'Earth 's Answer' by William Blake
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Earth raised up her head
From the darkness dread and drear,
Her light fled,
Stony, dread,
And her locks covered with grey despair.
"Prisoned on watery shore,
Starry jealousy does keep my den
Cold and hoar;
Weeping o're,
I hear the father of the ancient men.
"Selfish father of men!
Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!
Can delight,
Chained in night,
The virgins of youth and morning bear?
"Does spring hide its joy,
When buds and blossoms grow?
Does the sower
Sow by night,
Or the plowman in darkness plough?
"Break this heavy chain,
That does freeze my bones around!
Selfish, vain,
Eternal bane,
That free love with bondage bound."
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Earth's Answer" by William Blake: A Spiritual Interpretation
Wow, what a powerful poem! "Earth's Answer" by William Blake is a masterpiece of spiritual poetry that reflects the author's deep connection with nature and his mystical vision of the world. In this poem, Blake gives voice to the Earth, which responds to the human exploitation and destruction of her resources with a fierce and prophetic message. Through vivid metaphors, powerful imagery, and intense emotions, Blake creates a poetic vision that challenges us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and to embrace a more sustainable and harmonious way of life.
The Poem
First, let's take a look at the poem itself. "Earth's Answer" is a short, 16-line poem that was first published in 1794 as part of Blake's collection Songs of Experience. Here is the full text:
Earth raised up her head
From the darkness dread and drear,
Her light fled,
Stony dread!
And her locks covered with grey despair.
'Prisoned on watery shore,
Starry jealousy does keep my den
Cold and hoar;
Weeping o'er,
I hear the father of the ancient men.
Selfish father of men!
Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!
Can delight,
Chained in night,
The virgins of youth and morning bear?
Does spring hide its joy,
When buds and blossoms grow?
Does the sower?
Sow by night?
Or the ploughman in darkness plough?
Break this heavy chain,
That does freeze my bones around!
Selfish, vain,
Eternal bane,
That free love with bondage bound.'
The Interpretation
Now, let's dive into the interpretation of the poem. At first glance, "Earth's Answer" seems to be a simple protest against human exploitation of nature. The speaker, who represents the Earth, laments the destruction of her resources and the imprisonment of her spirit by human greed and selfishness. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we discover a much more complex and profound message that touches on spiritual themes such as redemption, liberation, and divine justice.
The poem begins with Earth raising her head from the darkness dread and drear, suggesting a metaphorical awakening or resurrection from a state of despair and oppression. Her light has fled, and she is covered with grey despair, symbolizing the loss of vitality and hope. The stony dread that surrounds her suggests a feeling of imprisonment, as if she is trapped in a hostile environment that offers no escape.
The next lines introduce the character of Starry jealousy, who keeps the Earth's den on the watery shore cold and hoar. Starry jealousy can be interpreted as a personification of human greed and exploitation, which are the root causes of the Earth's suffering. The image of the den also suggests a sense of confinement or imprisonment, as if the Earth is trapped in a narrow space that offers no freedom or mobility.
The Earth then weeps over the father of the ancient men, who represents the patriarchal and oppressive forces that have dominated human history. The father of the ancient men can be seen as a symbol of the old order, which values power, control, and domination over nature and other human beings. The fact that the Earth hears him suggests that his influence is still strong and pervasive, even in the 18th century when Blake wrote the poem.
The speaker then accuses the father of men of being selfish, jealous, and cruel, reflecting the negative aspects of human nature that have caused so much harm to the Earth and other living beings. The virgins of youth and morning can be interpreted as symbols of innocence and beauty, which are often exploited and corrupted by human greed and lust. The fact that they are chained in night suggests that they are living in a state of darkness and ignorance, cut off from the light of truth and compassion.
The next lines use a series of rhetorical questions to challenge the father of men's worldview and values. Does spring hide its joy when buds and blossoms grow? Does the sower sow by night? Or the ploughman in darkness plough? These questions suggest that nature operates according to a different logic than human society, one that is based on harmony, balance, and cooperation rather than competition, exploitation, and domination.
