La Fuite de la Lune by Oscar Wilde
“La Fuite de la Lune,” a poem by Oscar Wilde, is a beautiful piece featured in his poetry volume Poems. This poem portrays a tranquil yet subtly haunting night scene, blending elements of peace and solitude. Wilde masterfully creates a serene landscape of deep silence, punctuated by the lone cry of a bird, evoking a sense of longing and solitude. For those interested in exploring more of Wilde’s evocative poetry, Poems ebook is available at PageVio.
1. The Poem
To outer senses there is peace,
A dreamy peace on either hand
Deep silence in the shadowy land,
Deep silence where the shadows cease.
Save for a cry that echoes shrill
From some lone bird disconsolate;
A corncrake calling to its mate;
The answer from the misty hill.
And suddenly the moon withdraws
Her sickle from the lightening skies,
And to her sombre cavern flies,
Wrapped in a veil of yellow gauze.
Download La Fuite de la Lune Poster
Size: 8″ x 12″ (2:3 ratio)
Format: PDF
Copyright information: For personal use only
Note: Actual poster background color is white. For the sample poster, the background is made gray for illustration purpose.
2. La Fuite de la Lune Analysis
“La Fuite de la Lune” conjures an image of a tranquil, yet subtly unsettling, natural scene through the interplay of peace and disturbance, light and shadow. Let’s analyze it stanza by stanza:
1. The opening stanza establishes a setting of profound peace and stillness, invoking the “outer senses” — the physical perception of quietness. The repetition of “deep silence” emphasizes the quietude of this “shadowy land,” a place where the absence of light and noise creates a serene atmosphere. The line “Deep silence where the shadows cease” suggests a place or moment where even the subtle movements of shadows come to rest, possibly indicating the deepest part of the night or an area untouched by moonlight.
2. The second stanza introduces a contrasting element to this peaceful scene with the sound of a lone, disconsolate bird. The corncrake’s shrill cry, calling to its mate, introduces a sense of yearning or loneliness. The mention of the “answer from the misty hill” could imply an echo or a response, suggesting distance and isolation. This interruption of silence by the bird’s call adds a poignant touch to the otherwise still landscape, emphasizing the solitude of the bird.
3. In the final stanza, the focus shifts to the moon, often a symbol of change, time, and sometimes loneliness in poetry. The moon withdrawing her “sickle from the lightening skies” could indicate the end of the night or the waning of the moon, symbolizing change or decline. The imagery of the moon retreating to a “sombre cavern” and being “wrapped in a veil of yellow gauze” could suggest concealment or a transition from night to day, adding a sense of mystery and ending.
The poem paints a picture of a quiet, nocturnal landscape that is momentarily disturbed by a sense of longing (as symbolized by the corncrake’s call) and the ever-changing phases of nature (represented by the moon’s movements). It captures the interplay between peace and a subtle undercurrent of solitude or change.
3. Conclusion
If you appreciate the captivating imagery and mood of “La Fuite de la Lune,” exploring other poems by Oscar Wilde could further enrich your experience.
