'Dejection : An Ode' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Late, late yestreen I saw the new Moon,
With the old Moon in her arms ;
And I fear, I fear, My Master dear !
We shall have a deadly storm.
Ballad of Sir Patrick Spence
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I
Well ! If the Bard was weather-wise, who made
The grand old ballad of Sir Patrick Spence,
This night, so tranquil now, will not go hence
Unroused by winds, that ply a busier trade
Than those which mould yon cloud in lazy flakes,
Or the dull sobbing draft, that moans and rakes
Upon the strings of this Æolian lute,
[Image]Which better far were mute.
For lo ! the New-moon winter-bright !
And overspread with phantom light,
(With swimming phantom light o'erspread
But rimmed and circled by a silver thread)
I see the old Moon in her lap, foretelling
The coming-on of rain and squally blast.
And oh ! that even now the gust were swelling,
And the slant night-shower driving loud and fast !
Those sounds which oft have raised me, whilst they awed,
[Image]And sent my soul abroad,
Might now perhaps their wonted impulse give,
Might startle this dull pain, and make it move and live !
II
A grief without a pang, void, dark, and drear,
A stifled, drowsy, unimpassioned grief,
Which finds no natural outlet, no relief,
[Image]In word, or sigh, or tear--
O Lady ! in this wan and heartless mood,
To other thoughts by yonder throstle woo'd,
All this long eve, so balmy and serene,
Have I been gazing on the western sky,
And its peculiar tint of yellow green :
And still I gaze--and with how blank an eye !
And those thin clouds above, in flakes and bars,
That give away their motion to the stars ;
Those stars, that glide behind them or between,
Now sparkling, now bedimmed, but always seen :
Yon crescent Moon, as fixed as if it grew
In its own cloudless, starless lake of blue ;
I see them all so excellently fair,
I see, not feel, how beautiful they are !
III
[Image]My genial spirits fail ;
[Image]And what can these avail
To lift the smothering weight from off my breast ?
[Image]It were a vain endeavour,
[Image]Though I should gaze for ever
On that green light that lingers in the west :
I may not hope from outward forms to win
The passion and the life, whose fountains are within.
IV
O Lady ! we receive but what we give,
And in our life alone does Nature live :
Ours is her wedding-garment, ours her shroud !
And would we aught behold, of higher worth,
Than that inanimate cold world allowed
To the poor loveless ever-anxious crowd,
Ah ! from the soul itself must issue forth
A light, a glory, a fair luminous cloud
[Image]Enveloping the Earth--
And from the soul itself must there be sent
A sweet and potent voice, of its own birth,
Of all sweet sounds the life and element !
V
O pure of heart ! thou need'st not ask of me
What this strong music in the soul may be !
What, and wherein it doth exist,
This light, this glory, this fair luminous mist,
This beautiful and beauty-making power.
Joy, virtuous Lady ! Joy that ne'er was given,
Save to the pure, and in their purest hour,
Life, and Life's effluence, cloud at once and shower,
Joy, Lady ! is the spirit and the power,
Which wedding Nature to us gives in dower
A new Earth and new Heaven,
Undreamt of by the sensual and the proud--
Joy is the sweet voice, Joy the luminous cloud--
[Image]We in ourselves rejoice !
And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight,
All melodies the echoes of that voice,
All colours a suffusion from that light.
VI
There was a time when, though my path was rough,
This joy within me dallied with distress,
And all misfortunes were but as the stuff
Whence Fancy made me dreams of happiness :
For hope grew round me, like the twining vine,
And fruits, and foliage, not my own, seemed mine.
But now afflictions bow me down to earth :
Nor care I that they rob me of my mirth ;
[Image]But oh ! each visitation
Suspends what nature gave me at my birth,
My shaping spirit of Imagination.
For not to think of what I needs must feel,
But to be still and patient, all I can ;
And haply by abstruse research to steal
From my own nature all the natural man--
This was my sole resource, my only plan :
Till that which suits a part infects the whole,
And now is almost grown the habit of my soul.
VII
Hence, viper thoughts, that coil around my mind,
[Image]Reality's dark dream !
