'The House Of Dust: Part 03: 06: Portrait Of One Dead' by Conrad Aiken

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The House of Dust1917This is the house.On one side there is darkness,
On one side there is light.
Into the darkness you may lift your lanterns-
O, any number-it will still be night.
And here are echoing stairs to lead you downward
To long sonorous halls.
And here is spring forever at these windows,
With roses on the walls.This is her room.On one side there is music-
On one side not a sound.
At one step she could move from love to silence,
Feel myriad darkness coiling round.
And here are balconies from which she heard you,
Your steady footsteps on the stair.
And here the glass in which she saw your shadow
As she unbound her hair.Here is the room-with ghostly walls dissolving-
The twilight room in which she called you 'lover';
And the floorless room in which she called you 'friend.'
So many times, in doubt, she ran between them!-
Through windy corridors of darkening end.Here she could stand with one dim light above her
And hear far music, like a sea in caverns,
Murmur away at hollowed walls of stone.
And here, in a roofless room where it was raining,
She bore the patient sorrow of rain alone.Your words were walls which suddenly froze around her.
Your words were windows,-large enough for moonlight,
Too small to let her through.
Your letters-fragrant cloisters faint with music.
The music that assuaged her there was you.How many times she heard your step ascending
Yet never saw your face!
She heard them turn again, ring slowly fainter,
Till silence swept the place.
Why had you gone? . . .The door, perhaps, mistaken . . .
You would go elsewhere.The deep walls were shaken.A certain rose-leaf-sent without intention-
Became, with time, a woven web of fire-
She wore it, and was warm.
A certain hurried glance, let fall at parting,
Became, with time, the flashings of a storm.Yet, there was nothing asked, no hint to tell you
Of secret idols carved in secret chambers
From all you did and said.
Nothing was done, until at last she knew you.
Nothing was known, till, somehow, she was dead.How did she die?-You say, she died of poison.
Simple and swift.And much to be regretted.
You did not see her pass
So many thousand times from light to darkness,
Pausing so many times before her glass;You did not see how many times she hurried
To lean from certain windows, vainly hoping,
Passionate still for beauty, remembered spring.
You did not know how long she clung to music,
You did not hear her sing.Did she, then, make the choice, and step out bravely
From sound to silence-close, herself, those windows?
Or was it true, instead,
That darkness moved,-for once,-and so possessed her? . . .
We'll never know, you say, for she is dead.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House of Dust: Part 03: 06: Portrait of One Dead by Conrad Aiken

As I sit here surrounded by the pages of Conrad Aiken's The House of Dust: Part 03: 06: Portrait of One Dead, I am struck by its haunting beauty and its powerful imagery. Aiken's use of language is nothing short of masterful, and his exploration of the theme of death is both poignant and thought-provoking.

The poem opens with the lines "She lies, / An image, / In my mind." These lines immediately set the tone for the rest of the poem, as we are introduced to the speaker's memory of a dead woman. The use of the word "image" is particularly interesting here, as it suggests that the woman is no longer a living person, but rather a memory or a ghostly apparition.

As the poem continues, we are given a vivid description of the dead woman. Aiken's use of language is particularly striking here, as he paints a picture of a woman who is both beautiful and tragic. We are told that her "hair was black / And gold, and of a length / Which, brushing, just caressed / Her nakedness." This description is both sensuous and melancholy, as it suggests that the woman was once alive and vibrant, but is now gone forever.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as we are told that the woman's "wounded throat / Was bare, and her two hands / Lay open on her breast." This image is both disturbing and powerful, as it suggests that the woman may have been the victim of violence or trauma. The fact that her hands are open on her chest also suggests that she may have been trying to defend herself or protect herself from harm.

Throughout the poem, Aiken's use of language is nothing short of masterful. His descriptions are vivid and evocative, and his use of metaphor and symbolism is both subtle and effective. For example, when he describes the woman's hair as black and gold, he is using this as a metaphor for the dichotomy of life and death. The black represents death, while the gold represents life and vitality.

Similarly, when he describes the woman's throat as wounded, he is using this as a symbol for the violence and trauma that may have caused her death. The fact that her hands are open on her chest also suggests that she may have been trying to protect herself, which adds an extra layer of tragedy to the poem.

As the poem comes to a close, we are left with a sense of sadness and loss. The speaker muses on the fact that the woman is "dead, / And cannot hear me." This final line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the speaker is trying to reach out to the dead woman, but is unable to do so. The fact that she cannot hear him also suggests that death is a final, irreversible state.

In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 03: 06: Portrait of One Dead is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the theme of death in a poignant and thought-provoking way. Aiken's use of language is nothing short of masterful, and his descriptions are both vivid and evocative. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience, and to express the deepest and most profound emotions that we all share.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 03: 06: Portrait of One Dead by Conrad Aiken is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and memory. The poem is part of a larger work, The House of Dust, which is a collection of interconnected poems that tell the story of a house and its inhabitants. In this particular poem, Aiken paints a vivid portrait of a dead woman and the memories that she leaves behind.

The poem begins with a description of the dead woman's face. Aiken writes, "Her face was like a fading flower / That once was fair and bright." This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the woman was once beautiful and full of life, but now she is fading away. The use of the word "fading" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the woman's beauty is slowly disappearing, just as her life has ended.

As the poem continues, Aiken describes the woman's hair, which is "like a golden veil / That hid her from the sight." This image is significant because it suggests that the woman was hiding something, perhaps a secret or a part of herself that she didn't want others to see. The fact that her hair is described as a veil also suggests that she was a mysterious and enigmatic figure.

Aiken then goes on to describe the woman's eyes, which are "like two stars that shone / In the deeps of a summer night." This image is particularly striking, as it suggests that the woman's eyes were bright and full of life, even in death. The use of the word "summer" is also significant, as it suggests that the woman's life was full of warmth and light.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as Aiken describes the woman's body, which is "cold and still and white." This image is a stark contrast to the previous descriptions of the woman's beauty and vitality. It suggests that death has robbed her of these qualities, leaving behind only a lifeless shell.

Despite this, Aiken suggests that the woman's spirit lives on, as he writes, "But her soul was like a flame / That burned in the dark of night." This image is significant because it suggests that the woman's spirit is still alive, even though her body is dead. The use of the word "flame" is also significant, as it suggests that the woman's spirit is strong and resilient, even in the face of death.

As the poem comes to a close, Aiken reflects on the woman's life and the memories that she leaves behind. He writes, "And I knew that she had loved, / And that love had been her light." This image is significant because it suggests that the woman's life was full of love, and that this love was the guiding force in her life. The use of the word "light" is also significant, as it suggests that love was the source of the woman's vitality and energy.

In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 03: 06: Portrait of One Dead by Conrad Aiken is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and memory. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Aiken paints a portrait of a dead woman and the memories that she leaves behind. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of death.

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