Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "Dying Fall" is a reflective meditation on memory, love, and the passage of time, encapsulated within the metaphorical and evocative language that characterizes much of his work. The poem's title itself, "Dying Fall," suggests a gradual decline or fading away, which is mirrored in the themes of loss and the transient nature of human experiences, particularly those related to love.

The poem opens with a striking image of the natural world: "The islands rebuffed by water. / Estuaries of putty and gold. / A smokeless arc of Latin sky. / One star, less than a week old." Here, Durrell creates a vivid picture of a landscape caught between beauty and isolation. The islands, "rebuffed by water," evoke a sense of separation or distance, while the "estuaries of putty and gold" suggest the melding of elements in a setting sun, blending the earthy with the celestial. The "smokeless arc of Latin sky" introduces a sense of clarity and purity, with "one star, less than a week old" serving as a symbol of new beginnings or fragile hope, juxtaposed against the backdrop of an eternal sky.

As the poem progresses, Durrell shifts from this expansive natural imagery to a more personal reflection: "Memory now, I lead her haltered. / Stab of the opiate in the arm / When the sea wears bronze scales and / Hushes in the ambush of a calm." The personification of memory as something "haltered" suggests an attempt to control or manage the past, to guide it in a certain direction, yet it is clear that this is a difficult task. The "stab of the opiate" indicates both the pain and the dulling of senses that come with recalling certain memories, particularly those steeped in emotion. The image of the sea wearing "bronze scales" and hushing "in the ambush of a calm" reinforces this idea of a deceptive tranquility—just as the sea can appear calm while concealing hidden depths, so too can memories seem serene while hiding underlying pain.

The poem then introduces the concept of a recurring dialogue: "The old dialogue always rebegins / Between us: but now the spring / Ripens, neither will be attending." This suggests a relationship marked by repeated conversations or interactions, perhaps cycles of reconciliation and separation. However, there is a sense of finality in the lines, as both parties are no longer willing or able to engage in this "old dialogue" as the "spring ripens." The imagery of spring, often associated with renewal and growth, contrasts with the idea of endings, suggesting that the relationship has reached a point where it can no longer be rejuvenated.

Durrell continues with a tender yet melancholy reflection on past love: "For rosy as feet of pigeons pressed / In clay, the kisses we possessed, / Or thought we did." The comparison of kisses to "rosy" pigeon feet pressed in clay is both delicate and fleeting, evoking the transient imprint of a moment that can never be fully reclaimed. The phrase "or thought we did" introduces doubt, implying that what was once believed to be love might have been an illusion or a misunderstanding, further emphasizing the ephemeral nature of their connection.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the nature of love's exchanges: "so borrowing, lending, / Stacked fortunes in our love's society — / Each in the perfect circle of a sigh was ending." Here, Durrell uses the language of commerce—"borrowing, lending, / Stacked fortunes"—to describe the emotional transactions within the relationship. Love is portrayed as an economy of sorts, where each partner invests something of themselves, only to see it dissipate in the end. The "perfect circle of a sigh" signifies the completion of this cycle, a quiet, resigned acknowledgment of the inevitability of loss and the passing of time.

"Dying Fall" is a poem that grapples with the beauty and sorrow inherent in memory and love. Durrell's use of rich, evocative imagery underscores the tension between the enduring impact of past experiences and their ultimate impermanence. The poem's meditation on the fading of love and the inescapable march of time captures the bittersweet reality of human existence, where even the most cherished moments are destined to fade into memory.

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