hibiscus on the sleeping shores, by wallace stevens

I say now, Fernando, that on that day
The mind roamed as a moth roams,
Among the blooms beyond the open sand;

And that whatever noise the motion of the waves
Made on the sea-weeds and the covered stones
Disturbed not even the most idle ear.

Then it was that that monstered moth
Which had lain folded against the blue
And the colored purple of the lazy sea,

And which had drowsed along the bony shores,
Shut to the blather that the water made,
Rose up besprent and sought the flaming red

Dabbled with yellow pollen - red as red
As the flag above the old cafe -
And roamed there all the stupid afternoon.

(from, Stevens Collected Poetry & Prose, p. 18)

* * * *

This poem is at first reminiscent of some of Stevens' earliest poems, which were more conventional in subject matter and presentation, and described songbirds, weather, and so forth. It flows like they do, and induces a drowsy, dreamy haze like a day at the seashore will do. But with a difference. For example, even though we may enjoy a 'stupid afternoon' by the seaside, we rarely call it that, especially in the context of a poem, which is supposed to be comprised of especially aesthetical language. In a poem, we don't say 'stupid afternoon' even if it is true. At least, we didn't say 'stupid afternoon' in a poem prior to the twentieth century, prior to poets like Stevens!

We wouldn't have said, or rather, Keats wouldn't have said, 'stupid afternoon,' or 'monstered moth' or 'bony shores' even though, in this last case, it is scientifically quite correct, but has not been considered to be aesthetically correct prior to Stevens.

I came across two sentences I like in the Letters, that seem to apply to this, and to the last two poems recently reviewed: "One of my ideals is to make everything expressive, and thus true. I would like to get out of line."

Having just gone back to standard time, I appreciate reviewing this poem right now. A 'stupid' day in the sun at the beach sounds great.

Comments

[Lisagurl]

I think the poem suggests a sexual nature. A relaxed state of near ecstasy that that created an unwanted erection.