Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dora Greenwell';s "Story by the Fire" presents a rich allegory that explores themes of longing, devotion, and the interplay between desire and unattainable love. Through the imagery of a flower reaching toward the sun, the poem delves into the emotional tension between the speaker’s yearning for connection and the inevitable distance that separates her from the object of her love. The poem portrays this tension with a blend of beauty and sorrow, capturing both the fulfillment and pain that come with unrequited or unattainable love.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, describing the speaker as a "willing slave, fast bound to one above." This phrase conveys a sense of devoted submission, as the speaker willingly binds herself to a higher power or being. This "one above" could symbolize the sun, an idealized lover, or even a higher spiritual force, suggesting multiple layers of interpretation. The speaker acknowledges that although the one she waits for "seems to speed, and change, and fail," she knows "he will not move." This establishes the central tension of the poem: the speaker’s steadfast devotion is contrasted with the immovable, distant nature of the one she loves.

The sun imagery continues in the second stanza, where the speaker refers to her "golden orb" and describes her connection to the "clear / Keen flame" of the sun’s eye. This vivid image reflects both the intensity of her love and the clarity of the distance between them. The speaker absorbs the "splendours" of the sun’s eye into her own "burning disk," symbolizing how she is sustained by this distant, radiant love, even as she remains rooted in her own sphere. The imagery here suggests a deep connection between the speaker and the object of her love, but also emphasizes the physical and emotional distance that cannot be bridged.

The third stanza reveals the speaker’s realization of the limits of her love: "I must droop / Upon my stalk, I cannot reach his sphere; / To mine he cannot stoop." Here, Greenwell introduces the notion of impossibility and inevitability. The speaker recognizes that while she yearns to reach the "sphere" of the one she loves, this is an impossible desire—she is bound to her own world, just as the sun remains beyond her grasp. Similarly, the object of her love "cannot stoop" to her level, further emphasizing the unbridgeable gap between them. This realization adds a layer of melancholy to the poem, as the speaker understands that her desire will never be fully fulfilled.

However, despite this acknowledgment of unattainable love, the speaker does not feel entirely bereft. In the fourth stanza, she states, "And yet I fail not of my guerdon, lo!" The word "guerdon," meaning reward or recompense, suggests that even though she cannot attain her desire, she still receives some form of fulfillment. This reward comes in the form of "a thousand flickering darts and tongues of fire" that "around me spread and glow." These "darts and tongues of fire" can be interpreted as the radiance of the sun, which envelops her in light and warmth, symbolizing the joy and beauty she experiences through her devotion, even though it remains unfulfilled. The speaker finds solace in this radiance, which crowns her with a sense of regal splendor.

In the fifth stanza, the speaker reflects on her "queenly state," which endures "until the summer wane." Here, the imagery shifts to the passage of time, as the speaker acknowledges that her sense of fulfillment and bliss is temporary, bound to the cyclical nature of the seasons. The hours pass by, and although no one else knows of her "bliss" or "pain," she continues to exist in this paradoxical state of joy and sorrow. The speaker’s emotions are deeply private, suggesting that the intensity of her love and longing is something she alone experiences.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, reiterating the speaker’s unwavering devotion: "I follow one above, / I track the shadow of his steps." Despite the pain of unfulfilled desire, the speaker continues to follow the object of her love, remaining steadfast in her devotion. The line "I grow / Most like to him I love / Of all that shines below" suggests that through her love, she becomes more like the one she admires, even though she cannot fully reach him. This transformation is both a testament to the power of love and a recognition of the limitations imposed by distance and separation. The speaker may not attain her desire, but through her devotion, she is shaped by it, growing "most like" the one she loves.

In "Story by the Fire," Greenwell presents a moving exploration of love that is both radiant and elusive, fulfilling and painful. The sun-flower metaphor captures the tension between desire and distance, as the speaker’s devotion to an unattainable love shapes her existence, offering moments of joy even as it remains out of reach. Through rich, evocative imagery and a contemplative tone, the poem delves into the complexities of unrequited love, suggesting that even when love is not fully realized, it can still illuminate and transform the soul.

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