I turn from you, and listen to the wind,
Which long has raved unnoticed. What a scream
Of agony by torture lengthened out
That lute sent forth ! Thou Wind, that rav'st without,
Bare crag, or mountain-tairn, or blasted tree,
Or pine-grove whither woodman never clomb,
Or lonely house, long held the witches' home,
Methinks were fitter instruments for thee,
Mad Lutanist ! who in this month of showers,
Of dark-brown gardens, and of peeping flowers,
Mak'st Devils' yule, with worse than wintry song,
The blossoms, buds, and timorous leaves among.
Thou Actor, perfect in all tragic sounds !
Thou mighty Poet, e'en to frenzy bold !
[Image]What tell'st thou now about ?
[Image]'Tis of the rushing of an host in rout,
With groans, of trampled men, with smarting wounds--
At once they groan with pain, and shudder with the cold !
But hush ! there is a pause of deepest silence !
And all that noise, as of a rushing crowd,
With groans, and tremulous shudderings--all is over--
It tells another tale, with sounds less deep and loud !
[Image]A tale of less affright,
[Image]And tempered with delight,
As Otway's self had framed the tender lay,--
[Image][Image]'Tis of a little child
[Image][Image]Upon a lonesome wild,
Not far from home, but she hath lost her way :
And now moans low in bitter grief and fear,
And now screams loud, and hopes to make her mother hear.
VIII
'Tis midnight, but small thoughts have I of sleep :
Full seldom may my friend such vigils keep !
Visit her, gentle Sleep ! with wings of healing,
And may this storm be but a mountain-birth,
May all the stars hang bright above her dwelling,
Silent as though they watched the sleeping Earth !
[Image]With light heart may she rise,
[Image]Gay fancy, cheerful eyes,
Joy lift her spirit, joy attune her voice ;
To her may all things live, from the pole to pole,
Their life the eddying of her living soul !
O simple spirit, guided from above,
Dear Lady ! friend devoutest of my choice,
Thus may'st thou ever, evermore rejoice.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dejection : An Ode by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Dejection : An Ode is one of the finest examples of Romantic poetry that was written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1802. This poem is considered to be one of his most personal works and is a reflection of his own emotional states. The poem was inspired by the deep depression that Coleridge was going through at the time, and it explores the themes of melancholy, despair, and loss.
Background
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was one of the most important poets of the Romantic era in English literature. He was born in 1772 in Devonshire, England, and is known for his contributions to the Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poems that he co-wrote with William Wordsworth, his friend and fellow Romantic poet. Coleridge was also a philosopher, literary critic, and theologian, and his works reflect his wide-ranging interests.
Overview
Dejection : An Ode is a long poem that is divided into four parts. The poem is written in a first-person narrative and begins with the speaker describing his state of mind. He feels melancholic and sad, and he is unable to find joy or happiness in anything around him.
The speaker then goes on to describe how he used to find solace in nature and its beauty, but now even the natural world has lost its charm for him. He feels like he has lost his connection to the world around him and is unable to find his place in it.
In the third part of the poem, the speaker talks about his lost love, who he describes as his "bright star." He is consumed with longing for his lost love, and he feels like he will never be able to find happiness again.
The final part of the poem is a reflection on the power of the imagination. The speaker argues that the imagination is what gives life its meaning and that without it, life would be dull and meaningless.
Literary Analysis
Dejection : An Ode is a complex poem that explores a variety of themes and ideas. One of the most important themes in the poem is the role of the imagination in human experience. Coleridge argues that the imagination is what gives life its meaning and that without it, life would be dull and meaningless.
The speaker in the poem is consumed with longing for his lost love, and he feels like he will never be able to find happiness again. However, he finds comfort in the power of his imagination. He argues that even though his love is gone, he can still imagine her and hold her in his mind. In this way, he is able to keep her memory alive and find solace in his own imagination.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of the sublime. The speaker describes the natural world as a source of beauty and wonder, but he also acknowledges its power to inspire feelings of awe and terror. He describes the sea as "sublime," and argues that it has the power to inspire feelings of both beauty and terror.
