Shore, deep,
Where lower
Cliff's steep;
Waves gray,
Where play
Winds gay,
All sleep.
Hark! a sound,
Far and slight,
Breathes around
On the night
High and higher,
Nigh and nigher,
Like a fire,
Roaring, bright.
Now, on 'tis sweeping
With rattling beat,
Like dwarf imp leaping
In gallop fleet
He flies, he prances,
In frolic fancies,
On wave-crest dances
With pattering feet.
Hark, the rising swell,
With each new burst!
Like the tolling bell
Of a convent curst;
Like the billowy roar
On a storm-lashed shore, —
Now hushed, but once more
Maddening to its worst.
O God! the deadly sound
Of the Djinn's fearful cry!
Quick, 'neath the spiral round
Of the deep staircase fly!
See, see our lamplight fade!
And of the balustrade
Mounts, mounts the circling shade
Up to the ceiling high!
'Tis the Djinns' wild streaming swarm
Whistling in their tempest flight;
Snap the tall yews 'neath the storm,
Like a pine flame crackling bright.
Swift though heavy, lo! their crowd
Through the heavens rushing loud
Like a livid thunder-cloud
With its bolt of fiery might!
Ho! they are on us, close without!
Shut tight the shelter where we lie!
With hideous din the monster rout,
Dragon and vampire, fill the sky!
The loosened rafter overhead
Trembles and bends like quivering reed;
Shakes the old door with shuddering dread,
As from its rusty hinge 'twould fly!
Wild cries of hell! voices that howl and shriek!
The horrid troop before the tempest tossed —
O Heaven! — descends my lowly roof to seek:
Bends the strong wall beneath the furious host.
Totters the house as though, like dry leaf shorn
From autumn bough and on the mad blast borne,
Up from its deep foundations it were torn
To join the stormy whirl. Ah! all is lost!
O Prophet! if thy hand but now
Save from these hellish things,
A pilgrim at thy shrine I'll bow,
Laden with pious offerings.
Bid their hot breath its fiery rain
Stream on the faithful's door in vain;
Vainly upon my blackened pane
Grate the fierce claws of their dark wings!
They have passed! — and their wild legion
Cease to thunder at my door;
Fleeting through night's rayless region,
Hither they return no more.
Clanking chains and sounds of woe
Fill the forests as they go;
And the tall oaks cower low,
Bent their flaming light before.
On! on! the storm of wings
Bears far the fiery fear,
Till scarce the breeze now brings
Dim murmurings to the ear;
Like locusts' humming hail,
Or thrash of tiny flail
Plied by the fitful gale
On some old roof-tree sere.
Fainter now are borne
Feeble mutterings still;
As when Arab horn
Swells its magic peal,
Shoreward o'er the deep
Fairy voices sweep,
And the infant's sleep
Golden visions fill.
Each deadly Djinn,
Dark child of fright,
Of death and sin,
Speeds in wild flight.
Hark, the dull moan,
Like the deep tone
Of Ocean's groan,
Afar, by night!
More and more
Fades it slow,
As on shore
Ripples flow, —
As the plaint
Far and faint
Of a saint
Murmured low.
Hark! hist!
Around,
I list!
The bounds
Of space
All trace
Efface
Of sound.
Poem Analysis:
Victor Hugo's poem "The Djinns" is a haunting and atmospheric work that plunges readers into a world of terror and supernatural forces. Set against the backdrop of a stormy night, the poem invokes a sense of dread and foreboding as it explores the malevolent presence of the Djinns.
The Power of Nature and the Unknown: One of the central themes of "The Djinns" is the overwhelming power of nature and the mysteries of the unknown. The poem opens with vivid descriptions of the natural world, from the town and tower to the shore and deep. These descriptions set the stage for the impending chaos and darkness that will descend upon the scene. The poem suggests that despite humanity's attempts to control and understand the world, there are forces beyond our comprehension that can unleash havoc at any moment.
Imagery and Atmosphere: Hugo's use of vivid and evocative imagery plays a crucial role in creating the poem's eerie atmosphere. He employs sensory details to immerse readers in the unfolding terror, from the "deadly sound" of the Djinn's cry to the "rattling beat" and "gallop fleet" of their approach. The imagery of the storm-tossed waves, creaking rafters, and crumbling house heightens the sense of impending doom, making the reader feel as though they are caught in the maelstrom.
Fear and Vulnerability: Throughout the poem, there is a palpable sense of fear and vulnerability. The Djinn's arrival is portrayed as a nightmarish onslaught, with the "horrid troop" descending upon the narrator's dwelling with a fury that threatens to destroy everything. The poem underscores the helplessness of humanity in the face of such supernatural forces, evoking a primal fear of the unknown.
Salvation and Faith: In the latter part of the poem, there is a shift in tone as the narrator seeks salvation and protection from the Djinns. He invokes the Prophet, promising to be a faithful pilgrim and make offerings if he is spared from the demonic onslaught. This turn towards faith and supplication underscores the human instinct to turn to higher powers in times of extreme danger. It also suggests the possibility of divine intervention and salvation even in the darkest of moments.
"The Djinns" by Victor Hugo is a powerful and chilling exploration of fear, vulnerability, and the mysteries of the supernatural. Through vivid imagery and atmospheric language, Hugo creates a sense of impending doom and chaos, drawing readers into a nightmarish world where the forces of nature and the unknown collide. The poem's shift towards faith and supplication in the face of danger adds depth to its narrative, highlighting the enduring human need for salvation and protection in moments of extreme fear. Overall, "The Djinns" remains a haunting and evocative work that continues to captivate readers with its dark and otherworldly atmosphere.