Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Fairy Goldsmith" by Elinor Wylie, the speaker describes a wondrous collection of delicate, magical treasures that seem to be crafted by fairy hands. The imagery in the poem is rich with references to precious stones, metals, and natural elements, which collectively create a vision of beauty, intricacy, and ephemerality. The poem meditates on the fleeting nature of beauty and the impossibility of holding on to the enchantment of the fairy realm, where even the most exquisite treasures dissolve upon contact with the mortal world.

The poem opens with a vivid description of magical objects: “A humming-bird's wing / In hammered gold,” and “snowflakes frozen / In crystal cold.” These images immediately set the tone of the poem, evoking the delicate, fantastical nature of the items in question. The hummingbird's wing, delicate and fleeting, is transformed into a solid form of gold, a symbol of the alchemical transformation that characterizes fairy craftsmanship. Snowflakes, known for their impermanence, are frozen in time within crystal, emphasizing the theme of beauty captured in a fleeting moment. These objects are beyond ordinary experience, blending nature’s transient beauty with the permanence of precious materials.

The poem continues with a series of detailed descriptions of more such treasures: “Black onyx cherries / And mistletoe berries / Of chrysoprase,” and “Jade buds, tight shut,” all carved with intricate skill. The variety of materials—onyx, chrysoprase, jade—suggests a world rich in precious stones and mystical elements. The cherries and mistletoe berries, usually symbols of abundance and festivity, are now transformed into jewels, suggesting that the fairy world is one where the beauty of nature is replicated in the finest materials.

The imagery becomes more enchanting with the introduction of “little gilt bees / In amber drops,” which evoke a sense of softness and delicacy. These bees, suspended in amber, represent both the industriousness of nature and the preserved beauty of the fairy world, where even insects are transformed into golden artifacts. Similarly, the “elfin girl / Of mother-of-pearl / And moonshine made,” is a vision of both ethereal beauty and fragility, her appearance described in terms of luminous, delicate materials. The contrast between her “tortoise-shell hair / Both dusky and fair” further emphasizes her otherworldly nature, as she exists in a world of light and shadow, ever shifting between extremes.

The speaker continues to present a variety of magical objects: “lacquer laid thin, / Like a scarlet skin / On an ivory fruit,” and “a filigree frost / Of frail notes lost / From a fairy lute.” These images convey the idea of exquisite, fragile creations that can only exist in a world where beauty is both transient and preserved in a magical state. The delicate filigree frost and the lost notes of the fairy lute suggest that even the most beautiful sounds and sensations are fleeting, slipping away like notes that fade in the air.

The poem then shifts to describe more treasures, such as the “turquoise chain / Of sun-shower rain,” and a “silvery fish,” glittering with green and aquamarine. These treasures, like the rest, evoke a sense of beauty that is both captivating and elusive. The turquoise chain, linked to the imagery of rain, suggests the idea of water, which is both nourishing and ever-changing, just as the magical treasures are precious but transient.

Finally, the speaker acknowledges the impossibility of retaining these treasures. “Touch them and take them, / But do not break them!” warns the speaker, indicating the fragile nature of these fairy-crafted objects. Once removed from their enchanted realm, they lose their magic. The treasures “wither like foam” and crumble into “quicksilver dust,” signifying the ephemeral nature of fairy beauty. Even when hidden away from the ravages of time, they cannot endure the harshness of the mortal world. The treasures exist only within the realm of the fairy world, and once taken beyond it, they disintegrate, unable to withstand the passage of time and the weight of reality.

In "Fairy Goldsmith," Wylie presents a world of enchantment and beauty, where treasures are crafted with an otherworldly skill, yet are inherently fragile and impermanent. The poem explores the tension between the desire to possess beauty and the realization that such beauty, in its most pure and magical form, cannot be held onto forever. Through these vivid and intricate descriptions, Wylie invites the reader to contemplate the nature of beauty itself—how it can be both captivating and fleeting, and how, despite our best efforts, we cannot capture or preserve it beyond the moment in which it is given.

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