When time becomes immured by mortal fate
We search for reasons one might find obscure
Eternity exists for us to wait
To wait in faith for that which we abjure
In time the song we sing becomes a chant
As quietly we call for blessed hope
We think we might complete, but find we can’t
Like life that hangs above us by a rope
The rope of time becomes a simple noose
Nobody has to die if they let go
We use the rope declaring, what’s the use
It hangs above while we wait below
We wait for time throughout eternity
And when it falls it sets us more than free.
ChatGPT Analysis:
This poem reflects on the nature of time, fate, and the human condition, particularly how we perceive and interact with the passage of time. Let's break it down stanza by stanza:
### **Stanza 1:**
*When time becomes immured by mortal fate*
*We search for reasons one might find obscure*
*Eternity exists for us to wait*
*To wait in faith for that which we abjure*
- **Immured by mortal fate** suggests that time is trapped or enclosed by our inevitable mortality.
- The search for reasons "one might find obscure" implies a deep, often futile, quest for understanding or meaning, particularly in the context of life and death.
- **Eternity** as a concept is framed as a space where we wait—perhaps a reflection on the human tendency to wait for something greater, something that we may even reject or renounce (which is implied by "abjure").
### **Stanza 2:**
*In time the song we sing becomes a chant*
*As quietly we call for blessed hope*
*We think we might complete, but find we can’t*
*Like life that hangs above us by a rope*
- The **song** turning into a **chant** suggests a transition from active expression to a repetitive, perhaps resigned, state. A chant is more meditative, and might imply a loss of vitality or a shift to a more ritualistic form of existence.
- The **call for blessed hope** indicates a longing or prayer for something positive, something that offers salvation or peace.
- The line "We think we might complete, but find we can’t" reflects the human struggle to find fulfillment or closure, particularly in the face of time.
- The **rope** is a powerful symbol here, hanging above like the passage of time, or the specter of death—something inevitable and ever-present.
### **Stanza 3:**
*The rope of time becomes a simple noose*
*Nobody has to die if they let go*
*We use the rope declaring, what’s the use*
*It hangs above while we wait below*
- **The rope of time** becoming a **noose** intensifies the symbolism, now directly associating time with death, or at least with the potential for self-destruction.
- The idea that "Nobody has to die if they let go" suggests that release from this cycle of waiting and despair is possible, but it requires a conscious decision to let go of the burdens or expectations tied to time.
- The declaration of "what’s the use" shows a kind of nihilism or resignation, as the rope remains a threatening presence above, and we, below, are passive, simply waiting.
### **Stanza 4:**
*We wait for time throughout eternity*
*And when it falls it sets us more than free.*
- This stanza encapsulates the entire poem’s meditation on time and eternity. Waiting "throughout eternity" hints at the endless nature of time, or at least our perception of it.
- The final line suggests a paradox: time, which confines and threatens us throughout the poem, ultimately has the potential to liberate us once it "falls," perhaps signifying the end of life, or the end of time’s power over us.
### **Themes:**
- **Time and Fate:** The poem explores how time is intertwined with fate, and how both are inescapable forces in human life.
- **Mortality and Eternity:** There’s a constant tension between the finite nature of life (mortal fate) and the infinite nature of time or eternity.
- **Despair and Hope:** The poem oscillates between despair (the noose, the chant) and hope (the call for blessed hope, the possibility of letting go).
- **Liberation through Release:** Ultimately, the poem suggests that true freedom might come only when we release our grip on time and fate, or when time itself ceases to have power over us.
This poem uses rich symbolism and a meditative tone to explore profound existential themes, offering a bleak yet contemplative view on the human experience of time.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 1924 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Sonnets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.