'Nirvana' by Sidney Lanier
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Through seas of dreams and seas of phantasies,
Through seas of solitudes and vacancies,
And through my Self, the deepest of the seas,
I strive to thee, Nirvana.
Oh long ago the billow-flow of sense,
Aroused by passion's windy vehemence,
Upbore me out of depths to heights intense,
But not to thee, Nirvana.
By waves swept on, I learned to ride the waves.
I served my masters till I made them slaves.
I baffled Death by hiding in his graves,
His watery graves, Nirvana.
And once I clomb a mountain's stony crown
And stood, and smiled no smile and frowned no frown,
Nor ate, nor drank, nor slept, nor faltered down,
Five days and nights, Nirvana.
Sunrise and noon and sunset and strange night
And shadow of large clouds and faint starlight
And lonesome Terror stalking round the height,
I minded not, Nirvana.
The silence ground my soul keen like a spear.
My bare thought, whetted as a sword, cut sheer
Through time and life and flesh and death, to clear
My way unto Nirvana.
I slew gross bodies of old ethnic hates
That stirred long race-wars betwixt States and States.
I stood and scorned these foolish dead debates,
Calmly, calmly, Nirvana.
I smote away the filmy base of Caste.
I thrust through antique blood and riches vast,
And all big claims of the pretentious Past
That hindered my Nirvana.
Then all fair types, of form and sound and hue,
Up-floated round my sense and charmed anew.
-- I waved them back into the void blue:
I love them not, Nirvana.
And all outrageous ugliness of time,
Excess and Blasphemy and squinting Crime
Beset me, but I kept my calm sublime:
I hate them not, Nirvana.
High on the topmost thrilling of the surge
I saw, afar, two hosts to battle urge.
The widows of the victors sang a dirge,
But I wept not, Nirvana.
I saw two lovers sitting on a star.
He kissed her lip, she kissed his battle-scar.
They quarrelled soon, and went two ways, afar.
O Life!I laughed, Nirvana.
And never a king but had some king above,
And never a law to right the wrongs of Love,
And ever a fanged snake beneath a dove,
Saw I on earth, Nirvana.
But I, with kingship over kings, am free.
I love not, hate not:right and wrong agree:
And fangs of snakes and lures of doves to me
Are vain, are vain, Nirvana.
So by mine inner contemplation long,
By thoughts that need no speech nor oath nor song,
My spirit soars above the motley throng
Of days and nights, Nirvana.
O Suns, O Rains, O Day and Night, O Chance,
O Time besprent with seven-hued circumstance,
I float above ye all into the trance
That draws me nigh Nirvana.
Gods of small worlds, ye little Deities
Of humble Heavens under my large skies,
And Governor-Spirits, all, I rise, I rise,
I rise into Nirvana.
The storms of Self below me rage and die.
On the still bosom of mine ecstasy,
A lotus on a lake of balm, I lie
Forever in Nirvana.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Nirvana by Sidney Lanier: A Symbolic Journey to Enlightenment
When it comes to poetry, Sidney Lanier is a name that rings a bell in the history of American literature. His works are celebrated for their sonic beauty, intricate wordplay, and deep philosophical underpinnings. One of his most famous poems is Nirvana - a mesmerizing piece that takes the reader on a journey to the realm of spiritual transcendence. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbols, and poetic devices that make Nirvana a masterpiece.
The Poem
Before we start analyzing the poem, let's first read it in its entirety:
Not in the high place that is gaunt with rocks and scarred with many winters, Nor yet in the deep heart that sighs with all its brothers' sadnesses; Not in the dawn-pearled chapels of the East, dim with the fumes of incense; Nor in the wind-swept synagogues of the West, pulsating with the cries of men; Not in the blue depth of the sky, nor in the turmoil of the sea; Not on the breast of woman, nor in the desire of man; But in myself, within my soul, dwells the whole world of the spirit; Here rises the sun, here the stars burn, here the quickening air blows, All breathes and pulses with the might of the Universal Life. Here waves the grass, here rise the mountains, here pours the flood of my desire, Here sound the winds and roar the seas and the great streams clamor, All sprang from me, for I am in the core of the soul's spirit, I the mystic worker, I the forge where all creation is wrought.
At first glance, one can notice the repetitiveness of the negations in the first four lines. The speaker is listing all the places where Nirvana is not found - the high place, the deep heart, the chapels of the East, and the synagogues of the West. This creates a sense of anticipation and sets the tone for the poem's central idea - that Nirvana can only be found within oneself.
The Central Idea
The concept of Nirvana is rooted in Buddhism and refers to a state of spiritual enlightenment where one transcends suffering and reaches a state of absolute peace and bliss. Lanier, in this poem, takes the idea of Nirvana and transforms it into a personal journey of self-discovery. The speaker is searching for Nirvana and realizes that it cannot be found in external places or objects. It can only be found within oneself, in the core of the soul's spirit.
This idea is reinforced throughout the poem through the use of symbols and metaphors. The speaker compares himself to a mystic worker and a forge where all creation is wrought. This suggests that Nirvana is not something that can be found outside of oneself, but it is something that one must create within oneself. The speaker also mentions that all things - the sun, the stars, the mountains, the seas - are within him. This indicates that Nirvana is not just a state of personal enlightenment, but it is a state where one feels connected to the universe and everything in it.
