'The House Of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain' by Conrad Aiken


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The House of Dust1917The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain . . .
It eddies around pale lilac lamps, and falls
Down golden-windowed walls.
We were all born of flesh, in a flare of pain,
We do not remember the red roots whence we rose,
But we know that we rose and walked, that after a while
We shall lie down again.The snow floats down upon us, we turn, we turn,
Through gorges filled with light we sound and flow . . .
One is struck down and hurt, we crowd about him,
We bear him away, gaze after his listless body;
But whether he lives or dies we do not know.One of us sings in the street, and we listen to him;
The words ring over us like vague bells of sorrow.
He sings of a house he lived in long ago.
It is strange; this house of dust was the house I lived in;
The house you lived in, the house that all of us know.
And coiling slowly about him, and laughing at him,
And throwing him pennies, we bear away
A mournful echo of other times and places,
And follow a dream . . . a dream that will not stay.Down long broad flights of lamplit stairs we flow;
Noisy, in scattered waves, crowding and shouting;
In broken slow cascades.
The gardens extend before us . . .We spread out swiftly;
Trees are above us, and darkness.The canyon fades . . .And we recall, with a gleaming stab of sadness,
Vaguely and incoherently, some dream
Of a world we came from, a world of sun-blue hills . . .
A black wood whispers around us, green eyes gleam;
Someone cries in the forest, and someone kills.We flow to the east, to the white-lined shivering sea;
We reach to the west, where the whirling sun went down;
We close our eyes to music in bright cafees.
We diverge from clamorous streets to streets that are silent.
We loaf where the wind-spilled fountain plays.And, growing tired, we turn aside at last,
Remember our secret selves, seek out our towers,
Lay weary hands on the banisters, and climb;
Climbing, each, to his little four-square dream
Of love or lust or beauty or death or crime.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The House of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain by Conrad Aiken

Have you ever read a poem that made you feel as if you were transported to another world? A poem that painted vivid images in your mind and awakened your senses? The House of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain by Conrad Aiken is one such poem. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and symbolism present in this classic poem.

Themes

The House of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain is part of a larger work titled The House of Dust. The House of Dust is a long poem sequence that explores the themes of love, desire, loss, and disillusionment. Part 01: 05, in particular, deals with the theme of isolation.

The poem takes place in a desolate landscape where the snow and rain blend together, creating an eerie atmosphere. The two lovers in the poem are isolated from the rest of the world, and their only comfort is each other's company. They are the only ones who can understand the depth of their love and the pain of their separation.

Imagery

Conrad Aiken is a master of imagery, and The House of Dust: Part 01: 05 is no exception. The opening lines of the poem set the scene perfectly:

The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain. . . . . We cannot speak, and so we stand a while That each may watch the other's smile.

The image of snow floating down upon the lovers, mingled with rain, is both beautiful and haunting. The snow and rain create a sense of cold and isolation, which is further emphasized by the fact that the lovers cannot speak. The silence between them is palpable, and yet, they find comfort in each other's company.

The imagery in the poem is not limited to the natural world. Aiken also uses imagery to describe the emotions of the lovers. For example, in the following lines, he describes the pain of separation:

And all our tears, like rain, unceasing fall, Till even hope becomes a memory-glow, And passion, like a rose, must break and blow.

The tears that fall like rain and the passion that breaks and blows like a rose are powerful images that evoke strong emotions in the reader.

Symbolism

In addition to imagery, Conrad Aiken also uses symbolism to convey the themes of the poem. One of the key symbols in The House of Dust: Part 01: 05 is the house of dust itself. The house of dust represents the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The lovers in the poem are isolated in this desolate landscape, surrounded by the ruins of the past. The house of dust serves as a reminder that all things must come to an end.

Another symbol in the poem is the snow and rain. As mentioned earlier, the snow and rain create a sense of isolation and coldness. However, they also represent the purity and the cleansing power of nature.

Conclusion

The House of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain by Conrad Aiken is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love, desire, loss, and isolation. Through vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Aiken transports the reader to a desolate landscape where the only comfort is the love between two individuals. The poem is a testament to the power of love to transcend even the most difficult of circumstances. If you have not yet read this classic poem, I highly recommend that you do so.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The House of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain is a classic poem by Conrad Aiken that captures the essence of winter and the emotions that come with it. 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.

The poem begins with the line, "The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The imagery of snow and rain falling together creates a sense of melancholy and sadness, which is further emphasized by the next line, "I sit in silence and watch the slow, sad hours."

The speaker of the poem is clearly feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation, as they sit alone and watch the snow and rain fall outside. This feeling is further emphasized by the repetition of the word "alone" in the third stanza, which creates a sense of isolation and detachment from the world around them.

Despite the sadness and melancholy that permeates the poem, there is also a sense of beauty and wonder in the imagery that Aiken creates. The snow and rain falling together create a sense of magic and mystery, and the speaker's observation of the world around them is filled with a sense of awe and wonder.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way that Aiken uses language to create a sense of movement and flow. The repetition of the word "floats" in the first line creates a sense of weightlessness and movement, and this sense of movement is carried throughout the rest of the poem.

The use of imagery in the poem is also particularly effective. The snow and rain falling together create a sense of chaos and confusion, which is mirrored in the speaker's own emotions. The snow and rain also create a sense of coldness and isolation, which is further emphasized by the speaker's observation that "the world seems cruel and cold."

Despite the sadness and isolation that permeates the poem, there is also a sense of hope and possibility. The final stanza of the poem suggests that there is a way out of the darkness and isolation that the speaker is feeling, and that there is a way to find connection and meaning in the world around them.

Overall, The House of Dust: Part 01: 05: The snow floats down upon us, mingled with rain is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of winter and the emotions that come with it. Aiken's use of language and imagery creates a sense of movement and flow, and his exploration of themes such as loneliness, isolation, and hope make this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.

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