To A Greek Statue (Poem by Frank Oliver Call)

To A Greek Statue

By Frank Oliver Call

Beautiful statue of Parian marble,

Dreaming alone in the northern sunlight,

Ivory-tinted, your slender arms beckon;

I follow, I follow.

Slender and white is your beautiful body,

Gleaming against the gray walls that surround you;

Like hyacinth-flowers beneath the snow sleeping

Is the dream you emprison; — 

A dream of beauty that lingers forever,

A dream of the amethyst sky of midnight,

A dream of the jacinth blue of still waters,

Reflecting white temples.

Your white arms beckon, I follow, I follow,

My dream goes forth with your dream to wander;

You lead me into a moonlit garden

Beside the Ægean.

White in the moonlight gleams the temple

Cutting the purple sky with its pediment;

Diamonds and sapphires fall from the fountain;

Black are the cypress trees.

The gods are asleep in the silent temple;

Only the lapping of waves on the sea-sand

Mingles its drowsy rhythmical beating

With the bells of the fountain.

Soft lie the panther-skins on the cool grasses,

Not in vain are your white arms lifted;

And my dream of beauty and your dream eternal

Embrace in the moonlight.

Poem Analysis:

Frank Oliver Call's "To A Greek Statue" is a captivating ode to the timeless beauty and enchanting allure of a Greek statue, evoking imagery of classical artistry and mythical landscapes. Let's delve into an analysis of this mesmerizing poem:

Invocation of Beauty: The poem opens with an address to the "Beautiful statue of Parian marble," setting the tone for a contemplation of aesthetic perfection. The speaker is immediately drawn to the statue's allure, captivated by its solitary contemplation in the northern sunlight.

Description of the Statue: Call paints a vivid picture of the statue, describing its slender and ivory-tinted form. The statue's arms, depicted as beckoning, symbolize an invitation to the viewer to engage with its beauty and enter its world.

Symbolism of Dreams: The speaker describes the statue as embodying a dream of eternal beauty, symbolized by references to the amethyst sky, jacinth blue waters, and white temples. This dreamlike imagery suggests a timeless and transcendent quality associated with the statue's aesthetic appeal.

Journey into the Imagination: As the speaker follows the beckoning arms of the statue, they are transported into a moonlit garden beside the Aegean Sea. This journey symbolizes a transcendence of physical reality into the realm of imagination and artistic inspiration.

Moonlit Landscape: Call vividly portrays the moonlit landscape surrounding the statue, including a gleaming temple, a fountain cascading with diamonds and sapphires, and black cypress trees. These elements evoke a sense of mystical beauty and serenity, enhancing the atmosphere of the poem.

Sleeping Gods and Mythical Imagery: The description of the silent temple and sleeping gods adds a mythical dimension to the poem, imbuing the scene with a sense of timeless grandeur and reverence for ancient Greek culture and mythology.

Harmony with Nature: The mention of panther-skins on cool grasses and the rhythmic beating of waves on the sea-sand suggests a harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world. The statue's embrace with the speaker's dream of beauty further reinforces this sense of unity with nature.

Emotional Resonance: Throughout the poem, Call conveys a profound emotional resonance, blending awe, admiration, and a longing for transcendence. The speaker's journey into the world of the statue reflects a yearning for beauty and inspiration beyond the confines of everyday life.

In summary, "To A Greek Statue" by Frank Oliver Call is a lyrical exploration of aesthetic beauty, artistic inspiration, and the transcendent power of imagination. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Call invites readers to contemplate the timeless allure of classical art and the enduring significance of beauty in the human experience.