Poem Analysis - The Glory Is Fallen Out Of

A Lament for Lost Glory: An Introduction

E.E. Cummings' "The Glory Is Fallen Out Of" is a poignant meditation on loss, mortality, and the acceptance of inevitable decline. The poem begins with a somber tone, lamenting the fading of beauty and grandeur. As it progresses, the mood shifts towards a plea for oblivion and a resolute embrace of darkness, suggesting a complex relationship with both life and death. Ultimately, the poem reveals a yearning for peace found in the surrender to the natural cycle of decay.

The Fading of Beauty and the Embrace of Mortality

One of the central themes of the poem is the transience of beauty and glory. Cummings uses vivid imagery like "the glory is fallen out of / the sky" and "the last immortal / leaf is dead" to depict the decay of the natural world. This fading glory serves as a metaphor for the passing of all things, including human life. The phrase "the gold / year / a formal spasm / in the dust" suggests a violent end to something precious, emphasizing the abruptness of loss. By acknowledging "this is the passing of all shining things," the poem universalizes this experience of decline, making it applicable to all of humanity. The plea to "descend into receptive earth" speaks to the acceptance of one's own mortality.

A Prayer for Oblivion

Another prominent theme is the desire for oblivion and the release from worldly concerns. The speaker's request to a higher power to "take / shimmering wind / these fragile splendors from / us crumple them hide / them in thy breath drive / them in nothingness" indicates a profound weariness with the burdens of beauty and the ephemeral nature of existence. The desire to "sleep" is symbolic of a wish for peace and escape from the struggles of life. This isn't necessarily a morbid desire, but a recognition that true rest can only come with the letting go of all worldly attachments.

The Journey into Darkness and Seriousness

Finally, the poem explores the theme of accepting the inevitable journey into darkness. The shift in tone toward the end of the poem is crucial. Instead of resisting the darkness, the speaker urges the "soul" to move "straight" toward it with "glad feet fearruining / and glorygirded faces." This suggests a transformation from lament to acceptance, even a kind of joyful anticipation. The "serious / steep / darkness" is not necessarily frightening but rather a profound and significant destination. It seems to embrace death with a kind of determined optimism, armed with the memory of former "glorygirded faces."

Symbols of Decay and Renewal

The poem utilizes potent symbols to reinforce its themes. The "leaf," particularly the "last immortal leaf," symbolizes both life and its inevitable end. Its death signifies the end of a cycle, the passing of a season. Similarly, "dust" represents the final state of all things, the ultimate destination of earthly existence. The plea for the higher power to "take... these fragile splendors" and "crumple them" indicates an intentional destruction of earthly beauty, a stripping away of superficiality in preparation for the journey into darkness. However, the "breath" to which the "splendors" are entrusted is also indicative of a potential for renewal, suggesting that even in nothingness, there is the possibility of rebirth or transformation. Perhaps the crumpled splendors can bloom again in a new form?

Concluding Thoughts: Finding Peace in Acceptance

In conclusion, "The Glory Is Fallen Out Of" is a powerful and moving exploration of mortality, beauty, and the acceptance of decline. Through evocative imagery and a shifting tone, Cummings invites the reader to confront the transience of life and to find a sense of peace in the embrace of the unknown. The poem suggests that true understanding and perhaps even a unique type of joy lie not in clinging to fading glories but in fearlessly stepping into the "serious / steep / darkness" that awaits us all. It is a lament, but also a brave acceptance of life's complete arc.