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'The House Of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls.The sky is grey, and sullenly glares' by Conrad Aiken


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The House of Dust1917Snow falls.The sky is grey, and sullenly glares
With purple lights in the canyoned street.
The fiery sign on the dark tower wreathes and flares . . .
The trodden grass in the park is covered with white,
The streets grow silent beneath our feet . . .
The city dreams, it forgets its past to-night.And one, from his high bright window looking down
Over the enchanted whiteness of the town,
Seeing through whirls of white the vague grey towers,
Desires like this to forget what will not pass,
The littered papers, the dust, the tarnished grass,
Grey death, stale ugliness, and sodden hours.
Deep in his heart old bells are beaten again,
Slurred bells of grief and pain,
Dull echoes of hideous times and poisonous places.
He desires to drown in a cold white peace of snow.
He desires to forget a million faces . . .In one room breathes a woman who dies of hunger.
The clock ticks slowly and stops.And no one winds it.
In one room fade grey violets in a vase.
Snow flakes faintly hiss and melt on the window.
In one room, minute by minute, the flutist plays
The lamplit page of music, the tireless scales.
His hands are trembling, his short breath fails.In one room, silently, lover looks upon lover,
And thinks the air is fire.
The drunkard swears and touches the harlot's heartstrings
With the sudden hand of desire.And one goes late in the streets, and thinks of murder;
And one lies staring, and thinks of death.
And one, who has suffered, clenches her hands despairing,
And holds her breath . . .Who are all these, who flow in the veins of the city,
Coil and revolve and dream,
Vanish or gleam?
Some mount up to the brain and flower in fire.
Some are destroyed; some die; some slowly stream.And the new are born who desire to destroy the old;
And fires are kindled and quenched; and dreams are broken,
And walls flung down . . .
And the slow night whirls in snow over towers of dreamers,
And whiteness hushes the town.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House Of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares by Conrad Aiken

Conrad Aiken's poetry is a testament to his literary prowess and imaginative mind. His work, "The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares" is a poignant depiction of the beauty and melancholy of winter. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve into the themes and literary devices used in this poem, as well as explore its deeper meanings.

Understanding the Poem

"The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares" is the eleventh poem in Part 2 of Conrad Aiken's "The House of Dust." The poem's stanzas are short, and the language is simple yet evocative. The poem explores the bleakness of winter and the sense of isolation and loneliness it can bring. The snow, the grey sky, and the sullen glare all contribute to the tone and mood of the poem.

Themes in the Poem

One of the key themes in "The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares" is that of nature's indifference. The snow falls relentlessly, regardless of whether anyone is there to witness it. The sky glares, but it does not care whether anyone is looking at it. This sense of nature's disinterest is a recurring theme in Aiken's work and is a reflection of his existentialist beliefs.

Another theme in the poem is that of isolation and loneliness. The snow and the grey sky create a sense of solitude, and the lack of human presence in the poem amplifies this feeling. The house of dust, which is mentioned in the title of the poem, is a symbol of abandonment, and it adds to the overall sense of desolation.

Literary Devices Used

Aiken employs several literary devices in "The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares." The use of personification is one of the most prominent. The snowfall is described as "softly, slowly flake by flake" falling, and the sky is personified as "sullenly" glaring. These literary devices add to the overall mood and tone of the poem, creating a sense of desolation and melancholy.

The poem also uses imagery to great effect, painting vivid pictures of the winter landscape. The snow is described as "grey and soft and sly," and the sky is portrayed as having a "dull gleam." This imagery, combined with the personification, creates a vivid sense of the winter landscape and its impact on the human psyche.

Interpretation of the Poem

"The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares" is a contemplative work, exploring the bleakness of winter and the sense of isolation and loneliness it can bring. The poem's depiction of nature's indifference is a reflection of Aiken's existentialist beliefs, which suggest that life has no inherent meaning or purpose.

The house of dust, which is mentioned in the title of the poem, is a symbol of abandonment and decay. It represents the transience and impermanence of life, and the inevitability of our eventual demise. The snow and the grey sky create a sense of solitude, highlighting the feeling of isolation that can come with the realization of our own mortality.

Aiken's use of personification and imagery in the poem is masterful. By personifying the snow and the sky, he creates a sense of foreboding and melancholy. The vivid imagery of the winter landscape, combined with the personification, creates a powerful and evocative mood that is both haunting and beautiful.

Conclusion

In "The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares," Conrad Aiken presents a powerful meditation on the bleakness of winter and the sense of isolation and loneliness it can bring. Through his use of personification and imagery, Aiken creates a vivid landscape that is haunting and evocative. The poem's themes of nature's indifference, isolation, and decay are all reflections of Aiken's existentialist beliefs and add to the poem's overall impact. "The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares" is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the beauty and melancholy of winter.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares is a classic poem written by Conrad Aiken. This poem is a part of the larger work, The House of Dust, which is a collection of poems that explore the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this particular poem, Aiken uses vivid imagery to describe the falling snow and the bleakness of the winter sky. Through his use of language and symbolism, Aiken creates a powerful and haunting portrait of a winter landscape.

The poem begins with the line, "Snow falls." This simple statement sets the tone for the entire poem. Aiken's use of the present tense creates a sense of immediacy and urgency. The reader is immediately drawn into the scene, as if they are standing outside in the falling snow themselves. The use of the word "falls" is also significant. It suggests a sense of inevitability and powerlessness. The snow is not gently drifting down, but rather falling with force and determination.

Aiken then goes on to describe the sky as "grey, and sullenly glares." This description is both vivid and unsettling. The use of the word "sullenly" suggests a sense of anger or resentment. The sky is not simply grey, but actively hostile. This creates a sense of foreboding and unease. The reader is left with the impression that something ominous is about to happen.

As the poem continues, Aiken uses a series of vivid images to describe the falling snow. He writes, "The snow falls; / The flakes spin slowly down; / They swirl, and vanish silently." These lines create a sense of movement and motion. The snow is not simply falling, but swirling and spinning. This creates a sense of chaos and confusion. The snowflakes are also described as vanishing silently. This creates a sense of emptiness and loneliness. The snow is falling, but there is no sound. This creates a sense of isolation and detachment.

Aiken then goes on to describe the landscape. He writes, "No sound, / No faintest whisper of any voice awake; / But silence, silence, and eternal snow." These lines create a sense of desolation and emptiness. The landscape is silent and still. There is no sign of life or activity. The snow is eternal, suggesting a sense of permanence and unchangingness. This creates a sense of hopelessness and despair.

As the poem continues, Aiken uses a series of powerful symbols to create a sense of meaning and depth. He writes, "And through the stillness, like a sudden lance, / The frail white stars begin to glimmer and dance." This image creates a sense of contrast. The stars are fragile and delicate, while the snow is harsh and unyielding. The stars are also described as dancing, creating a sense of movement and life. This creates a sense of hope and possibility.

Aiken then goes on to describe the moon. He writes, "Whiter than snow it gleams; / Like snow it silently falls." This image creates a sense of unity and harmony. The moon is described as being whiter than snow, suggesting a sense of purity and innocence. The moon is also described as falling silently, creating a sense of peace and tranquility. This creates a sense of hope and optimism.

In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 02: 11: Snow falls. The sky is grey, and sullenly glares is a powerful and haunting poem. Through his use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Conrad Aiken creates a sense of desolation and despair. The falling snow and the bleak winter sky create a sense of foreboding and unease. However, Aiken also creates a sense of hope and possibility through his use of delicate symbols such as the stars and the moon. This creates a sense of balance and harmony, suggesting that even in the midst of despair, there is always hope.

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