The poem also explores the idea of the self and the relationship between the individual and the world around them. The speaker feels like he has lost his connection to the world around him and is unable to find his place in it. He argues that the self is not a fixed entity, but rather something that is constantly changing and evolving.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery. Coleridge uses a variety of images to convey the speaker's emotions and ideas. For example, he uses the image of a "cloud" to describe the speaker's emotional state, and he uses the image of a "bright star" to represent the speaker's lost love.
Interpretation
Dejection : An Ode is a deeply personal poem that reflects Coleridge's own emotional state at the time it was written. The poem is an exploration of his own depression and despair, and it is a powerful reflection on the human experience of loss and longing.
The poem also reflects Coleridge's beliefs about the role of the imagination in human experience. He argues that the imagination is what gives life its meaning, and that without it, life would be dull and meaningless. This idea is reflected in the poem's emphasis on the power of the imagination to help the speaker find solace in his own mind.
In addition, the poem is a reflection on the relationship between the individual and the world around them. The speaker feels like he has lost his connection to the world around him and is unable to find his place in it. This idea is reflected in the poem's exploration of the changing and evolving nature of the self.
Conclusion
Dejection : An Ode is a powerful poem that explores a variety of themes and ideas. It is a reflection on the human experience of loss and longing, and it is a powerful expression of Coleridge's own emotional state at the time it was written.
The poem is also an exploration of the role of the imagination in human experience, and it reflects Coleridge's belief that the imagination is what gives life its meaning. In addition, the poem is a reflection on the relationship between the individual and the world around them, and it explores the changing and evolving nature of the self.
Overall, Dejection : An Ode is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry, and it remains one of the most powerful and moving works in the English language.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Dejection: An Ode - A Masterpiece of Romanticism
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, wrote the poem "Dejection: An Ode" in 1802. The poem is a masterpiece of Romanticism, a literary movement that emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism. In this poem, Coleridge expresses his feelings of sadness and despair, which he attributes to his loss of creative inspiration. The poem is a reflection on the nature of creativity, the role of the poet, and the power of imagination.
The poem begins with a description of the natural world, which is presented as a source of inspiration for the poet. Coleridge describes the moon, the stars, and the sea, all of which he sees as symbols of the creative power of nature. He writes, "The moon doth with delight / Look round her when the heavens are bare; / Waters on a starry night / Are beautiful and fair." The beauty of nature is presented as a source of joy and inspiration for the poet.
However, Coleridge's mood quickly changes, and he begins to express his feelings of sadness and despair. He writes, "Well, they are gone, and here must I remain, / This lime-tree bower my prison!" The poet feels trapped and isolated, unable to find the inspiration he needs to create. He longs to be free, to be able to roam the countryside and find new sources of inspiration.
The poem then takes a philosophical turn, as Coleridge reflects on the nature of creativity and the role of the poet. He writes, "O Lady! we receive but what we give, / And in our life alone does Nature live." The poet suggests that creativity is a two-way process, that the poet must give something of himself in order to receive inspiration from nature. He also suggests that the poet has a special role to play in the world, that he is a mediator between nature and humanity.
Coleridge then turns his attention to the power of imagination, which he sees as the key to creativity. He writes, "Oh! many a time have I, a five years' child, / A naked boy, in one delightful rill, / A little mill-race severed from his stream, / Made one long bathing of a summer's day." The poet remembers the power of his childhood imagination, which allowed him to find joy and inspiration in even the smallest things. He suggests that the poet must tap into this same power of imagination in order to create.
The poem ends with a note of hope, as Coleridge suggests that he may yet find the inspiration he needs to create. He writes, "But yet I know, where'er I go, / That there hath passed away a glory from the earth." The poet acknowledges that he has lost something, that the world is not as beautiful or inspiring as it once was. But he also suggests that there is still hope, that he may yet find the inspiration he needs to create.
In conclusion, "Dejection: An Ode" is a masterpiece of Romanticism, a poem that explores the nature of creativity, the role of the poet, and the power of imagination. Coleridge's use of language is masterful, and his ability to evoke emotion is unparalleled. The poem is a reflection on the human condition, on the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that can often seem dark and hopeless. It is a testament to the power of art, and to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest poets of all time.
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