Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Orientale: 4" by E.E. Cummings is a vivid and surreal exploration of obsession, desire, and the intense emotions that come with the fear of losing a loved one. The poem takes the reader through a series of dreamlike scenarios in which the speaker repeatedly chases and captures the beloved, who takes on various forms in an attempt to escape. Each transformation of the beloved into natural or celestial objects symbolizes the elusiveness of love and the lengths to which the speaker will go to maintain possession.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the beloved directly, "listen / beloved," which immediately sets a tone of intimacy and urgency. The repetition of "I dreamed" throughout the poem emphasizes that the events described are occurring in the realm of the subconscious, where emotions and desires are amplified and take on symbolic forms.

In the first stanza, the beloved transforms into "a great / lily atilt on / insolent / waters," an image that combines beauty with a sense of defiance. The lily, often associated with purity and tranquility, is here described as being on "insolent waters," suggesting a resistance or an attempt to escape the speaker's grasp. However, the speaker, driven by the awareness of the beloved's "fragrance," pursues her, riding "upon / a horse of porphyry into the / waters." The use of "porphyry," a purple-red stone often associated with royalty and power, enhances the mythical and grandiose nature of the chase. The speaker's determination is evident as he describes riding down the "red / horse shrieking from splintering / foam," a violent and intense image that contrasts with the gentle nature of the lily.

The next dream sequence sees the beloved transforming into "a little bird" that hides "in a tree of tall marble." The bird, a symbol of freedom and delicacy, is now hiding in a cold, impenetrable environment ("tall marble"). Yet, the speaker is undeterred, distinguishing the bird's "singing" from afar. He rides upon "a scarlet sunset," trampling the night, and eventually captures the bird, "strained you / broke you upon my blood." The imagery here is both violent and passionate, reflecting the speaker's overwhelming need to possess the beloved, even if it means breaking her spirit.

In the final dream sequence, the beloved attempts the ultimate escape by becoming "a star in the kingdom / of heaven." The transformation into a star, a celestial and untouchable entity, represents the beloved's ultimate attempt to distance herself from the speaker. However, the speaker remains relentless, pursuing her "through day and space" and riding "upon a thousand crimson years arched with agony." The use of "crimson years" and "arched with agony" conveys the immense emotional pain and the passage of time involved in this pursuit. The imagery suggests that the speaker's obsession is both timeless and all-consuming.

The climax of the poem occurs when the speaker reins in his pursuit "tottering before / the throne" and confronts the "automaton moon," a cold, mechanical symbol of the divine or the unattainable. Despite the cosmic scale of this dream, the speaker ultimately succeeds in capturing the beloved, "picked you / as an apple is picked by the little peasants for their girls." This final image brings the narrative back to earth, contrasting the grandiosity of the previous scenes with a simple, humble act. The comparison of the beloved to an apple, a common symbol of temptation and desire, suggests that the speaker's pursuit was driven by a deeply human and primal need.

"Orientale: 4" is a powerful and haunting poem that delves into the complexities of desire, possession, and the fear of loss. Through a series of rich and surreal dreamscapes, Cummings explores the lengths to which the speaker will go to maintain a connection with the beloved, even if it means resorting to violence or breaking the very thing he loves. The poem's imagery is both beautiful and unsettling, reflecting the dual nature of love as both a source of deep connection and a force that can drive one to obsessive and destructive behavior.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...