Poem Analysis - Foster The Light

Dylan Thomas's "Foster The Light" is a dense and evocative poem, swirling with imagery of nature, life, and death. The poem presents a speaker grappling with themes of creation, transformation, and the cyclical nature of existence. Its tone is initially assertive and commanding, urging action and defiance against stagnation, before transitioning to a more personal and reflective mood, tinged with acceptance of mortality. The poem’s ambiguity invites multiple interpretations, leaving the reader to ponder the speaker’s ultimate fate and the meaning of their pronouncements.

The Urgency of Creation and Growth

One of the primary themes in "Foster The Light" is the importance of embracing growth and creation rather than succumbing to stagnation or destruction. The opening stanza sets this up directly, urging the reader to “Foster the light nor veil the manshaped moon.” This suggests the need to nurture potential and beauty instead of obscuring it. The lines caution against being ruled by cold, unfeeling forces ("snowman's brain"), which represent a lifeless intellect that stifles creativity. The poem encourages proactive engagement with the natural world, commanding one to “strip the twelve-winded marrow from his circle,” implying a forceful extraction of life's essence.

Nature as a Force of Transformation and Renewal

Throughout the poem, nature is presented as a powerful force of transformation and renewal. The imagery of seasons, planting, and harvesting is prominent. Phrases like “graft these four-fruited ridings on your country” and “By red-eyed orchards sow the seeds of snow” evoke a sense of cyclical change and the blending of opposing forces. This intertwining of opposing elements, such as snow being sown in orchards, demonstrates the transformative potential inherent in nature's processes. The speaker seems to advocate for working with this natural cycle, not against it, acknowledging that even frost has a role in the grand scheme. The concept of a "vegetable century" suggests the enduring power of the natural world, even in the face of time's relentless march.

Mortality and Acceptance

As the poem progresses, the theme of mortality emerges, intertwined with the speaker’s personal journey. The lines "Roll unmanly over this turning tuft, / O ring of seas, nor sorrow as I shift / From all my mortal lovers with a starboard smile" suggest a departure or death. There is a bittersweet acceptance in the speaker's tone, a willingness to embrace the inevitable. The mention of "cross-boned drift" and "bow-and-arrow birds" conjures images of decay and the tools of death, further emphasizing the speaker's confrontation with their own mortality. The final stanzas speak of shaping and being shaped, indicating a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the universe. The speaker's ultimate fate seems to be one of integration into the larger cosmic order, a transformation from individual entity to a part of the "shapeless maps."

Recurring Imagery: Light, Darkness, and the Human Form

Several recurring symbols and images contribute to the poem's overall message. Light and darkness are prominent motifs, representing knowledge and ignorance, life and death, respectively. The “manshaped moon” and the “polestar pointed on an icicle” are contrasting images, the former suggesting a nurturing presence, the latter a cold, detached one. The human form itself is a recurring image, used to explore the relationship between the individual and the cosmos. Phrases like "manshaped moon," "manshape of your walking circle," and "my clayfellow" emphasize the connection between humanity and the universe, suggesting that humans are both creators and creations, shapers and shaped. The ambiguity surrounding the "merry manshape" invites interpretation – is it a celebration of human potential, or a sardonic commentary on our fleeting existence?

A Final Insight: Embracing the Cycle

In conclusion, "Foster The Light" is a complex and richly layered poem that explores themes of creation, transformation, and mortality. Dylan Thomas uses vivid imagery and evocative language to create a world where nature is both a source of life and a reminder of death. The poem's enduring power lies in its ambiguity and its ability to provoke contemplation about the human condition. Ultimately, "Foster The Light" seems to suggest that true wisdom lies in embracing the cyclical nature of existence, fostering growth and creation while accepting the inevitability of decay and transformation.