Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Orientale: 5" by E.E. Cummings is a sensual and evocative poem that delves into themes of worship, beauty, and the transcendent power of love. The poem employs rich imagery and a ceremonial tone, creating an atmosphere that is both mystical and deeply intimate. Through the metaphor of burning incense, Cummings explores the act of devotion and the almost religious reverence the speaker feels for the beloved.

The poem opens with the line "unto thee i / burn incense," immediately establishing the theme of worship. Incense, often used in religious rituals, symbolizes purification, reverence, and the act of offering something sacred. The burning of incense represents the speaker's devotion, as well as the transformation of the material into the ethereal—the solid incense becoming fragrant smoke, which symbolizes the intangible qualities of love and beauty.

The bowl, in which the incense burns, "crackles," adding a sensory element that brings the scene to life. The crackling sound suggests the intensity and fervor of the speaker's devotion, as the ritual unfolds in a space that is both physical and spiritual.

Cummings then describes the scene: "upon the gloom arise purple pencils / fluent spires of fragrance." The "purple pencils" of smoke evoke delicate, slender lines rising into the air, while the "fluent spires of fragrance" suggest both the movement of the smoke and its transformation into something beautiful and intangible. Purple, a color often associated with nobility, mysticism, and spirituality, enhances the sacred atmosphere of the scene.

As the incense burns, "the bowl / seethes," and the air is filled with "a flutter of stars / a turbulence of forms." This imagery blurs the lines between the physical and the celestial, as the incense smoke becomes a medium through which the divine or the sublime can be perceived. The "flutter of stars" and "turbulence of forms" suggest a dynamic and transformative experience, one in which beauty and love are constantly shifting and evolving.

The speaker reflects on the beloved's love for incense: "i think / thou lovest incense." This line introduces a personal element, as the speaker tries to understand the beloved's preferences and desires. The "ambiguous faint aspirings" and "indolent frail ascensions" of the smoke mirror the delicate and elusive nature of the beloved's beauty and emotions. These ascensions, described as "frail," emphasize the ethereal and transient quality of the experience.

The speaker then describes how the beloved's "smile rises the immaculate / sorrow." This phrase suggests that even in the beloved's beauty, there is an undercurrent of sadness or melancholy, a "sorrow" that is "immaculate" or pure. This adds a layer of complexity to the beloved's character, as their beauty is not just a source of joy, but also of a deeper, more poignant emotion.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more intimate and physical: "my lips are vague with / ecstasy my palpitating breasts inhale the / slow / supple / flower / of thy beauty." Here, the speaker's experience of the beloved's beauty is described in deeply physical terms, with "lips," "breasts," and "inhale" suggesting a total sensory immersion in the act of worship. The "slow / supple / flower / of thy beauty" conveys the gradual unfolding and delicate nature of the beloved's appeal, which is both intoxicating and transformative.

The poem concludes with the speaker's heart "discovering" the beloved, emphasizing the connection between physical desire and spiritual fulfillment. The act of burning incense becomes a metaphor for the speaker's love, which is both a ritual and a profound, transformative experience. The final lines, "unto / whom i / burn / olbanum," reinforce the idea of offering—of giving something sacred to the beloved as a sign of devotion. Olbanum, another term for frankincense, is a fragrant resin used in ancient rituals, further emphasizing the poem's theme of sacred love.

"Orientale: 5" by E.E. Cummings is a powerful exploration of love as a form of worship, where the beloved is elevated to a near-divine status. Through the ritualistic imagery of burning incense, Cummings captures the intensity and reverence of the speaker's devotion, blending the physical and the spiritual in a way that highlights the transformative power of love and beauty. The poem invites readers to experience love not just as an emotion, but as a sacred, all-encompassing ritual that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary.

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