“Alone”
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—
It’s interesting that Poe himself realizes how different he was. He lists various ways he as an individual was different from the rest of the crowd, often alone, even “from childhood’s hour” as he says. I find it interesting that he doesn’t finish a complete thought in one line. He cuts it off half way, sends it over to the next line, and then separates thoughts with dashes. It’s after the line “Then—in my childhood” that I get a little thrown off. I feel like the “Then” cues a shift in the poem, but I don’t quite understand what he is trying to say after that. Perhaps someone could help me understand that part?
ReplyDeleteMaybe...he's trying to say that he was different because he had to be different. he saw things no one else could see...DEMONS. Which would explain why he was such a creeper in his day... haha but seriously though...maybe thats it.
ReplyDeleteThis might not be the closest to an identity poem but knowing poes past and his hardships one can see that what he is writing about are the events that shaped him to be the person he ended up being. I think this poem embodies Poe perfectly with his solemn tone and sorrowful words. I also believe this poem gives you lots of insight into poe.
ReplyDeleteI already commented on the other one but ill say again i do think it is an identity poem because even thogh the word is not in the poem Poe does express his feelings of loneliness and what he considers to be his idetntity today and probably the reasons why he is the way he is today
ReplyDeletesorry about that jonny, but contrary to everyone elses beliefs i do think this is an identity poem simply because any scenario where the poet is finding more about himself he is on his way to finding his identity, even if in this case it is a demon
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