'The Wind-Struck Music' by Robinson Jeffers
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Such Counsels You Gave To Me and Other Poems1937Ed Stiles and old Tom Birnam went up to their cattle on the bare hills
Above Mal Paso; they'd ridden under the stars; white death, when they reached the ridge the huge tiger-lily
Of a certain cloud-lapped astonishing autumn sunrise opened all its petals. Ed Stiles pulled in his horse,
That flashy palamino he rode-cream-color, heavy white mane, white tail, his pride-and said
"Look, Tom. My God. Ain't that a beautiful sunrise?" Birnam drew down his mouth, set the hard old chin,
And whined: "Now, Ed: I haven't an ounce of poetry in all my body. It's cows we're after."
Ed laughed and followed; they began to sort the heifers out of the herd. One red little deer-legged creature
Rolled her wild eyes and ran away down the hill, the old man hard after her. She ran through a deep-cut gully,
And Birnam's piebald would have made a clean jump but the clay lip
Crumbled under his take-off, he slipped and
Spilled in the pit, flailed with four hooves and came out scrambling. Stiles saw them vanish,
Then the pawing horse and the flapping stirrups. He rope and looked down and saw the old man in the gully bottom
Flat on his back, most grimly gazing up at the sky. He saw earth banks, the sparse white grass,
The strong dark sea a thousand feet down below, red with reflections of clouds. He said "My God
Tom are you hurt?" Who answered slowly, "No, Ed.
I'm only lying here thinking o' my four sons"-biting the words
Carefully between his lips-"big handsome men, at present lolling in bed in their...silk...pyjamas...
And why the devil I keep on working?" He stood up slowly and wiped the dirt from his cheek, groaned, spat,
And climbed up the clay bank. Stiles laughed: "Tom, I can't tell you: Iguess you like to. By God I guess
You like the sunrises." The old man growled in his throat and said
"Catch me my horse."This old man died last winter, having lived eighty-one years under open sky,
Concerned with cattle, horses and hunting, no thought nor emotion that all his ancestors since the ice-age
Could not have comprehended. I call that a good life; narrow, but vastly better than most
Men's lives, and beyond comparison more beautiful; the wind-struck music man's bones were moulded to be the harp for.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Wind-Struck Music: A Poetic Masterpiece by Robinson Jeffers
Have you ever read a poem that transports you to a different world? A poem that makes you forget your surroundings and immerse yourself entirely in its words? That is precisely what Robinson Jeffers' "The Wind-Struck Music" does to its readers. It is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that combines elements of nature, human emotions, and music to create a surreal and thought-provoking experience.
Background of the Poem and the Poet
Before diving into the poem's interpretation, it is essential to understand the poet's background and the context in which he wrote "The Wind-Struck Music." Robinson Jeffers was born in 1887 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent most of his life in California's Big Sur region. He was a controversial figure in American literature during his time, primarily due to his strong environmental and philosophical views.
Jeffers' poetry often celebrated nature's beauty and power and criticized human selfishness and destruction. He was also an anti-war activist and wrote numerous poems denouncing war and nationalism. "The Wind-Struck Music" was published in his 1931 collection of poems, "Roan Stallion," which is considered one of his most significant works.
Poetic Analysis
"The Wind-Struck Music" is a lyrical and narrative poem that tells the story of a lonely musician playing his violin in the midst of a storm. The poem is divided into four parts, each with its own distinct tone and imagery.
Part I: The Storm
The poem begins with a description of a storm brewing in the distance. The narrator sets the scene with vivid imagery and sensory details, describing the "thunderheads" gathering and the "hissing" of the wind. The storm is portrayed as a powerful force of nature, with the potential to cause chaos and destruction.
Part II: The Musician
The second part introduces the poem's protagonist, a musician playing his violin in a remote and desolate place. The musician is described as a solitary figure, lost in his music and oblivious to the storm raging around him. The narrator describes the music as "proud and melancholy," suggesting that the musician is playing his heart out, perhaps to alleviate his own loneliness or pain.
Part III: The Wind-Struck Music
The third part of the poem is the climax, where the storm and the musician's music converge. The wind, described as a "frenzied giant," becomes part of the music, and the notes of the violin are "wind-struck." The narrator uses synesthesia to describe the merging of the wind and the music, saying that the "wind played the music" and the "music played the wind." The result is a surreal and otherworldly experience that defies description.
