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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"As One Who Wanders into Old Workings" by Cecil Day-Lewis is a richly allegorical poem that juxtaposes the exploration of physical darkness within the earth's old mines with the quest for enlightenment and transformation. Through this exploration, Day-Lewis delves into themes of struggle, hope, and the human desire for liberation and renewal. The poem begins with an image of an individual entering old mine workings, seeking refuge from the heat of the day, only to find the way barred and the path dangerous. The physical journey through the dark, constricted spaces of the mine becomes a metaphor for psychological and spiritual journeying. The description of moving forward "as tide to the moon's nod, As mouth to breast in blindness is beckoned" suggests an instinctual, elemental progression towards an unknown destination, driven by deep-seated needs and fears. The sense of claustrophobia and anxiety is palpable as "Nightmare nags at his elbow and narrows / Horizon to pinpoint, hope to hand's breadth." Time itself becomes a physical presence in the form of a stalactite, emphasizing the slow, painstaking nature of the journey and the absence of external markers of progress. The wanderer's longing for an "opening" signifies a desperate need for escape, for a transition from darkness to light, from confinement to the expansive "lap of light." Transitioning from the individual's journey, the poem expands its scope to a collective quest for a "new world through old workings," where hope and potential lie dormant, waiting to be unearthed. This shift introduces a more optimistic vision, suggesting that within the depths of darkness lie the seeds of future growth and enlightenment. The likening of the explorers to "Jesuits in jungle" carrying "Christ's assurance, arts of agriculture" to "brutish tribes" introduces themes of missionary zeal and the civilizing mission. This imagery evokes the idea of bringing light, knowledge, and salvation to uncharted territories, both literal and metaphorical. The journey through darkness is not only a personal quest but also a communal endeavor to cultivate and enlighten. The final stanzas employ the metaphor of a train "feeling current flashed from far-off dynamos," propelled by forces beyond its immediate surroundings. This image symbolizes the momentum of collective human endeavor, guided by invisible, yet powerful, influences. The poem concludes with a triumphant emergence from darkness into light, from the subterranean to the open plain, encapsulating the transformative potential of human exploration and discovery. "As One Who Wanders into Old Workings" is a profound meditation on the human condition, characterized by a relentless pursuit of meaning, liberation, and renewal. Day-Lewis masterfully intertwines imagery of the earth's hidden depths with the spiritual and intellectual quests that define our existence, ultimately affirming the resilience of the human spirit in the face of darkness and the unknown.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BATTLE OF BRITAIN by CECIL DAY LEWIS BIRTHDAY POEM FOR THOMAS HARDY by CECIL DAY LEWIS FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS HAIL TEESSIDE! by CECIL DAY LEWIS MY MOTHER'S SISTER by CECIL DAY LEWIS O DREAMS, O DESTINATIONS by CECIL DAY LEWIS ON NOT SAYING EVERYTHING by CECIL DAY LEWIS SHEEPDOG TRIALS IN HYDE PARK; FOR ROBERT FROST by CECIL DAY LEWIS THE SITTING by CECIL DAY LEWIS |
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