Modern Poetry: In Praise of Limestone by WH Auden

Modern Literature (Modern Poetry) 

In Praise of Limestone by Famous Modern Poet W.H Auden

Summary & Critical Analysis:

This poem is very philosophical and was written in May 1948. Auden visited Naples, a coastal city of Mediterranean sea in Italy. For Auden nothing else matters except the limestone. It can dissolve in water but over billions of years when it gets deposited, it hardens. Though the dissolving property remains there, but because it has hardened through ages, so it has rounded shapes and very creamy surface. Also because the water and the limestone keeps on reacting with each other. When the chemical reaction happens between water and limestone, there is a kind of aroma, a kind of fragrance, a good smell that comes from the place. A very subtle but still healing smell comes from the place where there are limestone rocks and water.

This poem is a kind of description of a landscape that was actually visited by poet. But as it comes from a modern poet, it is not just a description of landscape. The landscape’s experience is important. There is a visual feel of the place but also a lot of metaphysical and philosophical signs.

Stanza 1: If it form.  . . . . can easily take.

1) The word ‘we' in the first line is for human race. Poet calls human race as the inconstant ones. Human beings are not given a positive adjective. He also puts himself into this category that’s why he used the word ‘we’.

2) Though we are not constant ones, we are moody, we are changing, unstable, untrustworthy but there is one constant, one thing that is regularly happening with us that we are homesick for a landscape that has a same characteristic like us.

3) It is ironical because limestone dissolves in water. So it’s not a constant rock as it keeps on changing. It is as inconsistent as human beings are. So this landscape of limestone, we people are constantly homesick for. Because we find that it is a kind of reflection of us. We are inconstant ones so is this landscape that dissolves in water.

4, 5, 6) He is actually describing the beauty, joy and the vibrancy of this landscape. The surface is constantly being dissolved in water, so it has rounded slopes and no piercing points. Thyme is a kind of herb that gives good fragrance. The water that dissolves calcium has a kind of good smell. Beneath the rocks there is a system of caves and conduits. There are so many tunnels and ravines that run underneath these rocks. Then the poet says the spring chuckles that is the joyous activity of nature. It is vibrant, dynamic and laughing.

7, 8, 9, 10) These springs i.e. fountains are homes of natural life. They provide sustenance for natural life. There is butterfly, as delicate as you can imagine, very fragile and beautiful to look at. But then there is lizard that stands very harsh conditions. Lizards are the oldest survival animals on the land. So this landscape has springs, it has its fragrance, it has its system of caves and conduits, it provides help for the diverse biological diversity and it is the habitant of many many animals. Short distances means there is not much gap between the slopes and definite places means it has a definite characteristic. This is where the poet separates the landscape from human nature. Here it appears that human beings are like this landscape because it is as inconsistent in water as we human beings are. But in this line he also calls it definite. It is a reality and there is a kind of permanence about this place. (Places here means small grooves and gaps between the rocks)

11) Here the poet uses a positive word for the landscape i.e. mother nature. Now this is no more a landscape that dissolves in water. He creates a scenario as if there is a man and there is a mother and they act like two male and female, contrasting in nature. Her son is any man, the inconstant one

12) From ‘we', there is one individual taken. From inconstant to flirtatious, another negative word used. Flirtatious means you give attention without attention, or simply interest in everyone. It’s superficial attraction that is meaningless. It shows that you are not a serious person rather a casual and careless person. The flirtatious person change the subject of attraction very often. He would flirt in one hour with one person, then the next hour would change his subject of attraction and he would completely forget about the previous person.

13, 14) ‘He resting against a rock in sunlight'  is a very ironical sentence. The poet is saying there is that son, flirtatious male, the inconstant one, who is relaxing against the rock in the sunlight, enjoying the nature. He is never doubting and is so sure that for all his flaws he is loved. Mother nature loves him and provides for him unconditional love. The mother cannot help loving her children no matter how many faults they have.

15) Whatever man does is just to attract and flirt. Power here is the force of action. He has no serious reason except to get attraction. Whether there is singing, war or roses are being grown, his only purpose remains to get attraction. This tells how vain he is.

16, 17) Whether he works in fields, harvest a crop, goes to worship on hill-top temple, from shallow waters to some very beautiful fountains, whether he goes into a jungle or an orchard, he shows his flirtatious behavior.

18,19) Though he is intelligent. These all efforts are like a child who takes short steps to attract the attention of his mother than his brother. But there is no seriousness it’s just like a male flirting with female, a child flirting with mother.

Critical Analysis of First Stanza:

There are two entities that are pitched against each other. There is one man or human race and then there is mother nature. They are two opposites. The man is vain, flirtatious, inconstant one and his all efforts and intelligence are working simply to gain attention. Then there is mother who is happily providing life, who is sheltering life, who is giving attention to her children, who is always there ready to embrace them. This man easily takes the love means the love comes from mother very easily and he takes it.