Black Vespers Pageants

By Madison Julius Cawein

Lyric Poem
    The day, all fierce with carmine, turns     An Indian face towards Earth and dies;     The west, like some gaunt vase, inurns     Its ashes under smouldering skies,     Athwart whose bowl one red cloud streams,     Strange as a shape some Aztec dreams.     Now shadows mass above the world,     And night comes on with wind and rain;     The mulberry-colored leaves are hurled     Like frantic hands against the pane.     And through the forests, bending low,     Night stalks like some gigantic woe.     In hollows where the thistle shakes     A hoar bloom like a witch's-light,     From weed and flower the rain-wind rakes     Dead sweetness as a wildman might,     From out the leaves, the woods among,     Dig some dead woman, fair and young.     Now let me walk the woodland ways,     Alone! except for thoughts, that are     Akin to such wild nights and days;     A portion of the storm that far     Fills Heaven and Earth tumultuously,     And my own soul with ecstasy.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a vivid portrayal of nature's powerful and dramatic transformation from day to night. A strong theme throughout is the ephemeral beauty and wildness of nature, depicted through effective use of evocative imagery and metaphor. The day is personified as an "Indian face" that turns towards Earth and dies, while the night is portrayed as a "gigantic woe" stalking the forests. This anthropomorphism gives the natural world a sense of agency, intensifying its wild and untamed aura.

The tone of the poem is intense and somewhat melancholic, reflecting the fierce beauty and inherent sadness in the transience of time and the inevitability of change. The structure, consisting of four stanzas each with a clear focus, provides a sense of progression from the fiery sunset to the stormy night. The poet's use of rich, sensory language and striking metaphors, such as the "mulberry-colored leaves" being "hurled like frantic hands against the pane", creates an immersive and emotionally charged atmosphere. Notable is the use of color to enhance the imagery - carmine, smouldering, mulberry, and hoar - purveying the visual intensity of the scenes.

The final stanza reveals the speaker's desire to fully immerse themselves in this wildness, to be alone except for thoughts that are "akin to such wild nights and days". This suggests a deep connection between the speaker's inner emotional state and the tumult of the natural world, revealing a theme of unity between the human spirit and nature. The poem ends on a note of ecstasy, indicating that the speaker finds a kind of sublime joy in this unity and in the wild, untamed beauty of nature.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.