Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Days by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Days

Ralph Waldo Emerson1803 - 1882

Daughters of Time, the hypocritic Days,
Muffled and dumb like barefoot dervishes,
And marching single in an endless file,
Bring diadems and fagots in their hands.
To each they offer gifts after his will,
Bread, kingdom, stars, and sky that holds them all.
I, in my pleached garden, watched the pomp,
Forgot my morning wishes, hastily
Took a few herbs and apples, and the Day
Turned and departed silent. I, too late,
Under her solemn fillet saw the scorn.

As I searched long and hard through countless poems to memorize and enjoy, this one immediately caught my eye. What a simple title, and how many possible ideas it could lead to. So, I clicked on it and I read. Then I read it again. It took several readings, but I each time I understood something more about the poem that resonated with me.

I love how the poem personifies days. This poem uses similes and metaphors to liken Days to poor peasants, bringing and offering wonderful gifts to the narrator. Emerson paints a vivid image of the personified Days lumbering through the narrator's, possibly Emerson's, garden, carrying great offerings, while he sits back and watches. Instead of seizing these offerings, the narrator instead just takes "a few herbs and apples" -- normal, everyday items. And before he knows it, the Day has gone and the narrator sees too late his regret for not seizing it. I found this poem challenging not only with its vocabulary (I had to look up words such as "dervishes," diadems," "fagots," "pleached," "pomp," and "fillet") but also in its understanding as well. I immediately caught on to its personification, but the more I read, the more I saw the imagery detailed. Also, the last time I read it, I looked for any kind of meter, and noticed there is iambic pentameter in it, although it was hard to read because sometimes the stressing of the syllable does not fall where it should be.

I think a in this poem could be at the last two lines. The lines before this all describe the Days and their offerings, all they can bring, one by one "in an endless file." However, the last two lines suddenly stop short, saying how the Days "turned and departed silent." The narrator realizes "too late" that instead he should have seized the day, and feels the "scorn." Once again, day after day, the narrator does the simple action, letting the day pass by without consideration for the greater offerings. 

I love this poem because I can relate to it so much. I know that, at least for myself, too many Saturdays and Sundays I let pass by, and before I know it, it is dinner time and I have accomplished none of my goals, or nothing at all, for the day. I'm glad I stumbled upon this poem because I will always think of it and be encouraged to seize the day. Carpe diem!

2 comments:

  1. I think you make some beautiful observations about this poem. It does have such a simple title, and yet the poem itself is so complex. I was a little confused after my first reading, but your analysis has clarified the meaning for me. I can certainly relate to the way this poem relates to your life. I too find that I waste my days, so this poem serves as a welcome reminder to make the most of my time.

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  2. Abbey, thoughtful work with Emerson's poem. I now love it, too, thanks to you. Like Lillie, I had trouble moving beyond the personification of days. The last two lines, as you note, suggest the final twist. What do you make of the anastrophe in the final line (we end on "scorn" and the fact that the penultimate line is broken in the middle? A new sentence begins halfway through. Perhaps underscoring the lateness of the speaker?
    You are so right to point out the ten-syllable lines with only a few following iambic pattern. The stress generally seems to fall on the first syllable in the line, making it a trochee (stressed, unstressed) rather than an iamb.
    Worth considering why he stresses those first syllables.
    I enjoyed reading this!

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