Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Lost Cities, Lawrence Durrell explores the themes of decay, memory, and the passage of time through the lens of various ancient cities. The poem reflects on how these once-great civilizations have fallen into ruin, becoming mere shadows of their former selves, yet still holding a presence in the collective memory of humanity.

The poem opens with a description of Venice, floating "as Venice might," bloated and ambiguous, her dispossession depicted as idle and ridiculous. Venice, with its rich history and cultural significance, is now reduced to "floating carcases of the doges," dissolving into "spires and cages of water." This imagery evokes a sense of melancholy, as the grandeur of Venice is now submerged and turning green, signifying decay and the inevitable encroachment of time on all things, no matter how grand.

Durrell then shifts to another city, worn out humbly like a craft. Here, the imagery of "red wells where the potter's thumb sealed his jars of guaranteed oil" brings to mind a simpler, more artisanal past. The "fluent thumb" pressing on history's vibrating string suggests the way in which human actions—however small—can leave an indelible mark on the course of history, yet these marks too can be worn away with time, leaving behind only traces.

The reference to Carthage, "where the traveller may squeeze out a few drops of ink or salt," highlights the impermanence of even the mightiest civilizations. Carthage, once a powerful city, is now reduced to a name and a memory, a place where "a river once turned over in its sleep and all the cities fled." This line emphasizes the fragility of human endeavors, how easily they can be undone by natural forces beyond control, leaving behind only ruins and whispers of what once was.

The poem concludes with a reflection on Greece, "which is not yet Greece," where the adversary was strong, but where life continues in the discontented efforts of the serfs. Durrell paints a picture of a humble, enduring existence: "an orchard, painted tables set outside a whitewashed house," and a violin hanging by one wrist, still ownerless. This image evokes a sense of waiting, of potential yet unrealized, as the violin waits "to be discovered, standing in our lives."

Finally, the poem ends with a reference to Rhodes, described as the "death-mask of a Greek town," solidifying the theme of lost grandeur and the inevitable decline of even the most powerful of human creations. The "death-mask" suggests a lifeless preservation, a city that, like a mask, retains the form of what it once was, but is now devoid of the life that once animated it.

Lost Cities is a meditation on the transient nature of human achievement, the way civilizations rise, fall, and are eventually forgotten, leaving behind only traces and ruins. Durrell's rich imagery and evocative language convey a deep sense of loss and the inexorable passage of time, reminding us that all things, no matter how grand, are ultimately impermanent.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...