Poem Analysis - Horae Canonicae Compline

W.H. Auden's "Horae Canonicae: Compline" is a deeply introspective poem that navigates the complexities of memory, guilt, and the search for redemption. The poem unfolds as a twilight reflection, transitioning from a frustrated inability to recall the day's events to a yearning for absolution and inclusion in a divine order. Auden's tone shifts from bewildered exasperation to a pleading hope, tinged with self-deprecating humor. Ultimately, the poem explores the speaker's struggle to reconcile his flawed humanity with a desire for grace.

The Weight of the Forgotten Day

One of the central themes is the burden of repressed memory and guilt. The poem's core revolves around the speaker's inability to recall what happened between noon and three. This gap in memory becomes a symbol of unacknowledged sins or unresolved conflicts. The speaker is haunted by fragments of memory – "doors banging," "two housewives scolding," "a child's wild look of envy" – but these remain disconnected and meaningless, suggesting a deeper moral or psychological unease. The recurring mention of this time period highlights the persistent, gnawing presence of something the speaker wishes to avoid, pointing toward a hidden source of shame or regret.

Stars and the Heart's Confession

The theme of spiritual yearning and the search for meaning is woven throughout the poem. In contrast to the frustrating vagueness of the day's events, the speaker finds solace in the natural world. The "heart's rhythm" and the "sense of stars leisurely walking around" offer a language of motion and potential confession. The stars are personified as singing "of some hilarity beyond / All liking and happening," suggesting a realm of joy and understanding that surpasses human comprehension. However, the speaker acknowledges his inability to fully grasp this celestial knowledge, highlighting the limitations of human perception and the need for faith. The speaker's desire to understand the "language of motion" underscores a profound spiritual hunger.

The Imperative of Acceptance

Auden also explores the theme of acceptance of human fallibility and the hope for redemption. The speaker recognizes his own imperfections and the universal nature of sin, extending his plea for absolution to "all poor s-o-b's who never / Do anything properly." The poem moves toward a humble recognition of the need for grace. The final stanzas invoke images of a "picnic" and a "dance" around the "abiding tree," symbolizing a harmonious community of redeemed souls. The final plea, "libera / Me, libera C (dear C)," reflects a desire for personal forgiveness and a hope for inclusion in this divine fellowship.

Symbols of the Unseen World

The poem employs several recurring symbols. The "unwashed tribes of wishes" in the dream world represent the chaotic and often morally ambiguous desires that reside within the subconscious. The "white deer" being insulted by youths in an oak-wood, evokes a classic image of transgression against nature, suggesting that the speaker is aware of the human capacity for destructive behavior. The image of the "perichoresis," a theological term referring to the dance of the Trinity, is one of divine union and reciprocal love, and is presented as the ultimate goal of reconciliation. The question arises: are the "youths in an oak-wood" symbols of the unconscious mind or representations of actual past sins?

Twilight of the Soul

In conclusion, "Horae Canonicae: Compline" is a poignant exploration of memory, guilt, and the longing for spiritual resolution. Through vivid imagery, shifts in tone, and recurring symbols, Auden crafts a deeply personal and universally resonant meditation on the human condition. The poem reveals the speaker's journey from frustrated incomprehension to a humble acceptance of his flaws and a yearning for redemption, leaving the reader with a sense of the complexity and ambiguity of faith in the face of human imperfection.