(toc) #title= (Table of Content)
The poem
The moon from shred to sickle grows,
Greatens to a monstrous tear,
Fattens almost overnight
Into a drunk o'erladen sphere:
Loses its rotundity,
Madly greets approaching doom;
Sickle dwindles into shred,
Shred melts grateful into gloom.
So, for a space, the Shadow will relent,
Befooling us with slow yet sure consent:
And, in due time, once more it will return,
Cooly to blot out what once more must burn.
The Analysis
"The Shadow" by James Agee is a poem that uses the imagery of the moon to explore themes of change, cycles, and inevitability. The poem begins by describing the moon's phases, starting as a shred and gradually growing into a sickle and then a "monstrous tear" before fattening into a full sphere. This description highlights the cyclical nature of the moon's phases and the constant change in its appearance.
As the moon reaches its fullness, it is described as being "overladen" and almost drunk, suggesting a sense of excess or imbalance. However, this state is short-lived, as the moon soon begins to lose its rotundity and greet its "approaching doom." The sickle shape of the moon dwindles back into a shred, which then melts into gloom, symbolizing the waning of the moon's brightness and the onset of darkness.
The poem concludes with a reflection on the cyclical nature of the moon's phases and, by extension, the cycles of life and death. The speaker suggests that the shadow, representing death or darkness, will relent for a time, fooling us with a false sense of security. However, the shadow will inevitably return, "coolly to blot out what once more must burn," symbolizing the inevitable end of all things.
Overall, "The Shadow" is a poem that uses the imagery of the moon to explore the themes of change, cycles, and the inevitability of death. Through its vivid imagery and reflective tone, the poem invites readers to contemplate the transient nature of life and the constant presence of death looming in the background.
Leave a comment behind