Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Daily Mirror" by Lawrence Durrell explores the act of writing as an intense, almost existential struggle, where the stakes are as high as life and death. The poem portrays writing not as a casual or simple task, but as something deeply connected to the writer's very existence, fraught with emotional turmoil and existential reflection.

The opening lines set a stark tone, as Durrell suggests that writing "should not have been like / Suicide over some ordinary misapprehension." This simile equates the act of writing with a form of self-destruction, one that might stem from a misunderstanding or a misinterpretation of life itself. The image of a man entering his own house and "Turning out all the lights before undressing" evokes a sense of solitude and resignation. The darkness here could symbolize the writer's descent into his own mind, shutting out the world as he prepares to confront his thoughts and emotions in their rawest form.

Durrell then shifts to a more intimate and personal scene, where the writer, at the bedside of a "lovely ignoramus," whispers promises that are both grand and desperate: "Tomorrow I swear is the last time" and "Believe, and I swear you will never die." These lines suggest a deep longing for connection and reassurance, perhaps reflecting the writer's desire to believe in something eternal or unchanging, even as he struggles with the transient nature of life and the creative process.

The image of the "nib dragged out like the late train / Racing on iron bars for the north" evokes the relentless and sometimes mechanical nature of writing. The nib, a tool for creation, is likened to a train rushing toward its destination—an inevitable journey, driven by forces beyond the writer's control. The target is described as "another world, not necessarily better, / Of course, but different, completely different." This suggests that the act of writing is an attempt to escape or transcend the current reality, to create or discover a new realm, even if it is not necessarily an improvement on the existing one.

Durrell introduces the metaphor of an hourglass, "shifting its trash of seconds," to underscore the passage of time and the futility that can accompany it. The "trash of seconds" implies that time is constantly slipping away, filled with moments that may seem insignificant or wasted. The poem acknowledges the possibility of a different ending, "If it does not end this way perhaps some other," implying that the outcome of this existential struggle could vary, but it remains uncertain and possibly grim.

The final lines of the poem are particularly striking: "Gossip lying in a furnished room, blinds drawn. / A poem with its throat cut from ear to ear." These lines depict a scene of isolation and violence, where gossip—trivial and meaningless chatter—lies in a darkened room, concealed from the world. The image of a poem with its throat cut is a powerful metaphor for the death of creativity, the silencing of the voice, and the destruction of what could have been a meaningful expression. It suggests that the act of writing, fraught with danger and despair, can sometimes lead to a sense of futility or failure, where the very thing that is meant to give life—words, language, poetry—ends up being mutilated or destroyed.

"Daily Mirror" is a reflection on the perilous nature of the creative process. Durrell presents writing as an intense and often painful endeavor, where the writer grapples with existential fears and the passage of time. The poem captures the tension between the desire to create something meaningful and the ever-present possibility of failure or destruction, leaving the reader with a haunting image of a poem left bleeding and silenced, a mirror to the writer's own struggles and anxieties.

It's also plausible that "Daily Mirror" refers to the British tabloid newspaper, which is well-known for its focus on gossip, sensationalism, and celebrity news. The title could be a deliberate choice by Lawrence Durrell to evoke the nature of this publication and its content, which often delves into the trivial and superficial aspects of life. In this light, the title "Daily Mirror" could be seen as a critique of the tabloid's role in shaping public discourse, reducing complex human experiences to mere gossip fodder, and in doing so, "cutting the throat" of meaningful expression and thought. The poem, then, might be read as a commentary on the tension between the superficial content promoted by tabloids and the deeper, existential concerns of the writer or thinker.

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