Bring roses if the rose be yet in bloom;
The cataract smokes upon the mountain side,
Our Father Rosicross is in his tomb.
Pull down the blinds, bring fiddle and clarionet
That there be no foot silent in the room
Nor mouth from kissing, nor from wine unwet;
Our Father Rosicross is in his tomb.
In vain, in pain; the cataract still cries;
The everlasting taper lights the gloom;
All wisdom shut into his onyx eyes,
Our Father Rosicross sleeps in his tomb.
Poem Analysis:
William Butler Yeats' poem "The Mountain Tomb" evokes a complex interplay of celebration and mourning, mystery, and esoteric knowledge. Through its rich imagery, evocative language, and symbolic elements, the poem explores themes of life, death, and the enduring quest for wisdom. It is steeped in the mysticism and spiritual symbolism that characterized much of Yeats' work, reflecting his deep interest in the occult and the philosophical traditions of the Rosicrucians.
Structure and Tone
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. This concise form lends itself to a focused and potent expression of the poem's themes. The tone alternates between celebratory and solemn, reflecting the dual nature of life and death. The imperative mood of the first stanza’s opening line, "Pour wine and dance if manhood still have pride," sets a scene of celebration, yet it is immediately juxtaposed with the somber reminder that "Our Father Rosicross is in his tomb."
Imagery and Symbolism
Yeats employs vivid and multifaceted imagery throughout the poem. The "cataract" that "smokes upon the mountain side" suggests both natural beauty and a sense of unstoppable, relentless force. This image serves as a backdrop to the poem's events, symbolizing the passage of time and the inevitability of nature's cycles.
The figure of "Our Father Rosicross" is central to the poem. This figure is likely an allusion to Christian Rosenkreuz, the legendary founder of the Rosicrucian Order, a mystical and esoteric society that fascinated Yeats. The repetition of "Our Father Rosicross is in his tomb" reinforces the themes of death and the preservation of wisdom beyond the grave. The reference to Rosicross encapsulates the quest for hidden knowledge and the tension between public celebration and private mourning.
The "everlasting taper" that "lights the gloom" symbolizes enduring wisdom and enlightenment, even in the face of death. The "onyx eyes" of Father Rosicross suggest a deep, impenetrable knowledge that remains sealed in death, emphasizing the mystery and the inaccessibility of ultimate wisdom.
Themes of Celebration and Mourning
The poem's opening stanza invites a paradoxical celebration in the face of loss: "Pour wine and dance if manhood still have pride, / Bring roses if the rose be yet in bloom." This celebration is tinged with a recognition of impermanence, underscored by the blooming and fading of the rose. The call to "pull down the blinds, bring fiddle and clarionet" suggests a desire to drown out grief with sensory pleasures, highlighting the human impulse to seek solace in communal activities and sensory distractions when faced with mortality.
Yet, despite the revelry, there is an underlying futility and pain, as expressed in the third stanza: "In vain, in pain; the cataract still cries." The persistent crying of the cataract serves as a metaphor for the enduring sorrow and the unceasing passage of time, which no amount of celebration can halt.
The Quest for Wisdom
The poem also delves into the theme of the quest for wisdom, a central motif in Rosicrucian and mystical traditions. The wisdom "shut into his onyx eyes" suggests that the profound truths and esoteric knowledge possessed by Father Rosicross are now inaccessible, locked away with his death. This highlights the poem's exploration of the limitations of human understanding and the eternal pursuit of hidden truths.
"The Mountain Tomb" by William Butler Yeats is a richly layered poem that navigates the interplay between celebration and mourning, the inevitability of death, and the enduring quest for wisdom. Through its evocative imagery and symbolic references, the poem captures the complexity of human emotions in the face of mortality and the perpetual search for meaning beyond the tangible world. Yeats' masterful use of language and symbolism invites readers to contemplate the mysteries of life, death, and the enigmatic knowledge that lies beyond our reach.