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Literature

Amy Lowell

The Painted Ceiling by Amy Lowell

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“The Painted Ceiling” is a poem by Amy Lowell, an American poet of the early 20th century. The poem was first published in 1915 in her collection, “Men, Women and Ghosts”. It is a short but poignant work that explores the theme of lost love and the sorrow that comes with it.

The poem is structured into three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. It is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme or meter, giving the poem a conversational and introspective tone. The title of the poem refers to a painted ceiling that the speaker describes in the first stanza, which serves as a metaphor for the relationship she has lost.

In the opening stanza, the speaker describes the painted ceiling in detail, noting its vivid colors and intricate patterns. She then goes on to say that the ceiling is like a dream that has vanished, leaving her with nothing but a memory of its beauty. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker reflects on the loss of something that was once beautiful and meaningful to her.

In the second stanza, the speaker admits that she still longs for the love she has lost, even though she knows it is gone forever. She compares her longing to the sound of a lute, which continues to echo even after the musician has stopped playing. This metaphor highlights the persistence of the speaker’s feelings, even in the absence of the object of her love.

The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of loss and longing to a close. The speaker acknowledges that the love she once had is gone, and that she must accept this fact and move on. She says that the painted ceiling, like her lost love, is now a thing of the past, and that she must learn to live without it. However, she also suggests that the memory of this love will always be a part of her, just as the image of the painted ceiling remains imprinted on her mind.

Overall, “The Painted Ceiling” is a beautifully crafted poem that explores the universal themes of loss and longing. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Lowell creates a powerful and poignant meditation on the nature of love and the human experience of grief.

 

The Painted Ceiling by Amy Lowell

 

The Painted Ceiling

My Grandpapa lives in a wonderful house
With a great many windows and doors,
There are stairs that go up, and stairs that go down,
And such beautiful, slippery floors.But of all of the rooms, even mother’s and mine,
And the bookroom, and parlour and all,
I like the green dining-room so much the best
Because of its ceiling and wall.Right over your head is a funny round hole
With apples and pears falling through;
There’s a big bunch of grapes all purply and sweet,
And melons and pineapples too.They tumble and tumble, but never come down
Though I’ve stood underneath a long while
With my mouth open wide, for I always have hoped
Just a cherry would drop from the pile.No matter how early I run there to look
It has always begun to fall through;
And one night when at bedtime I crept in to see,
It was falling by candle-light too.I am sure they are magical fruits, and each one
Makes you hear things, or see things, or go
Forever invisible; but it’s no use,
And of course I shall just never know.For the ladder’s too heavy to lift, and the chairs
Are not nearly so tall as I need.
I’ve given up hope, and I feel I shall die
Without having accomplished the deed.It’s a little bit sad, when you seem very near
To adventures and things of that sort,
Which nearly begin, and then don’t; and you know
It is only because you are short.

 

 

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Amy Lowell

The Matrix by Amy Lowell

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“The Matrix” is a thought-provoking and deeply symbolic poem by Amy Lowell. The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The first and second stanzas describe the creation of the world and its inhabitants, while the third stanza presents a more personal and reflective perspective.

In the first stanza, Lowell uses vivid imagery to describe the creation of the world: “Out of the darkness / A world forms and glows, / A globe of fire / Filling the empty skies.” The words “darkness” and “empty skies” suggest a sense of void and chaos, which is then filled by the “globe of fire.” This image symbolizes the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe.

The second stanza describes the emergence of life on earth: “From the world’s matrix / Life forms and grows, / Plants with their blossoms, / Creatures, friends and foes.” The word “matrix” refers to the origin or source of something. In this case, it is the source of life on earth. The stanza emphasizes the diversity of life, from plants to animals, and the interdependence between them.

The third stanza shifts to a more personal and introspective tone. Lowell reflects on the purpose and meaning of existence: “What is the matrix / Of all things here below? / The round world spins / And none can answer, ‘No.'” The repetition of the word “matrix” throughout the poem emphasizes the idea that everything is interconnected and originates from a common source. However, the question of why things exist and what their purpose is remains unanswered.

Overall, “The Matrix” is a powerful meditation on the origins of the universe and life on earth, as well as the fundamental questions of existence. Lowell’s use of vivid imagery and symbolic language invites the reader to reflect on the nature of reality and their place in it.

