First Love by John Clare. Part 2.

Courtesy of Poets' Graves website.
 
 
And then my blood rushed to my face
And took my eyesight quite away
The trees and bushes round the place
Seemed midnight at noon day
I could not see a single thing
Words from my eyes did start
They spoke as chords do from the string
And blood burnt round my heart
 
 
Stanza Two:
 
Clare uses "And" for the sense of continuity to open this stanza showing further examples of how he has been physically affected as in "my blood rushed to my face" and "took my eyesight quite away" used once again metaphorically. Consider the seriousness of how Clare wants you to empathise with him. The notion of being blinded is reminiscent of Cupid-symbolic of love-blindfolded and hence unable to see.
The third line refers briefly to nature in the sense of "trees and bushes." It seems that Clare is aware of the background but when he tells you that there "seemed midnight at noon day" time has made him disorientated. It could be noon but it could also be midnight. His senses are confused, deceiving him because he is unable to see "a single thing." This would create more empathy; he has lost his vision completely. This is what he appears to be saying.
 
In line 7 you have mixed imagery to show absolute chaos not just confusion with "words" as in the spoken sounds of speech confused with "eyes." This is a paradox. To try to explain, he literally feels that words of love are coming from his eyes (known as the window to the soul) which have been blinded. It probably doesn't make much sense but is love something we can explain rationally and articulately??? Is it tangible? If you understand what I mean the answer is probably no-it's a complex emotional response.
 
"Chords" represent a number of musical sounds played simultaneously from an instrument, say a "string[ed]" instrument. In the play Twelfth Night Orsino comments: "If music be the food of love, play on." Music creates mood. Love could be said to express mood in an excessive way. Metaphorically, those romantics amongst us may talk about the "strings of my heart" or "pull the strings" as if love is so intense that the "lover" has full control not only of the heart of that person hopelessly in love but his/her emotional state. Notice the dramatic ending to this stanza with the alliteration of "blood burnt." Look particularly at "burnt" and this conjures up the passion and lust with connotations of destruction.
Literally, if the blood could burn then the person would die in torture, in agony. Once more, Clare speaks metaphorically but it should not detract from the powerful notion of first love.
 

 
The lady Clare. Courtesy of JJ Waterhouse.com
 
 
COPYRIGHT 2013. Permission must be obtained from the author before reproduction of any of this material in this review.

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