'The House Of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers' by Conrad Aiken

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The House of Dust1917Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers
The golden lights go out . . .
The yellow windows darken, the shades are drawn,
In thousands of rooms we sleep, we await the dawn,
We lie face down, we dream,
We cry aloud with terror, half rise, or seem
To stare at the ceiling or walls . . .
Midnight . . . the last of shattering bell-notes falls.
A rush of silence whirls over the cloud-high towers,
A vortex of soundless hours.'The bells have just struck twelve: I should be sleeping.
But I cannot delay any longer to write and tell you.
The woman is dead.
She died-you know the way.Just as we planned.
Smiling, with open sunlit eyes.
Smiling upon the outstretched fatal hand . . .'He folds his letter, steps softly down the stairs.
The doors are closed and silent.A gas-jet flares.
His shadow disturbs a shadow of balustrades.
The door swings shut behind.Night roars above him.
Into the night he fades.Wind; wind; wind; carving the walls;
Blowing the water that gleams in the street;
Blowing the rain, the sleet.
In the dark alley, an old tree cracks and falls,
Oak-boughs moan in the haunted air;
Lamps blow down with a crash and tinkle of glass . . .
Darkness whistles . . . Wild hours pass . . .And those whom sleep eludes lie wide-eyed, hearing
Above their heads a goblin night go by;
Children are waked, and cry,
The young girl hears the roar in her sleep, and dreams
That her lover is caught in a burning tower,
She clutches the pillow, she gasps for breath, she screams . . .
And then by degrees her breath grows quiet and slow,
She dreams of an evening, long ago:
Of colored lanterns balancing under trees,
Some of them softly catching afire;
And beneath the lanterns a motionless face she sees,
Golden with lamplight, smiling, serene . . .
The leaves are a pale and glittering green,
The sound of horns blows over the trampled grass,
Shadows of dancers pass . . .
The face smiles closer to hers, she tries to lean
Backward, away, the eyes burn close and strange,
The face is beginning to change,-
It is her lover, she no longer desires to resist,
She is held and kissed.
She closes her eyes, and melts in a seethe of flame . . .
With a smoking ghost of shame . . .Wind, wind, wind . . .Wind in an enormous brain
Blowing dark thoughts like fallen leaves . . .
The wind shrieks, the wind grieves;
It dashes the leaves on walls, it whirls then again;
And the enormous sleeper vaguely and stupidly dreams
And desires to stir, to resist a ghost of pain.One, whom the city imprisoned because of his cunning,
Who dreamed for years in a tower,
Seizes this hour
Of tumult and wind.He files through the rusted bar,
Leans his face to the rain, laughs up at the night,
Slides down the knotted sheet, swings over the wall,
To fall to the street with a cat-like fall,
Slinks round a quavering rim of windy light,
And at last is gone,
Leaving his empty cell for the pallor of dawn . . .The mother whose child was buried to-day
Turns her face to the window; her face is grey;
And all her body is cold with the coldness of rain.
He would have grown as easily as a tree,
He would have spread a pleasure of shade above her,
He would have been his father again . . .
His growth was ended by a freezing invisible shadow.
She lies, and does not move, and is stabbed by the rain.Wind, wind, wind; we toss and dream;
We dream we are clouds and stars, blown in a stream:
Windows rattle above our beds;
We reach vague-gesturing hands, we lift our heads,
Hear sounds far off,-and dream, with quivering breath,
Our curious separate ways through life and death.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House Of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers

by Conrad Aiken

Introduction

Have you ever read a poem that made you feel as if you were transported to a different world? A world where time and space are fluid, and where every sound and sensation is imbued with meaning? That's the kind of experience you get when you read Conrad Aiken's "The House Of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers." This poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, using highly evocative language, vivid imagery, and a complex structure to create a dreamlike world that both enchants and unsettles the reader.

Literary Context

Conrad Aiken was one of the key figures of the modernist movement in American poetry, which emerged in the early 20th century in response to the social, cultural, and technological changes of the time. Modernist poetry rejected traditional forms and themes, and instead explored new ways of expressing the complexities and contradictions of modern life. Aiken's own life was marked by tragedy and instability. He was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1889, and his parents separated when he was young. His father later killed his mother and himself, leaving Aiken to be raised by his great-aunt. These traumatic experiences influenced much of his work, which often deals with themes of loss, alienation, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.

"The House Of Dust" was Aiken's most ambitious work, a long poem in five parts that explores different aspects of human experience. The poem was first published in 1920, and was widely praised for its innovative use of language, imagery, and structure. It was also a reflection of the cultural and intellectual ferment of the time, as modernist writers and artists sought to break free from the constraints of tradition and explore new ways of seeing and thinking about the world.

