A Day Dream by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

A Day Dream

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

A Day Dream

My eyes make pictures when they're shut:--

I see a fountain large and fair,

A Willow and a ruined Hut,

And thee, and me, and Mary there.

O Mary! make thy gentle lap our pillow!

Bend o'er us, like a bower, my beautiful green Willow!

 

A wild-rose roofs the ruined shed,

And that and summer well agree

And lo! where Mary leans her head,

Two dear names carved upon the tree!

And Mary's tears, they are not tears of sorrow:

Our sister and our friend will both be here to-morrow.

 

'Twas Day!  But now few, large, and bright

The stars are round the crescent moon!

And now it is a dark warm Night,

The balmiest of the month of June!

A glow-worm fallen, and on the marge remounting

Shines, and its shadow shines, fit stars for our sweet fountain.

 

O ever -- ever be thou blest!

For dearly, Asra! love I thee!

This brooding warmth across my breast,

This depth of tranquil bliss -- ah me!

Fount, Tree, and Shed are gone, I know not whither,

But in one quiet room we three are still together.

 

The shadows dance upon the wall,

By the still dancing fire-flames made;

And now they slumber, moveless all!

And now they melt to one deep shade!

But not from me shall this mild darkness steal thee:

I dream thee with mine eyes, and at my heart I feel thee!

 

Thine eyelash on my cheek doth play--

'Tis Mary's hand upon my brow!

But let me check this tender lay,

Which none may hear but she and thou!

Like the still hive at quiet midnight humming,

Murmur it to yourselves, ye two beloved women

 

"A Day Dream" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a reflective and evocative poem that explores the power of imagination and the beauty of daydreaming. The poem is written in the first person, where the speaker reflects on the images that come to life in their mind when their eyes are closed. It captures the whimsical and sometimes surreal nature of daydreams, where reality and imagination blur seamlessly.

 

Summary:

The poem begins with the speaker stating that their eyes "make pictures when they're shut," suggesting that even in the absence of external stimuli, the mind's eye can create vivid and meaningful images. This introduces the central theme of the poem: the connection between inner vision (imagination) and external reality.

The speaker envisions a beautiful and serene scene: a "fountain large and fair," which represents the purity and freshness of nature. The fountain could symbolize a source of life or renewal. Alongside it, there is a willow tree, often associated with melancholy or introspection, its presence adding an element of emotional depth to the scene. A "ruined hut" introduces a contrast to the natural beauty, symbolizing decay or loss, possibly reflecting the passage of time or forgotten memories.

Most significantly, the speaker sees "thee" and "me" in the scene. The speaker’s vision of themselves and the person they are addressing indicates the personal and intimate nature of the daydream. The poem thus becomes a moment of nostalgic longing or romantic reflection, where the daydreamer imagines a perfect or idealized scenario involving a loved one.

As the poem progresses, the speaker elaborates on the vision, which becomes increasingly dreamlike and abstract. These images could symbolize the inner thoughts, desires, and emotions of the speaker, making the poem a personal exploration of imagination and memory. The daydream could also represent an escape from reality, where the speaker is able to construct a world of their own, free from the constraints of the physical world.

The poem concludes ambiguously, with the speaker trailing off ("And thee, and me, and..."), as if lost in the beauty of the daydream or unable to fully express the emotions and images that have emerged.

 

Themes:

Imagination and Memory: The speaker’s ability to create vivid pictures when they shut their eyes reflects the power of the imagination, which can draw from memory, desire, and inner experience.

Nature: The poem uses natural imagery (fountain, willow, ruined hut) to convey emotions of serenity, melancholy, and the passage of time.

Love and Longing: The presence of "thee" and "me" suggests an emotional or romantic connection between the speaker and the other person, adding a layer of intimacy and desire.

Escapism: The daydream provides an escape from the ordinary world, allowing the speaker to create a space where they can retreat and reflect.

 

Conclusion:

"A Day Dream" is a lyrical and introspective poem that highlights the richness of human imagination and the emotional power of daydreams. Coleridge explores how the mind can conjure images and feelings that offer both solace and longing, creating a world where the speaker can momentarily escape from reality into a more personal and meaningful realm.

 

Analysis

The analysis of "A Day Dream" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge offers insight into the poem’s emotional depth, thematic explorations, and the symbolic imagery that enriches its meaning. The poem captures the delicate interaction between imagination, memory, and emotion, with each element working together to create a dreamlike atmosphere.