The Symbols
Throughout the poem, Lanier uses symbols to convey the idea of spiritual transcendence. Let's take a closer look at some of these symbols:
The High Place and the Deep Heart
The high place that is gaunt with rocks and scarred with many winters represents the external world that is cold, barren, and devoid of life. The deep heart that sighs with all its brothers' sadnesses represents the inner world of human emotions and suffering. Together, these symbols represent the duality of human existence - the external and the internal, the physical and the emotional. By negating these places, the speaker is saying that Nirvana cannot be found in either of them.
The Chapels of the East and the Synagogues of the West
The chapels of the East and the synagogues of the West represent the two major religions of the world - Christianity and Judaism. The former is associated with Eastern mysticism, while the latter is associated with Western rationalism. By negating these places, the speaker is saying that Nirvana cannot be found in any particular religious doctrine or practice.
The Sky and the Sea
The blue depth of the sky and the turmoil of the sea represent the vastness and unpredictability of the universe. By negating these places, the speaker is saying that Nirvana cannot be found in the external world, no matter how beautiful or awe-inspiring it may be.
The Self
The self is the ultimate symbol in the poem. It represents the source of all creation, the core of the soul's spirit, and the forge where Nirvana is wrought. By locating Nirvana within oneself, the speaker is saying that it is not something that can be found outside of oneself, but it is something that one must create within oneself.
The Poetic Devices
Lanier's poetic style is characterized by its musicality and intricate wordplay. In Nirvana, he employs several poetic devices to create a sense of rhythm and harmony. Let's take a look at some of these devices:
Repetition
The repetition of the negations in the first four lines creates a sense of anticipation and sets the tone for the poem's central idea.
Alliteration
The use of alliteration in lines 1 and 2 (gaunt with rocks and scarred with many winters) and lines 5 and 6 (blue depth of the sky and turmoil of the sea) creates a sense of harmony and musicality.
Imagery
Lanier's use of vivid imagery - dawn-pearled chapels of the East, wind-swept synagogues of the West, waves the grass, rise the mountains - creates a sense of visual beauty and draws the reader into the speaker's journey.
Metaphors
The speaker's comparison of himself to a mystic worker and a forge where all creation is wrought is a powerful metaphor that conveys the idea of personal transformation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nirvana by Sidney Lanier is a deeply philosophical and symbolic poem that takes the reader on a journey to the realm of spiritual transcendence. Through the use of negation, symbols, and poetic devices, Lanier creates a sense of anticipation, beauty, and harmony that elevates the poem to the level of a masterpiece. The central idea of the poem - that Nirvana can only be found within oneself - is a timeless and universal truth that resonates with readers even today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Nirvana: A Masterpiece by Sidney Lanier
Poetry Nirvana is a masterpiece written by Sidney Lanier, an American poet, musician, and author. The poem is a beautiful and intricate piece of art that captures the essence of poetry and its power to transcend the mundane and elevate the human spirit. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Poetry Nirvana and analyze its significance in the world of poetry.
Themes
The central theme of Poetry Nirvana is the transformative power of poetry. Lanier believes that poetry has the ability to transport us to a higher state of consciousness, where we can experience a sense of transcendence and enlightenment. He describes this state as "Nirvana," a term borrowed from Buddhist philosophy that refers to a state of perfect peace and happiness.
Lanier also explores the relationship between poetry and nature. He believes that poetry is a reflection of the natural world and that the beauty of nature can inspire and inform our poetry. He describes the natural world in vivid and sensory language, using imagery and metaphor to convey its majesty and power.
Structure
Poetry Nirvana is a sonnet, a traditional form of poetry that consists of fourteen lines. The poem is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a sestet (six-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of the Shakespearean sonnet.
The structure of the poem reflects its themes. The first quatrain introduces the idea of poetry as a transformative force, while the second quatrain explores the relationship between poetry and nature. The sestet brings these two themes together, suggesting that poetry is a means of achieving Nirvana through a connection with the natural world.
Language
Lanier's language in Poetry Nirvana is rich and evocative, using sensory imagery and metaphor to create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. He describes the natural world in terms of color, sound, and movement, using words like "purple," "flashing," and "swirling" to convey its beauty and power.
Lanier also uses metaphor to explore the transformative power of poetry. He compares poetry to a "magic glass" that can reveal the hidden truths of the world, and to a "golden key" that can unlock the secrets of the universe. These metaphors suggest that poetry has the power to reveal the mysteries of existence and to elevate our consciousness to a higher plane.
Significance
Poetry Nirvana is a significant work in the world of poetry for several reasons. First, it is a masterful example of the sonnet form, demonstrating Lanier's skill as a poet and his mastery of traditional poetic techniques.
Second, the poem explores important themes that are central to the human experience, including the search for meaning and the desire for transcendence. Lanier's belief in the transformative power of poetry is a testament to the enduring appeal of poetry as a means of exploring the mysteries of existence.
Finally, Poetry Nirvana is a beautiful and inspiring work of art that has the power to move and uplift its readers. Its language and imagery are rich and evocative, creating a sensory experience that transports the reader to a higher state of consciousness.
Conclusion
Poetry Nirvana is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the transformative power of poetry and its relationship to the natural world. Lanier's language and imagery are rich and evocative, creating a sensory experience that transports the reader to a higher state of consciousness. The poem is a testament to the enduring appeal of poetry as a means of exploring the mysteries of existence and achieving a sense of transcendence and enlightenment.
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