Finally, the speaker calls for the heavy chain that freezes her bones to be broken, symbolizing the need for liberation and redemption from the forces that have oppressed and enslaved the Earth. The selfish, vain, and eternal bane can be interpreted as a reference to the destructive forces of human nature that have caused so much harm to the Earth and other living beings. The fact that free love is bound by bondage suggests that the natural harmony and beauty of the world have been distorted and perverted by human greed and corruption.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Earth's Answer" by William Blake is a powerful and prophetic poem that challenges us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and to embrace a more sustainable and harmonious way of life. Through vivid metaphors, powerful imagery, and intense emotions, Blake creates a poetic vision that reflects his deep connection with nature and his mystical vision of the world. By giving voice to the Earth, he reminds us of the urgent need to respect and protect the natural world, and to work towards a more just and equitable society that values the well-being of all living beings.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a way for people to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences through words. One of the most famous poets of all time is William Blake, who is known for his unique style and powerful messages. One of his most famous poems is "Earth's Answer," which is a part of his collection of poems called "Songs of Experience." In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
"Earth's Answer" is a poem that speaks to the relationship between humans and nature. The poem begins with the speaker asking a question, "Earth raised up her head, from the darkness dread and drear." The use of personification in this line gives the earth a human-like quality, making it seem as though it is alive and aware. The speaker then asks, "Her light fled, stony, dread, and her locks covered with grey despair." This line suggests that the earth is in a state of despair, and its light has been extinguished.
The next few lines of the poem describe the state of the earth in more detail. The speaker says, "Prisoned on watery shore, starry Jealousy does keep my den." This line suggests that the earth is trapped and unable to move freely. The use of the word "starry" suggests that the earth is being watched and controlled by something powerful. The speaker then says, "Cold and hoar, weeping o'er, I hear the father of the ancient men." This line suggests that the earth is crying and mourning, and the "father of the ancient men" is listening to its cries.
The next few lines of the poem introduce the idea of human intervention. The speaker says, "Selfish father of men! Cruel, jealous, selfish fear! Can delight, chained in night, the virgins of youth and morning bear?" This line suggests that humans are responsible for the earth's current state of despair. The use of the word "selfish" suggests that humans are only concerned with their own needs and desires, and they do not care about the earth. The speaker then asks if humans can find joy in the destruction of nature.
The next few lines of the poem describe the earth's response to human intervention. The speaker says, "Does spring hide its joy, when buds and blossoms grow? Does the sower? Sow by night? Or the plowman in darkness plow?" This line suggests that nature continues to thrive despite human intervention. The use of rhetorical questions in this line suggests that the answer is obvious – nature does not hide its joy or stop growing because of humans.
The final lines of the poem suggest a call to action. The speaker says, "Break this heavy chain, that does freeze my bones around! Selfish, vain, eternal bane, that free love with bondage bound." This line suggests that humans need to break free from their selfish ways and start caring for the earth. The use of the word "eternal" suggests that this problem has been going on for a long time and needs to be addressed immediately. The poem ends with the speaker saying, "Freedom, oh, freedom! That the slave can never enjoy. Is not this thy joy, O earth! Thou art my mother, and I am thy son." This line suggests that freedom is the key to happiness and that the earth is like a mother to humans. It is a powerful message that suggests that humans need to start taking care of the earth if they want to find true happiness.
In conclusion, "Earth's Answer" is a powerful poem that speaks to the relationship between humans and nature. It suggests that humans are responsible for the earth's current state of despair and that they need to start taking care of the earth if they want to find true happiness. The use of personification and rhetorical questions adds depth and meaning to the poem, making it a classic piece of literature that is still relevant today. William Blake's unique style and powerful message make "Earth's Answer" a must-read for anyone interested in poetry and the environment.
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