Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's "Lines to Music" is a poem that intertwines themes of destiny, nature, and the enigmatic forces that shape life. Through its rich imagery and commanding tone, the poem invites the reader to reflect on the mysteries of existence and the roles we play in the unfolding drama of life.

The poem opens with the imperative, "Ride out at midnight, / You will meet your sun." This line immediately establishes a sense of urgency and purpose, suggesting that the journey the reader is about to undertake is one of discovery and revelation. The notion of riding out at midnight, a time traditionally associated with darkness and the unknown, implies venturing into the unknown in search of enlightenment or a deeper truth, symbolized by "your sun."

Durrell then presents a series of enigmatic questions: "Into what arsenal now seem fallen / The germs of the plum and the peppercorn?" These lines evoke the idea of seeds, both literal and metaphorical, that have been stored or lost in some "arsenal"—a place associated with weapons and power. The contrast between the natural (plum, peppercorn) and the military (arsenal) suggests that even the most potent forces of nature are subject to the same processes of decay and transformation as those of human conflict. The "germs" here represent potential, the seeds of life and death that are inherently linked in the cycle of existence.

"The born and the unborn will report / What poison licks the wheat, / Or in the melon's gold retort / Repeat what melody fattens the leopard / From his mother's dusky teat." These lines continue the theme of duality, juxtaposing the nurturing ("melon's gold," "mother's dusky teat") with the destructive ("poison licks the wheat"). The mention of "the born and the unborn" emphasizes the continuity of life across generations, with each generation inheriting the knowledge and consequences of the past. The "melody" that "fattens the leopard" suggests a natural, inevitable process by which life is sustained, even in its most predatory forms.

The poem circles back to the opening command with "Ride out at midnight / And number the sparrows." This repetition reinforces the sense of a journey or quest, with the task of "numbering the sparrows" symbolizing an attempt to understand or catalog the myriad small details of life. Sparrows, often seen as common and insignificant, may represent the overlooked or undervalued aspects of existence, suggesting that true understanding comes from paying attention to the humble and ordinary.

"Who put great wings to the Ark? / Who gave the unicorn spurs?" These rhetorical questions invoke biblical and mythical imagery—the Ark representing salvation and the unicorn symbolizing purity and rarity. The questions suggest that the forces behind these grand symbols are unknown, hinting at a divine or mysterious power that shapes the world in ways beyond human comprehension.

The poem's final lines, "Only the women with thighs like mackerel, / Nourish the germ of the man of sorrows, / Are true to their monsters. / Be you to yours," conclude with a striking and somewhat cryptic image. The comparison of women's thighs to mackerel—a fish known for its shimmering scales and swift movement—evokes a sense of vitality and fertility. These women "nourish the germ of the man of sorrows," perhaps alluding to the birth and nurturing of life in a world fraught with suffering. The exhortation to "be you to yours" suggests that we must each confront and be true to our own "monsters"—the darker aspects of our nature or the challenges we face.

In "Lines to Music," Durrell uses the metaphor of a nocturnal journey to explore the profound and often mysterious forces that govern life. The poem blends the natural with the mythical, the personal with the universal, challenging the reader to engage with the complexities of existence. Through its vivid and often surreal imagery, the poem encourages a deeper contemplation of the unknown elements that shape our destinies and the importance of remaining true to ourselves in the face of these mysteries.

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