 

1. Imagination as a Creative Force:

The opening line, "My eyes make pictures when they're shut," emphasizes the central role of imagination in the poem. Coleridge explores the idea that, even in the absence of visual stimuli, the mind has the capacity to create vivid and meaningful images. The act of shutting the eyes symbolizes the withdrawal from the external world and a deep dive into the inner world of thoughts and desires. This process of daydreaming enables the speaker to craft their own reality, which contrasts with the fixed and often harsh nature of the external world. It shows how human consciousness can be both a prison and a sanctuary, with imagination serving as an escape.

 

2. Nature as a Reflection of Emotion:

Nature plays a crucial role in the poem, particularly through the imagery of the fountain, willow, and ruined hut. These elements do not merely serve as picturesque settings but carry deeper symbolic weight:

Fountain: A "fountain large and fair" suggests purity, renewal, and vitality. Fountains have historically been symbols of life and the flow of energy, and here, it may represent a source of emotional or spiritual renewal. It reflects the rejuvenating quality of daydreaming, where the speaker is able to escape into a world of beauty and tranquility.

Willow: The willow tree, often associated with melancholy and introspection, introduces a bittersweet note to the scene. Its association with sadness may reflect the speaker's internal longing or the complexity of human emotion. In the context of a daydream, the willow could symbolize emotional depth and the intermingling of joy and sorrow.

Ruined Hut: The "ruined hut" stands in stark contrast to the fountain and willow, introducing themes of decay, loss, and the passage of time. It could signify memories of something once beautiful but now faded or irretrievably lost. The juxtaposition of the ruined hut against the lush fountain suggests that daydreams are not always purely idealistic; they may also evoke feelings of nostalgia, regret, or a longing for a past that no longer exists.

 

3. The Intimate Relationship:

The presence of "thee" and "me" in the speaker's vision is one of the poem's most poignant elements. This inclusion reveals that the daydream is not just a solitary escape but also an intimate act involving the other person. The two individuals in the daydream are intertwined, suggesting a bond or emotional connection. The phrase "And thee, and me, and..." (ending in ellipsis) creates a sense of open-endedness, as if the daydream is so rich and complex that it cannot be fully articulated.

This connection hints at romantic or deep emotional yearning, where the daydream might represent an idealized vision of love, companionship, or union. The ambiguity of the poem’s ending, with the trailing off of the sentence, reflects the elusiveness of perfect love or happiness—a fleeting, ever-distant ideal that the speaker can only imagine.

 

4. Escapism and the Power of the Mind:

The poem conveys a sense of escapism—an escape from the physical world into the realm of dreams. Daydreaming allows the speaker to withdraw into an ideal world, one of beauty, serenity, and emotional intimacy. This escape may serve as a refuge from the speaker’s real-life circumstances, which remain unspecified. The nature of the daydream is also revealing: while it is a source of comfort and joy, it is also bittersweet, as it represents an unattainable perfection or an ideal that cannot be fully realized in the waking world.

 

5. Structure and Form:

The poem's form, with its flowing, lyrical quality, mirrors the fluidity of daydreaming itself. Coleridge employs a simple and consistent rhyme scheme, which gives the poem a sense of rhythm and movement, much like the steady flow of a dream. The line breaks and the use of ellipsis at the end of the poem reinforce the sense of incompleteness, as if the speaker is lost in their daydream, unable to fully capture the essence of what they envision. This incomplete expression may also suggest that the emotional experience of daydreaming cannot be fully articulated in words.

 

6. Philosophical Implications:

On a deeper level, the poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the power of the human mind to transcend the limitations of the physical world. Coleridge invites readers to consider the ways in which imagination shapes their perception of reality. By invoking a scene of idealized beauty and emotional connection, the poem encourages us to reflect on the role of dreams, imagination, and memory in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

 

Conclusion:

In "A Day Dream," Coleridge explores the tension between reality and imagination, using natural imagery, symbolic elements, and a deeply introspective tone to create a vision of emotional longing and idealized beauty. Through the lens of daydreaming, the speaker is able to envision a world that is both deeply personal and emotionally resonant. The poem suggests that daydreams, while ephemeral and fleeting, offer a glimpse into the deeper recesses of the mind, where emotions, memories, and desires coexist in an intricate, often contradictory, dance.