Part IV: The Aftermath
The final part of the poem describes the aftermath of the storm and the musician's music. The storm dissipates, and the musician stops playing, leaving only the echoes of his music lingering in the air. The narrator describes the music as a "wandering ghost," suggesting that it has taken on a life of its own and will continue to haunt the landscape long after the storm has passed.
Interpretation
On a surface level, "The Wind-Struck Music" is a simple narrative poem about a musician playing his violin in a storm. However, a deeper analysis reveals that the poem is about the power of nature, the human condition, and the transformative power of art.
Nature's Power
One of the most prominent themes in the poem is nature's power and its ability to shape and transform the world around us. Jeffers portrays the storm as a fearsome and unstoppable force, capable of causing destruction and chaos. However, he also shows how nature can be harnessed and transformed by human creativity, as seen in the merging of the wind and the music.
Human Loneliness and the Transformative Power of Art
The musician in the poem is a lonely figure, lost in his music and oblivious to the storm around him. However, his music has the power to transform the world around him, bringing the wind into harmony with his playing. The music acts as a bridge between the musician's inner world and the external world, suggesting that art has the power to transform both the artist and the world around them.
Surrealism and Synesthesia
The merging of the wind and the music in the poem creates a surreal and otherworldly experience that defies description. Jeffers uses synesthesia to describe the merging of the wind and the music, blurring the lines between the senses and creating a new reality. The result is a transcendent experience that goes beyond the limits of language and rational thought.
Conclusion
"The Wind-Struck Music" is a poetic masterpiece that combines elements of nature, human emotions, and music to create a surreal and thought-provoking experience. Jeffers' use of vivid imagery, sensory details, and synesthesia transports the reader to a different world, where the boundaries between the internal and external world blur. The poem is a testament to the transformative power of art and nature and a reminder of the beauty and power that surrounds us every day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Wind-Struck Music: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Robinson Jeffers, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a masterpiece of poetry titled "The Wind-Struck Music." This poem is a perfect example of Jeffers' unique style, which combines a deep appreciation for nature with a philosophical outlook on life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the wind blowing through the trees, creating a symphony of sound. Jeffers writes, "The trees are singing in the wind, / The sky is bright and blue." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with images of nature and the beauty of the natural world.
As the poem progresses, Jeffers explores the idea that nature is a source of inspiration and wisdom. He writes, "The wind is wisdom, the water is health, / And the earth is strength and nourishment." This line suggests that nature provides us with everything we need to live a healthy and fulfilling life. It also implies that we should look to nature for guidance and wisdom.
Jeffers also uses the imagery of the wind to convey a sense of freedom and liberation. He writes, "The wind is a wild and free thing, / It blows where it will." This line suggests that the wind is not bound by any rules or restrictions, and that it is free to move and change as it pleases. This idea of freedom is a recurring theme in Jeffers' poetry, and it is one that he explores in depth in "The Wind-Struck Music."
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of impermanence. Jeffers writes, "The wind is a fleeting thing, / It comes and goes like a dream." This line suggests that nothing in life is permanent, and that everything is subject to change and transformation. This idea is echoed in the final lines of the poem, where Jeffers writes, "The wind is a song that will never end, / But it will change, and change again." This line suggests that while the wind may continue to blow, it will never be the same twice. This idea of impermanence is a central theme in Jeffers' poetry, and it is one that he explores in many of his works.
In addition to its themes, "The Wind-Struck Music" is also notable for its use of imagery and symbolism. Jeffers uses the image of the wind to represent a variety of ideas, including freedom, wisdom, and impermanence. He also uses the image of the trees to represent the natural world, and the image of the sky to represent the infinite expanse of the universe.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the image of the wind as a musician. Jeffers writes, "The wind is a musician, / It plays upon the trees." This line suggests that the wind is not just a force of nature, but also a creative and artistic entity. This idea is further developed in the final lines of the poem, where Jeffers writes, "The wind is a song that will never end, / But it will change, and change again." This line suggests that the wind is not just playing a random tune, but is instead creating a complex and ever-changing piece of music.
Overall, "The Wind-Struck Music" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores a variety of themes and ideas. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, the poem conveys a deep appreciation for the natural world and the beauty of the universe. It also encourages us to look to nature for guidance and wisdom, and to embrace the impermanence of life. If you are a fan of poetry, or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, then "The Wind-Struck Music" is a must-read.
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