Poem Analysis - Lucy Poems 5

Introduction: From Serenity to Stark Reality

Wordsworth's "Lucy Poems 5" is a poignant reflection on love and loss, moving from a state of blissful ignorance to the harsh acceptance of death's finality. The poem begins with a sense of tranquility, a "slumber" that shields the speaker from the realities of human mortality. This initial calm is shattered in the second stanza, replaced by a stark awareness of Lucy's lifelessness and her absorption into the natural world. The poem's tone shifts dramatically from naive serenity to somber resignation, highlighting the speaker's profound grief.

The Protective Veil of Ignorance

The first four lines of the poem establish a sense of false security and unyielding love. The speaker confesses that "a slumber did my spirit seal," suggesting a state of mind that was protected, perhaps deliberately, from the harsh realities of life and death. He "had no human fears," because "she seemed a thing that could not feel / The touch of earthly years." This idealized perception of Lucy, as someone untouched by mortality, reveals the depth of the speaker's affection and his inability to conceive of her passing. The initial description is critical in understanding the magnitude of the loss that follows. This earlier perspective emphasizes the narrator's earlier innocence and inability to face mortality.

Mortality and the Natural World

A central theme of the poem is the inevitable cycle of life and death and humanity's place within the broader natural world. The second stanza presents a stark contrast to the first. Lucy, once perceived as immune to time's effects, is now devoid of "motion," "force," and sensory perception. The line "She neither hears nor sees" emphasizes the finality of her death. She is now "rolled round in earth's diurnal course," integrated into the very fabric of the planet. This imagery suggests a return to nature, a merging with the inanimate world of "rocks, and stones, and trees." The phrase "diurnal course" may also imply a sense of monotony and lack of control over Lucy's fate. Mortality is unavoidable, and it eventually returns us to the Earth.

The Symbolism of Earth's Embrace

The imagery of the earth rotating, carrying Lucy along with "rocks, and stones, and trees," is powerful and multifaceted. It represents both the cyclical nature of life and death and the speaker's struggle to reconcile Lucy's unique existence with her integration into the impersonal, indifferent natural world. The image of Lucy being rolled with insensate objects is striking. On the one hand, it is natural, everything turns to dust, but, on the other hand, what meaning does an individual life have if, at the end, a loved one is nothing more than an inanimate object among others? The inclusion of “rocks and stones” is telling. They represent a lack of emotion, coldness and unfeeling things, almost as a symbol of a meaningless death. Could this symbolize the speaker's struggle to find meaning in Lucy's death, or is it simply a factual statement of her current state?

A Somber Conclusion: Acceptance and Resignation

In conclusion, "Lucy Poems 5" is a moving exploration of love, loss, and the acceptance of mortality. The poem traces a journey from a naive, idealized perception of a loved one to a stark confrontation with the reality of death. The shift in tone, from serene slumber to somber resignation, reflects the speaker's profound grief and his struggle to come to terms with Lucy's absence. The poem's final image of Lucy being "rolled round in earth's diurnal course" suggests a sense of both resignation and a grudging acceptance of the natural cycle of life and death. The power of the poem lies in its simple yet profound depiction of human grief and the enduring impact of loss.