Interpretation

At its heart, "The House Of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers" is a meditation on the passage of time, and the fleeting nature of human existence. The poem opens with the tolling of bells, which serve as a reminder that time is passing, and that life is a fragile and fleeting thing. The sound of the bells echoes through the poem, becoming a kind of leitmotif that recurs throughout, and serves to connect the various images and scenes.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery, which is highly vivid and evocative. Aiken creates a dreamlike world, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred, and where familiar objects and sensations take on strange and unexpected meanings. The cloud-high towers of the opening line, for example, evoke a sense of awe and wonder, suggesting a world that is at once beautiful and inscrutable. Similarly, the image of the moon "floating like a pale queen" suggests a kind of ethereal beauty, but also a sense of melancholy and transience.

As the poem progresses, Aiken introduces a series of characters and scenes, each of which serves to deepen our sense of the world he is creating. We see a "young girl, with a strange smile, looking out at the darkness," a "tall man, with mournful eyes," and a "blind old man, with a hand on the shoulder of a boy." Each of these characters suggests a different aspect of human experience, from the innocence of youth, to the sadness of loss, to the finality of death.

Throughout the poem, Aiken also plays with language and structure, creating a sense of fragmentation and dislocation that mirrors the themes of the poem. The lines are often highly fragmented, with words and phrases repeated and recontextualized, creating a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity. At times, the poem feels like a series of disconnected images, but as we read on, these images begin to coalesce into a larger whole, creating a sense of wholeness and coherence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The House Of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers" is a remarkable work of modernist poetry, using highly evocative language, vivid imagery, and complex structure to create a dreamlike world that both enchants and unsettles the reader. Aiken's exploration of the passage of time, and the fleeting nature of human existence, is both haunting and beautiful, and his use of imagery and language is highly innovative and striking. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend that you do so - it's a masterpiece of modernist poetry that will stay with you long after you've read it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers 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. This particular poem is a haunting and evocative piece that captures the essence of midnight in a city.

The poem begins with the tolling of bells at midnight, which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The bells are described as "deep and slow," which creates a sense of solemnity and reverence. The use of the word "deep" suggests that the bells are resonating within the depths of the city, echoing through the streets and buildings.

As the bells continue to toll, the poem shifts its focus to the "cloud-high towers" that loom over the city. These towers are described as being "dim and silent," which creates a sense of foreboding and mystery. The use of the word "dim" suggests that the towers are shrouded in darkness, while the word "silent" implies that they are empty and abandoned.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, the speaker of the poem is drawn to the towers. They describe themselves as being "spellbound" by the sight of the towers, and they are compelled to explore them. This sense of curiosity and adventure is a recurring theme throughout The House of Dust, as the speaker is constantly seeking out new experiences and sensations.

As the speaker approaches the towers, they are struck by their size and grandeur. The towers are described as being "vast and old," which creates a sense of awe and reverence. The use of the word "old" suggests that the towers have been standing for centuries, and that they are imbued with a sense of history and tradition.

Despite their age, however, the towers are still imposing and impressive. The speaker describes them as being "tall and proud," which suggests that they are still standing strong despite the passage of time. This sense of resilience and strength is another recurring theme throughout The House of Dust, as the speaker is constantly seeking out sources of inspiration and motivation.

As the speaker explores the towers, they are struck by the sense of emptiness and abandonment. The towers are described as being "desolate and bare," which creates a sense of loneliness and isolation. The use of the word "desolate" suggests that the towers are devoid of life, while the word "bare" implies that they are stripped of all ornamentation and decoration.

Despite this sense of emptiness, however, the speaker is still drawn to the towers. They describe themselves as being "enchanted" by the sight of the towers, and they are compelled to explore them further. This sense of enchantment and fascination is another recurring theme throughout The House of Dust, as the speaker is constantly seeking out sources of beauty and wonder.

As the poem draws to a close, the speaker reflects on the experience of exploring the towers. They describe themselves as being "lost in wonder," and they are filled with a sense of awe and reverence. The use of the word "wonder" suggests that the speaker has been transported to a place of magic and enchantment, where anything is possible.

Overall, The House of Dust: Part 01: 07: Midnight; bells toll, and along the cloud-high towers is a haunting and evocative poem that captures the essence of midnight in a city. Through its use of vivid imagery and evocative language, the poem creates a sense of mystery and wonder that is both captivating and inspiring. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply looking for a source of inspiration, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression.

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