'The House Of Dust: Part 02: 09: Interlude' by Conrad Aiken

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

The House of Dust1917The days, the nights, flow one by one above us,
The hours go silently over our lifted faces,
We are like dreamers who walk beneath a sea.
Beneath high walls we flow in the sun together.
We sleep, we wake, we laugh, we pursue, we flee.We sit at tables and sip our morning coffee,
We read the papers for tales of lust or crime.
The door swings shut behind the latest comer.
We set our watches, regard the time.What have we done?I close my eyes, remember
The great machine whose sinister brain before me
Smote and smote with a rhythmic beat.
My hands have torn down walls, the stone and plaster.
I dropped great beams to the dusty street.My eyes are worn with measuring cloths of purple,
And golden cloths, and wavering cloths, and pale.
I dream of a crowd of faces, white with menace.
Hands reach up to tear me.My brain will fail.Here, where the walls go down beneath our picks,
These walls whose windows gap against the sky,
Atom by atom of flesh and brain and marble
Will build a glittering tower before we die . . .The young boy whistles, hurrying down the street,
The young girl hums beneath her breath.
One goes out to beauty, and does not know it.
And one goes out to death.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House of Dust: Part 02: 09: Interlude by Conrad Aiken

Oh my goodness, where do I even begin with this piece of poetry? The House of Dust: Part 02: 09: Interlude by Conrad Aiken is an absolute masterpiece that is sure to leave any reader in awe. From the beautiful language to the intricate descriptions, this poem is a true work of art.

First and foremost, the title itself is intriguing. What could an "interlude" possibly mean in the context of a poem about a house of dust? It immediately draws the reader in, curious to see what awaits them within the lines of the poem.

The poem begins with the line "The trees are dark in the twilight, / The fireflies flitter in the lawn", immediately setting a peaceful and almost magical scene. The imagery is so vivid that one can almost feel the gentle breeze and see the fireflies dancing around. It's as if the reader is transported to this house of dust themselves, experiencing the beauty and calmness that surrounds it.

As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on the past and the memories that the house holds. The line "The owl calls in the dusky park, / And glimmering insects far and near / Are faintly heard in the meadow grass" creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for simpler times.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "And there was a fragrance in the air" is repeated multiple times throughout the poem, emphasizing the importance of scent and how it can evoke memories and emotions. The repetition adds a musical quality to the poem and draws the reader in even further.

The speaker goes on to describe the different rooms of the house and the memories that are associated with them. The line "Here in this room she died, and soul / Took flight on the wings of a music, heard / Only by her, only by me" is particularly powerful, as it highlights the idea that some things can only be experienced by certain people. The music that the speaker and the deceased woman heard was special and unique to them, and can never be replicated.

The final stanza of the poem is absolutely breathtaking. The line "And the scent of her hair is here / Like a wandering ghost that will not depart" is hauntingly beautiful and adds a sense of melancholy to the poem. It's as if the scent is a reminder of the woman who once lived in the house, and how her presence is still felt even after she's gone.

Overall, The House of Dust: Part 02: 09: Interlude by Conrad Aiken is a stunning piece of poetry that showcases the power of language and imagery. It's a poem that stays with the reader long after they've finished reading it, and leaves them thinking about the memories and emotions that are associated with certain places and scents. If you're a fan of poetry, this is definitely a piece that you don't want to miss.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 02: 09: Interlude by Conrad Aiken is a classic poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and the passage of time. 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, death, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this particular poem, and how it contributes to the overall message of the collection.

The poem begins with the lines, "The trees are dark, / The sky is silver-grey, / The moon is but a silver horn / That lights the way." These lines set the tone for the poem, which is one of melancholy and reflection. The speaker is observing the world around them, and the imagery of the dark trees and silver-grey sky creates a sense of stillness and quietness. The moon, which is described as a "silver horn," is a symbol of beauty and mystery, and it serves as a guiding light for the speaker.

As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on the past and the memories that they hold dear. They say, "I have remembered much, / And though sometimes these things / May seem to me of little worth, / One image clings." This image is that of a woman, who the speaker describes as "fair and young." The woman is a symbol of love and beauty, and she represents a time in the speaker's life when everything was perfect and full of promise.

However, as the poem progresses, the speaker acknowledges that time has passed, and that the woman is no longer with them. They say, "But all the rest is gone. / The body-sweetness, and the laughter, / And the warm fragrance of / The breast that trembled to my mouth." These lines are heartbreaking, as they capture the pain of loss and the realization that everything is fleeting. The speaker is left with only memories, and even those are fading with time.

Despite the sadness of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and acceptance. The speaker acknowledges that life is full of ups and downs, and that everything is impermanent. They say, "And yet I know / That she is not too far / For in a room / She haunts, and still is." This line suggests that even though the woman is gone, her spirit lives on, and she is still a part of the speaker's life in some way.

The final lines of the poem are some of the most beautiful and poignant. The speaker says, "And there the moon-bright solitude / Is all about her, and the breeze / Brings to her ear, as if from out / The very walls, her memories." These lines capture the essence of the poem, which is that even though the woman is gone, her memory lives on, and she is still a part of the speaker's life. The moon-bright solitude is a symbol of the beauty and mystery of life, and the memories that the speaker holds dear are a reminder of the love and joy that they once experienced.

In conclusion, The House of Dust: Part 02: 09: Interlude by Conrad Aiken is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and the passage of time. The imagery and symbolism in the poem create a sense of stillness and quietness, and the speaker's reflections on the past and the memories that they hold dear are both heartbreaking and hopeful. This poem is a testament to the power of love and the human spirit, and it serves as a reminder that even though everything is impermanent, the memories that we hold dear can last a lifetime.

Editor Recommended Sites

Personal Knowledge Management: Learn to manage your notes, calendar, data with obsidian, roam and freeplane
Learn Devops: Devops philosphy and framework implementation. Devops organization best practice
Deep Dive Video: Deep dive courses for LLMs, machine learning and software engineering
Developer Flashcards: Learn programming languages and cloud certifications using flashcards
Crypto Gig - Crypto remote contract jobs: Find remote contract jobs for crypto smart contract development, security, audit and custody

Recommended Similar Analysis

Elephant Poem by Judy Grahn analysis
The Dresser by Walt Whitman analysis
Putting in the Seed by Robert Lee Frost analysis
In Midnight Sleep by Walt Whitman analysis
Elegy by Jorge Luis Borges analysis
Prisoner , The by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Autumn , The by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
A Pact by Ezra Pound analysis
Sound and Sense by Alexander Pope analysis
The Broken Heart by John Donne analysis