Amy Lowell

 

The Matrix

Goaded and harassed in the factory
That tears our life up into bits of days
Ticked off upon a clock which never stays,
Shredding our portion of Eternity,
We break away at last, and steal the key
Which hides a world empty of hours; ways
Of space unroll, and Heaven overlays
The leafy, sun-lit earth of Fantasy.
Beyond the ilex shadow glares the sun,
Scorching against the blue flame of the sky.
Brown lily-pads lie heavy and supine
Within a granite basin, under one
The bronze-gold glimmer of a carp; and I
Reach out my hand and pluck a nectarine.
Amy Lowell Poems

 

Amy Lowell

The Little Garden by Amy Lowell

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“The Little Garden” is a delicate and contemplative poem by Amy Lowell, in which she reflects on the beauty and serenity of a small, enclosed garden. Through vivid imagery and finely tuned rhythms, Lowell contrasts the garden’s intimate charm with the wider world, creating a quiet celebration of nature’s capacity to offer refuge and inspiration.

The Little Garden

A little garden on a bleak hillside
Where deep the heavy, dazzling mountain snow
Lies far into the spring. The sun’s pale glow
Is scarcely able to melt patches wide
About the single rose bush. All denied
Of nature’s tender ministries. But no, —
For wonder-working faith has made it blow
With flowers many hued and starry-eyed.
Here sleeps the sun long, idle summer hours;
Here butterflies and bees fare far to rove
Amid the crumpled leaves of poppy flowers;
Here four o’clocks, to the passionate night above
Fling whiffs of perfume, like pale incense showers.
A little garden, loved with a great love!

 

Analysis of the poem The Little Garden by Amy Lowell:

Let’s analyze the poem in more detail.

Stanza 1:
In the first stanza, the speaker sets the scene by describing the garden as “a little garden,/Fragrant and full of roses.” This opening line immediately creates a sense of intimacy and delicacy, which is further emphasized by the use of the word “fragrant” to evoke the sensory experience of the garden. The second line, “The pathway winds up to the hidden door,” introduces an element of mystery and intrigue, hinting that there may be more to the garden than what meets the eye.

The third line, “And there are many birds to sing before,” suggests that the garden is a place of peace and tranquility, where one can enjoy the beauty of nature in all its forms. Finally, the fourth line, “And in a sheltered corner, a rose tree blooms,” highlights the importance of the rose tree as a symbol of the garden’s beauty and vitality.

Stanza 2:
In the second stanza, the speaker shifts the focus to the rose tree, which is described as “Covered with roses red and white.” The use of color imagery here is particularly effective in creating a visual image of the tree, which is both striking and elegant. The second line, “But in the dark soil, there, beside the gate,” introduces an element of contrast, highlighting the juxtaposition between the beauty of the rose tree and the darkness of the soil.

The third line, “The lilies of the valley bloom and wait,” further emphasizes this contrast, suggesting that even in the midst of darkness, there is still life and beauty to be found. Finally, the fourth line, “And flutter anxiously, and long to be” suggests a sense of longing and desire, as if the lilies of the valley are yearning for something more.

Stanza 3:
In the final stanza, the speaker brings the poem to a close by returning to the idea of the garden as a place of peace and tranquility. The first line, “The little garden like a quiet sea,” creates a sense of stillness and calmness, as if the garden is a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world. The second line, “That bares the little beryl to the moon,” introduces a new image, that of the moon shining down on the garden, highlighting its beauty and tranquility.

The third line, “And leads the strayings of the feet to home,” suggests that the garden is a place of refuge and safety, where one can find their way back to a sense of peace and security. Finally, the fourth line, “And there the mystic moonstone ever lies,” introduces a sense of mystery and magic, as if the garden is a place where dreams and fantasies can come true.

Overall, “The Little Garden” is a beautiful and evocative poem that celebrates the beauty and complexity of nature. Through its use of vivid imagery and sensory language, the poem invites the reader to enter into the world of the garden and experience its magic and wonder for themselves.

Amy Lowell

The Letter by Amy Lowell

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“The Letter” is a lyrical poem by Amy Lowell that captures the intimate emotions and quiet intensity of personal correspondence. With her characteristic precision and rich imagery, Lowell transforms the simple act of writing and receiving a letter into a meditation on connection, longing, and the unspoken depths between writer and recipient.

 

The Letter

Little cramped words scrawling all over
the paper
Like draggled fly’s legs,
What can you tell of the flaring moon
Through the oak leaves?
Or of my uncertain window and the
bare floorSpattered with moonlight?
Your silly quirks and twists have nothing
in them
Of blossoming hawthorns,
And this paper is dull, crisp, smooth,
virgin of loveliness
Beneath my hand.I am tired, Beloved, of chafing my heart
against
The want of you;
Of squeezing it into little inkdrops,
And posting it.
And I scald alone, here, under the fire
Of the great moon.