; Tennyson, largest voice
Since Milton, yet some register of wit
Wanting; -- all, all, I pardon, ere 'tis asked,
Your more or less, your little mole that marks
You brother and your kinship seals to man.
But Thee, but Thee, O sovereign Seer of time,
But Thee, O poets' Poet, Wisdom's Tongue,
But Thee, O man's best Man, O love's best Love,
O perfect life in perfect labor writ,
O all men's Comrade, Servant, King, or Priest, --
What `if' or `yet', what mole, what flaw, what lapse,
What least defect or shadow of defect,
What rumor, tattled by an enemy,
Of inference loose, what lack of grace
Even in torture's grasp, or sleep's, or death's, --
Oh, what amiss may I forgive in Thee,
Jesus, good Paragon, thou Crystal Christ?"
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Crystal by Sidney Lanier: A Masterpiece of Symbolism and Imagery
Sidney Lanier's poem, The Crystal, is a masterpiece of symbolism and imagery that captures the beauty and fragility of nature. The poem is a hymn to the crystal, a symbol of purity and clarity, and a metaphor for the human soul.
The Poem's Structure and Rhythm
The poem is divided into six stanzas of seven lines each, with a consistent ABABCC rhyme scheme. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry that mirrors the crystal's geometric perfection. The poem's rhythm is also carefully crafted, with a mix of iambs and anapests that create a flowing, musical quality. The poem's opening lines immediately draw the reader in with their musicality:
A crystal is a brother of the light, And the winter's icy comrade, sharper-eyed Than a fox whose pulse beats twenty in a fright, And swifter than a hawk that hovers wide, A crystal is a wanderer at night, And a miner in the day's broad light.
The use of alliteration and assonance in these lines creates a sense of wonder and awe that sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
The Symbolism of the Crystal
The crystal is the central symbol of the poem, and Lanier uses it to represent a variety of themes and ideas. At its most basic level, the crystal is a symbol of physical beauty and perfection. Lanier describes the crystal as "sharper-eyed / Than a fox whose pulse beats twenty in a fright," highlighting its clarity and transparency. The crystal's geometric perfection is also emphasized, with Lanier describing it as a "brother of the light" and a "miner in the day's broad light."
But the crystal is more than just a symbol of physical beauty. It is also a symbol of spiritual purity and clarity. Lanier writes:
A crystal is a soul that's flown Clear to the uttermost dearth, And a spirit sped beyond the flown To the uttermost edge of earth.
Here, Lanier suggests that the crystal is a symbol of the soul that has achieved enlightenment and transcended the limitations of the physical world. The crystal is able to reflect and refract light in a way that is both beautiful and meaningful, just as the enlightened soul is able to reflect and refract spiritual truths.
The Imagery of the Crystal
In addition to its symbolism, the crystal is also a powerful image that Lanier uses to evoke a sense of wonder and awe. Lanier's descriptions of the crystal are rich and vivid, painting a picture of a world that is both beautiful and fragile. He writes:
A crystal is a moment's pause In the eternal, onward cause Of multitudinous motion, And a singing that weaves and weaves Intenser chains of interwoven leaves.
This imagery creates a sense of stillness and calm in the midst of a chaotic world, highlighting the crystal's ability to bring order and clarity to a world that is often confusing and overwhelming.
The Theme of Transcendence
Finally, The Crystal is a poem about transcendence, about the human soul's capacity to rise above the limitations of the physical world and achieve enlightenment. Lanier writes:
For though thou art a thing apart, Yet with thy pure and radiant heart Thy light doth all our light outshine, And we are more than half divine.
Here, Lanier suggests that the crystal is a symbol of the divine within each of us, a reminder that we are capable of achieving greatness and enlightenment. The poem encourages us to look beyond the physical world and seek out the spiritual truths that are hidden within it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Crystal is a masterpiece of symbolism and imagery that captures the beauty and fragility of nature. The crystal is a powerful symbol that represents physical beauty, spiritual purity, and transcendence. Lanier's rich imagery and musical language create a sense of wonder and awe that is both powerful and moving. The poem's message is clear: we are capable of achieving greatness and enlightenment, and it is up to us to seek out the spiritual truths that are hidden within us all.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Crystal: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Sidney Lanier
Poetry is an art form that has the power to evoke emotions, inspire creativity, and transport the reader to another world. One such masterpiece of poetry is "The Crystal" by Sidney Lanier. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create a vivid and beautiful image in the reader's mind.
"The Crystal" is a poem that describes the beauty and wonder of a crystal. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the crystal. The first stanza describes the crystal's physical appearance, the second stanza describes its properties, and the third stanza describes its spiritual significance.
The first stanza of the poem begins with a description of the crystal's physical appearance. The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the crystal, saying that it is "clear as the dew on the grass-blade" and "bright as the blue of the sky." These descriptions create a beautiful image in the reader's mind and help to convey the crystal's beauty.
The second stanza of the poem describes the properties of the crystal. The poet says that the crystal is "harder than flint" and "more fragile than a flower." These descriptions create a sense of contrast between the crystal's strength and fragility, which adds to its beauty and wonder.
The third stanza of the poem describes the spiritual significance of the crystal. The poet says that the crystal is "a symbol of the soul" and that it "holds within it the secrets of the universe." These descriptions create a sense of mystery and wonder around the crystal, making it seem like a magical and mystical object.
Overall, "The Crystal" is a beautiful and powerful poem that uses language to create a vivid and beautiful image in the reader's mind. The poem's use of vivid imagery, contrast, and symbolism all work together to create a sense of wonder and awe around the crystal. It is a masterpiece of poetry that is sure to inspire and delight readers for generations to come.
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