'The House Of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones' by Conrad Aiken

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The House of Dust1917What shall we talk of?Li Po?Hokusai?
You narrow your long dark eyes to fascinate me;
You smile a little. . . .Outside, the night goes by.
I walk alone in a forest of ghostly trees . . .
Your pale hands rest palm downwards on your knees.'These lines-converging, they suggest such distance!
The soul is drawn away, beyond horizons.
Lured out to what?One dares not think.
Sometimes, I glimpse these infinite perspectives
In intimate talk (with such as you) and shrink . . .'One feels so petty!-One feels such-emptiness!-'
You mimic horror, let fall your lifted hand,
And smile at me; with brooding tenderness . . .
Alone on darkened waters I fall and rise;
Slow waves above me break, faint waves of cries.'And then these colors . . . but who would dare describe them?
This faint rose-coral pink . . this green-pistachio?-
So insubstantial!Like the dim ghostly things
Two lovers find in love's still-twilight chambers . . .
Old peacock-fans, and fragrant silks, and rings . . .'Rings, let us say, drawn from the hapless fingers
Of some great lady, many centuries nameless,-
Or is that too sepulchral?-dulled with dust;
And necklaces that crumble if you touch them;
And gold brocades that, breathed on, fall to rust.'No-I am wrong . . . it is not these I sought for-!
Why did they come to mind?You understand me-
You know these strange vagaries of the brain!-'
-I walk alone in a forest of ghostly trees;
Your pale hands rest palm downwards on your knees;
These strange vagaries of yours are all too plain.'But why perplex ourselves with tedious problems
Of art or . . . such things? . . . while we sit here, living,
With all that's in our secret hearts to say!-'
Hearts?-Your pale hand softly strokes the satin.
You play deep music-know well what you play.
You stroke the satin with thrilling of finger-tips,
You smile, with faintly perfumed lips,
You loose your thoughts like birds,
Brushing our dreams with soft and shadowy words . .
We know your words are foolish, yet sit here bound
In tremulous webs of sound.'How beautiful is intimate talk like this!-
It is as if we dissolved grey walls between us,
Stepped through the solid portals, become but shadows,
To hear a hidden music . . . Our own vast shadows
Lean to a giant size on the windy walls,
Or dwindle away; we hear our soft footfalls
Echo forever behind us, ghostly clear,
Music sings far off, flows suddenly near,
And dies away like rain . . .
We walk through subterranean caves again,-
Vaguely above us feeling
A shadowy weight of frescos on the ceiling,
Strange half-lit things,
Soundless grotesques with writhing claws and wings . . .
And here a beautiful face looks down upon us;
And someone hurries before, unseen, and sings . . .
Have we seen all, I wonder, in these chambers-
Or is there yet some gorgeous vault, arched low,
Where sleeps an amazing beauty we do not know? . . 'The question falls: we walk in silence together,
Thinking of that deep vault and of its secret . . .
This lamp, these books, this fire
Are suddenly blown away in a whistling darkness.
Deep walls crash down in the whirlwind of desire.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones by Conrad Aiken

The House of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones is a poem that explores the complexities of human communication and the various emotions that underlie our interactions with others. Written by Conrad Aiken, this piece of poetry is a masterful work that showcases the author's skill at using language to convey a range of emotions and ideas.

The poem opens with a conversation between two people, a man and a woman, who are discussing their relationship. The man is trying to express his love for the woman, but he is struggling to find the right words. He tells her that he loves her, but she seems to be skeptical of his words. She asks him if he is sure that he loves her, and he responds by saying that he is not sure.

This exchange sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Aiken explores the ways in which we use language to communicate with one another. The man and woman in the poem are struggling to connect with one another, despite their best efforts. They are unable to find the right words to express their feelings, and they are left feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.

Aiken's use of language in this poem is particularly noteworthy. He uses a series of metaphors and similes to convey the emotions and thoughts of his characters. For example, when the man is struggling to express his love for the woman, Aiken writes:

"He gropes in vain in the vast deeps of his heart To find a word, a phrase, a sound, a sign"

Here, Aiken is using the metaphor of a deep sea to describe the man's emotions. The man is trying to find something that is hidden deep within himself, something that he cannot quite reach. Aiken's use of language is powerful, and it helps to convey the complex emotions that his characters are feeling.

As the poem progresses, we see the man and woman engaging in a series of conversations that are filled with undertones. They are both saying one thing, but there is an underlying message that is left unsaid. Aiken captures this dynamic beautifully, as he writes:

"Behind their words the ominous silence gulfs and gapes, And in it their secret thoughts like shadows hide"

Aiken is suggesting that there is more going on beneath the surface of their conversations than what is being said out loud. The man and woman are both hiding something from one another, and their words are only a small part of the story.

One of the most interesting things about this poem is the way in which Aiken plays with the idea of communication. He is suggesting that language is a flawed tool for expressing our emotions and thoughts. We can never truly say what we mean, and we can never truly understand what others are trying to say to us.

This idea is reflected in the way that Aiken uses repetition throughout the poem. He repeats certain phrases and words, such as "love" and "silence," to emphasize the limitations of language. He is suggesting that we are all trapped within our own minds, unable to fully express ourselves to others.

Overall, The House of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones is a powerful and thought-provoking poem. Aiken's use of language is masterful, and he is able to convey complex emotions and ideas with ease. The poem is a reminder of the difficulties of communication, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the underlying emotions that often go unspoken. This poem is a part of a larger series of poems called The House of Dust, which was published in 1920. The House of Dust is a collection of poems that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of The House of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones.

The poem begins with a conversation between two people, a man and a woman. The man is trying to express his feelings to the woman, but he is struggling to find the right words. He says, "I cannot find the words." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with a sense of longing and unspoken emotions.

The woman responds to the man's statement by saying, "You need not speak." This line is significant because it suggests that the woman understands the man's emotions without him having to express them verbally. This is a common theme in the poem, as the characters often communicate through unspoken undertones.

The man continues to struggle with his emotions, saying, "I cannot make you know." This line suggests that the man is frustrated with his inability to express his feelings to the woman. He wants her to understand how he feels, but he is unable to find the right words.

The woman responds to the man's frustration by saying, "You need not make me know." This line is significant because it suggests that the woman is not interested in the man's words, but rather his emotions. She wants to feel his emotions, not just hear about them.

The poem continues with the man and woman communicating through unspoken undertones. They are able to understand each other without having to say anything. This is a common theme in the poem, as the characters often communicate through body language and other nonverbal cues.

The poem ends with the man saying, "I am content." This line suggests that the man has found peace in his emotions, even though he was unable to express them verbally. The woman responds by saying, "You need not speak." This line is significant because it suggests that the woman is content with the man's emotions, even though he was unable to express them verbally.

Overall, The House of Dust: Part 03: 11: Conversation: Undertones is a powerful poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the underlying emotions that often go unspoken. The poem is filled with a sense of longing and unspoken emotions, which are communicated through unspoken undertones. The poem is a testament to the power of nonverbal communication and the importance of understanding emotions beyond words.

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