Poem Analysis - Once It Was The Colour Of Saying

Introduction: A Lament for Lost Innocence

Dylan Thomas's "Once It Was The Colour Of Saying" is a melancholic reflection on the loss of innocence and the destructive power of language. The poem begins with a vibrant, almost idyllic recollection of youth, saturated with the "colour of saying." However, this bright world quickly darkens as the speaker acknowledges the potential for language to wound and destroy. The tone shifts from nostalgic remembrance to a somber recognition of the speaker's own complicity in this destruction, culminating in a sense of impending doom and self-undoing.

The Corrupting Influence of Language

A central theme of the poem is the corrupting influence of language, or more broadly, the speaker's articulation of experience. In the opening lines, "saying" is depicted as a vibrant, life-giving force, coloring the landscape of the speaker's youth. This vibrant world includes vivid imagery such as "capsized field" and "a black and white patch of girls grew playing," evoking a sense of youthful energy and burgeoning life. However, the speaker soon expresses a desire to "undo" these "gentle seaslides of saying," suggesting that the act of articulating and examining these experiences has somehow tainted them. The phrase "charmingly drowned" implies a forced resurrection, hinting that words will bring a painful awakening to a world that was best left undisturbed.

Nostalgia for a Lost Eden

The poem explores the theme of a lost Eden, contrasting the speaker's idyllic memories of youth with the harsh realities of the present. The reservoir park becomes a symbolic space of youthful rebellion and transgression. The "mitching boys" who stone "lovers in the dirt of their leafy beds" represent a kind of naive cruelty, fueled by youthful energy and a lack of understanding. The "shade of their trees was a word of many shades / And a lamp of lightning for the poor in the dark" suggests that even these acts of rebellion were imbued with a certain vitality and even a distorted sense of enlightenment. This vivid imagery serves to highlight the contrast between the speaker's past and present, underscoring the sense of loss and regret that permeates the poem.

The Symbolism of Stones and Reels

Recurring symbols of stones and reels play a crucial role in developing the poem's message. The stones, initially used to disrupt the lovers, become emblematic of the speaker's own destructive actions. By stating "every stone I wind off like a reel," the speaker acknowledges their own complicity in the destruction of innocence and the unraveling of their past. The image of winding off a reel suggests a process of methodical undoing, as if the speaker is deliberately retracing their steps and confronting the consequences of their actions. What remains ambiguous is whether this is an act of contrition or an acceptance of an inescapable fate. Does undoing the reel offer redemption, or does it merely hasten the inevitable?

Concluding Thoughts: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

In conclusion, "Once It Was The Colour Of Saying" is a powerful exploration of the complex relationship between language, memory, and self-destruction. The poem traces the speaker's journey from a vibrant, innocent past to a present haunted by regret and self-awareness. The act of "saying," initially a source of color and life, becomes the instrument of the speaker's own "undoing." The poem ultimately suggests that the very act of articulating and examining one's past can lead to a loss of innocence and a deeper understanding of the destructive forces within oneself. The speaker's lament functions almost as a self-fulfilling prophecy, showcasing how the weight of words can crush the very spirit they seek to express.