The Death of Lovers, #3

We shall have beds full of subtle perfumes,
Divans as deep as graves, and on the shelves
Will be strange flowers that blossomed for us
Under more beautiful heavens.

Using their dying flames emulously,
Our two hearts will be two immense torches
Which will reflect their double light
In our two souls, those twin mirrors.

Some evening made of rose and of mystical blue
A single flash will pass between us
Like a long sob, charged with farewells;

And later an Angel, setting the doors ajar,
Faithful and joyous, will come to revive
The tarnished mirrors, the extinguished flames.

This poem has a lot of alliteration.  Alliteration, being where a lot of words sound alike rather than being the same word, can be found between “perfumes” and “us”,  with the “s” sound.  “heavens” and “shelves” with the “v” sound. “emulously” and “light” with the “l” sound. “torches” and “mirrors” with both the “r” sound and the “s” sound…etc.  This effect definitely makes the poem fit together more and makes it seem as if this poem was planned by God in which the syntax, subtly  fits with eachother.

The overall mood that I am getting from this poem, gives me a sense of passion, foreig,  burning,  and forbidden love and mournful. Words that give me the impression of deep love or passion are “perfumes” “divans” “deep”   “beautiful” “heavens”   “hearts” “immense” “torches”    “souls”  “twin mirrors”. WOrds that give me the impression of foreignity are”shelves” “strange”   and mystical”. Words that give me the impression of mourning are  “dying” “pass” “sob” “farewells” “tarnished” “extinguished”

Ode to Mrs. Mason, #2

Tell them, though ’tis an awful thing to die (‘Twas ev’n to thee) yet the dread path once trod, Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high And bids “the pure in heart behold their God.”

The title of this poem alludes that we are speaking of  an elderly lady, because of the title “mrs”.  It is interesting to me to read this, because the idea of death is always one that is sure to catch just about anyone’s attention.  Tell them, makes the poem seem very urgent and important.  Then the poem starts to become very grave by saying “though tis an awful thing to do” which forsets the mood and ties together the idea of an ode to mrs. mason.  Twas even to thee, suggests that it is an awful thing for anyone to die no matter who you are.   Death is scary, is what the poem is suggesting.  Then, the poem turns to a different view, and says yet the dread path once trod..   THis simply suggests that life itself is very dreadful, and perhaps just as dreadful as death.  To a non-christian, or to anyone who does not have the mind set of “HAPPY DEATH DAY”, this poem a very … “grave” statement.  However, the mood switches quite a bit, with the next few lines.  “Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high And bids “the pure in heart behold their God.”   This line is saying that after the dreaded death, a Christian’s soul is then brought to heaven and life  is great. This fits the sermon i just listened to very well.

The Dying Christian to His Soul, Blog #1

Vital spark of heav'nly flame!
Quit, O quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.

Hark! they whisper; angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away!
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirit, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?

The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav'n opens my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy victory?
O Death! where is thy sting?

This poem is not exactly what I had expected.
However, this poem is exactly what the title suggests.  Rather than the poem being
about Christianity and the consequences of life's choices by the time death has
arrived, as I would have expected, this poem is true to its title.  This poem is
by a man talking talking to his soul.  The poem's title "Christian", is there
because it is being told by a Christian man.  The fact that the author, or speaker
is a Christian affects the Point of View, according to literary theory, in a way that
shows the reader the view of death in a Christian's perspective.  Certain aspects in
the poem that separate the Christian man's view of death from a normal man's view of
death lies in the last two lines of this poem.
O Grave! where is thy victory?
O Death! where is thy sting?
These two lines show the Christian Man's anticipation of their judgement. It is the
Christian Man's anticipation of now that he is dead, can he declare victory and marry jesus?
Or, will he be eternally stung by hell?