Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Discordants: 5" by Conrad Aiken is a poignant and atmospheric poem that explores themes of separation, longing, and the stark contrast between the immediate environment and the internal world of the speaker. The poem vividly juxtaposes the bustling, urban setting with the serene, distant seascape, reflecting the emotional distance between the speaker and the beloved.

The poem begins with the speaker in a "noisy street," where the sunlight is described as "sifting" through to "yellow the pallid faces" of the city crowd. This urban scene is depicted as overwhelming and somewhat oppressive, with the sunlight failing to fully penetrate the dense environment.

Suddenly, the speaker closes their eyes and is transported in imagination to a far-off seascape. The "cool faint spray" and "breath on my cheek" from the "tumbling breakers and foam" provide a stark contrast to the stifling city. This sensory shift to the sea is not just a physical contrast but also an emotional one, suggesting a longing for the freedom and openness that the sea represents.

The imagery of "Gulls in the high wind whistling, flashing waters, / Smoke from the flashing waters blown on rocks" further enhances the vivid contrast between the natural, untamed seascape and the confined, urban setting. It evokes a sense of wildness and purity that is absent in the city.

The final stanza brings a poignant realization: "And I know once more, / O dearly belovèd, that all these seas are between us." This line metaphorically represents the emotional and possibly physical distance separating the speaker from their beloved. The sea, with its "tumult and madness," becomes a symbol of the barriers and challenges that keep them apart.

The contrast between the speaker being in the noisy street and the beloved being on the "farther shore" accentuates the sense of longing and isolation. The sea, typically a symbol of vastness and connection, here underscores the separation and unbridgeable distance between the speaker and their beloved.

In summary, "Discordants: 5" is a beautifully crafted poem that captures the sense of longing and emotional separation through vivid juxtapositions of setting and mood. Aiken's use of contrasting imagery and the metaphor of the sea effectively conveys the depth of the speaker's yearning and the profound sense of distance that characterizes their emotional state.

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