Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Desire is a Witch" by Cecil Day-Lewis is a profound exploration of the nature of desire, its transformative power, and its timeless essence. Through evocative imagery and rich metaphors, Day-Lewis delves into the complexities of desire, portraying it as a force that transcends the ordinary constraints of space and time, while also acknowledging its capacity to leave us vulnerable and exposed.

The poem opens with the declaration that "Desire is a witch / And runs against the clock," immediately establishing desire as a potent, almost magical force that disrupts the linear progression of time and the conventional boundaries of reality. This idea is further elaborated through the imagery of desire "unstitch[ing] / The decent hem / Where space tacks on to time," suggesting that desire can unravel the fabric of the universe, merging the physical and the metaphysical, the temporal and the eternal.

The reference to "Pandora's privacies" alludes to the myth of Pandora's box, emphasizing the dual nature of desire as both a source of untold wonders and a harbinger of unforeseen consequences. This duality is mirrored in the "Top-gallants of the mind," where desire inflates the sails of imagination, propelling the speaker into realms of thought and fantasy that are as boundless as the ocean.

The oceanic imagery continues as the speaker describes being launched by desire "Into an ocean / That the liar Lucian / Had never dared retail," referencing the ancient Greek writer known for his fantastical tales. This suggests that the experiences and emotions wrought by desire are beyond even the wildest fictions, rooted in a deeper truth that transcends mere storytelling.

Day-Lewis captures the paradoxical nature of desire in his depiction of love, portraying the beloved as both ancient and eternal, yet eternally youthful and vibrant. This timeless quality of desire is encapsulated in the comparison of the beloved to "Ararat the hill" and "the first daffodil / That ever shews a spring," symbols of permanence and renewal, respectively.

The poem's exploration of desire culminates in the imagery of the beloved's eyes, which are so profound that they could contain entire oceans without overflowing. This metaphor not only emphasizes the depth of love and desire but also hints at the boundlessness and insatiability of these emotions.

However, desire is also depicted as transient, "click[ing] back / Like cuckoo into clock," leaving the speaker to grapple with the aftermath of passion—tears, the fleeting nature of youth, and the elusive truth. Day-Lewis suggests that truth is a relative concept, defined by the depth of one's conviction or experience, as captured in the final lines that proclaim the "Philosopher-stone, desire, / Needs no other proof / Than its own fire."

"Desire is a Witch" is a lyrical meditation on the power of desire to transform, to transcend, and to trouble the human heart. Day-Lewis skillfully navigates the terrains of love, longing, and the quest for truth, offering a nuanced portrayal of desire as both a creative and destructive force, an eternal mystery that defies easy explanation or containment.

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