Poem Analysis - The Conversation Of Prayer

Introduction: A Dialogue with Uncertainty

Dylan Thomas's "The Conversation Of Prayer" presents a poignant and unsettling exploration of prayer's function and efficacy. The poem juxtaposes the innocent prayer of a child with the desperate plea of a man facing the imminent loss of his love, creating a dialogue between innocence and experience, hope and despair. Initially, the tone is contemplative, almost detached, as it sets up the scenario. However, it quickly shifts to one of uncertainty and anxiety, culminating in a disturbing twist that challenges the comfort traditionally associated with prayer. The poem ultimately questions whether prayer can alter fate or merely offer a shared grief.

Grief and Mortality: The Threads of Connection

One central theme is mortality, specifically the looming presence of death and its impact on human connection. The poem establishes this theme immediately with the image of "the man on the stairs / Who climbs to his dying love." The stark reality of death is juxtaposed with the innocence of the child's prayer, highlighting the universal human experience of grief. Both prayers, though originating from different sources, are ultimately connected by the shared "grief flying." The poem's exploration of grief evolves into a broader consideration of life's fragility and the helplessness individuals face in the wake of death. The final stanzas further complicate this by introducing the potential reversal of fates, underscoring the arbitrary nature of life and death.

Love and Loss: A Shifting Landscape of Emotion

The theme of love and loss is intricately woven throughout the poem, primarily through the man's desperate love for his dying partner. His "fire of his care" symbolizes the intensity of his love, contrasted with the looming coldness of death. This love is not depicted in a sentimental way but rather as a raw, visceral emotion tied to fear and impending loss. Furthermore, the poem subtly hints at a different kind of love or the lack thereof in the child's prayer, represented by him "not caring to whom in his sleep he will move". This contrast highlights the spectrum of love, from innocent obliviousness to profound, life-altering devotion, all unified under the shadow of potential loss. The sudden shift in the poem's conclusion, where the love lives and the child experiences a profound loss, emphasizes love's precarious nature and its vulnerability to unforeseen tragedy.

Innocence and Experience: The Chasm of Understanding

The poem explores the dichotomy between innocence and experience through the contrasting figures of the child and the man. The child's prayer is characterized by naivety and a lack of awareness of the world's harsh realities. He is "not caring to whom in his sleep he will move," suggesting a blissful ignorance of suffering and loss. In contrast, the man's experience with love and impending death has stripped him of this innocence, forcing him to confront the profound complexities of existence. The poem challenges the assumption that innocence guarantees protection, as the ending reveals that the child, despite his supposed innocence, is not spared from grief. This subversion suggests that suffering is indiscriminate and that even the most innocent are vulnerable to life's harsh realities.

Symbolic Imagery: Stairs, Room, and the Wave

Several recurring symbols enhance the poem's meaning. The "stairs" represent a journey, both literal and metaphorical, towards either death or connection. The man's ascent symbolizes his attempt to reach and comfort his dying love. The "high room" where the woman lies can be interpreted as a space of both intimacy and isolation, a sanctuary where love exists but also a place where death is imminent. The "dark eyed wave" is particularly striking, symbolizing overwhelming grief and the relentless power of fate. The wave dragging the child "up the stairs to one who lies dead" suggests a descent into a world of pain and loss, a symbolic drowning of innocence. The color dark used to describe the wave could imply that his journey will be a dark one, one of suffering.

Conclusion: A Question of Faith

"The Conversation Of Prayer" ultimately presents a complex and unsettling view of prayer and its potential impact. While the poem initially suggests a connection between the prayers of the child and the man, the ending undermines any sense of comfort or resolution. The reversal of fates leaves the reader questioning the purpose and efficacy of prayer, suggesting that it may not offer solace or protection but instead reflect the shared human experience of grief. The poem's final image, of the child being dragged into a world of loss, serves as a stark reminder of life's inherent unpredictability and the limitations of faith in the face of suffering. Is the poem a criticism of faith? Or simply a reflection on the random nature of tragedy?