'The Fish' by Rupert Brooke

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In a cool curving world he lies
And ripples with dark ecstasies.
The kind luxurious lapse and steal
Shapes all his universe to feel
And know and be; the clinging stream
Closes his memory, glooms his dream,
Who lips the roots o' the shore, and glides
Superb on unreturning tides.
Those silent waters weave for him
A fluctuant mutable world and dim,
Where wavering masses bulge and gape
Mysterious, and shape to shape
Dies momently through whorl and hollow,
And form and line and solid follow
Solid and line and form to dream
Fantastic down the eternal stream;
An obscure world, a shifting world,
Bulbous, or pulled to thin, or curled,
Or serpentine, or driving arrows,
Or serene slidings, or March narrows.
There slipping wave and shore are one,
And weed and mud. No ray of sun,
But glow to glow fades down the deep
(As dream to unknown dream in sleep);
Shaken translucency illumes
The hyaline of drifting glooms;
The strange soft-handed depth subdues
Drowned colour there, but black to hues,
As death to living, decomposes-Red darkness of the heart of roses,
Blue brilliant from dead starless skies,
And gold that lies behind the eyes,
The unknown unnameable sightless white
That is the essential flame of night,
Lustreless purple, hooded green,
The myriad hues that lie between
Darkness and darkness!....And all's one,
Gentle, embracing, quiet, dun,
The world he rests in, world he knows,
Perpetual curving. Only-grows
An eddy in that ordered falling,
A knowledge from the gloom, a calling
Weed in the wave, gleam in the mud-The dark fire leaps along his blood;
Dateless and deathless, blind and still,
The intricate impulse works its will;
His woven world drops back; and he,
Sans providence, sans memory,
Unconscious and directly driven,
Fades to some dark sufficient heaven.O world of lips, O world of laughter,
Where hope is fleet, and thought flies after,
Of lights in the clear night, of cries
That drift along the wave and rise
Thin to the glittering stars above,
You know the hands, the eyes of love!
The strife of limbs, the sightless clinging,
The infinite distance, and the singing
Blown by the wind, a flame of sound,
The gleam, the flowers, and vast around
The horizon, and the heights above-You know the sigh, the long of love!But there the night is close, and there
Darkness is cold and strange and bare;
And the secret deeps are whisperless;
And rhythm is all deliciousness;
And joy is in the throbbing tide,
Whose intricate fingers beat and glide
In felt bewildering harmonies
Of trembling touch; and music is
The exquisite knocking of the blood.
Space is no more, under the mud;
His bliss is older than the sun.
Silent and straight the waters run.
The lights, the cries, the willows dim,
And the dark tide are one with him.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Deep Dive into Rupert Brooke's "The Fish"

As a piece of literature, poetry has always been a medium for expressing deep emotions and thoughts in a concise yet powerful manner. One such poem that has stood the test of time and continues to evoke a sense of wonder and admiration is "The Fish" by Rupert Brooke.

In this 14-line sonnet, Brooke captures the essence of the simple yet profound beauty of a fish. Through his vivid imagery and masterful use of language, he transports the reader to the tranquil depths of a river and allows them to witness the majesty of this humble creature.

The Poem's Structure

Before diving into the poem's interpretation, it is important to understand its structure. "The Fish" is a sonnet, which means it follows a strict rhyme scheme and structure. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza containing eight lines and the second containing six.

The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCDCD EFEFGG, with the end rhymes in the first stanza being alternate, while the second stanza follows a couplet rhyme scheme. The poem is thus structured in a way that allows the reader to experience a sense of progression, as the first stanza sets the scene and introduces the fish, while the second stanza delves deeper into the poet's thoughts and feelings towards the fish.

The Imagery and Symbolism

One of the most striking aspects of "The Fish" is Brooke's use of vivid imagery to bring the scene to life. He paints a picture of a serene river with "willows, willow-herb, and grass, / And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry." The use of natural imagery not only adds to the poem's beauty but also serves as a symbol of the fish's natural habitat, emphasizing its place in the ecosystem.

The fish itself is also described in great detail, with Brooke using similes to compare it to other creatures. "He hung in the water a glittering fan / Of ripples, and reeds, and underwater flowers" creates a sense of movement and grace, while "His fins like dust, his scales / Silvered with white" emphasizes the shimmering beauty of the fish.

The fish can also be seen as a symbol of freedom and independence, as it is "wild and wary." It is a reminder that nature cannot be tamed and that its beauty lies in its wildness.

The Poet's Thoughts and Feelings

While the poem is about a fish, it is also a reflection of the poet's thoughts and feelings towards the natural world. Brooke's admiration and awe for the fish can be seen in lines such as "I looked into his eyes / Which were far larger than mine / But shallower, and yellowed, / The irises backed and packed / With tarnished tinfoil."

The use of first-person point of view also allows the reader to experience the poet's emotions firsthand. The line, "And then I saw / That from his lower lip / If you could call it a lip / Grim, wet, and weaponlike, / Hung five old pieces of fish-line," creates a sense of empathy and sadness towards the fish, who has fallen victim to human activities.

Interpretation

"The Fish" can be interpreted in many ways, and its meaning can vary depending on the reader's perspective. On one level, it is a celebration of the beauty of nature and a reminder of the importance of preserving it. Brooke's admiration for the fish serves as a call to action for humans to be more mindful of their impact on the environment.

On another level, the poem can be seen as a metaphor for the human experience. The fish can represent the pursuit of freedom and independence, while the fisherman's line represents the constraints and limitations that society imposes on individuals. The fish's struggle to break free from the line can be seen as a reflection of the human struggle to break free from societal norms and expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Fish" is a masterpiece of poetry that continues to captivate readers with its beauty and depth. Brooke's use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of awe and wonder, while his reflection on the human impact on the environment serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving nature. The poem is a testament to the power of literature to evoke emotions and inspire change, and it will continue to be cherished for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Fish by Rupert Brooke is a classic poem that has been celebrated for its vivid imagery and powerful use of language. This poem is a perfect example of how poetry can capture the essence of a moment and convey it to the reader in a way that is both beautiful and meaningful.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a fish that he has caught. The fish is described as being "tawny" and "vivid" with "great fins" and "bright eyes". The speaker is clearly impressed by the fish and is struck by its beauty and power.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the nature of the fish and its place in the world. He notes that the fish is "old" and has "swum in waters wild and deep". He also observes that the fish has "seen strange things" and has "felt the chill of Arctic snows".

These observations lead the speaker to contemplate the mystery of the fish's existence. He wonders what the fish has seen and experienced in its life and what it might be thinking or feeling at this moment. He also reflects on the fact that the fish is now dead and that its life has come to an end.

Despite the sadness of this realization, the speaker is still struck by the beauty and power of the fish. He notes that even in death, the fish is still "lovely" and "terrible". He also acknowledges that the fish has left a mark on him and that he will never forget the experience of catching it.

Overall, The Fish is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of a moment in time. Through its vivid imagery and powerful use of language, it conveys the beauty and mystery of the natural world and the fleeting nature of life itself. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply appreciate the beauty of the natural world, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression.

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