Le Panneau by Oscar Wilde
“Le Panneau” is a captivating and vividly descriptive poem by Oscar Wilde, included in his first poetry volume Poems. This enchanting piece paints a detailed picture of a delicate and almost otherworldly scene set under the shade of a rose tree. “Le Panneau” is a testament to Wilde’s skill in creating vivid, enchanting scenes with his poetry. For those interested in exploring more of Wilde’s poetic works, “Le Panneau” and other fascinating poems can be found in the online book Poems at PageVio.
1. The Poem
Under the rose-tree’s dancing shade
There stands a little ivory girl,
Pulling the leaves of pink and pearl
With pale green nails of polished jade.
The red leaves fall upon the mould,
The white leaves flutter, one by one,
Down to a blue bowl where the sun,
Like a great dragon, writhes in gold.
The white leaves float upon the air,
The red leaves flutter idly down,
Some fall upon her yellow gown,
And some upon her raven hair.
She takes an amber lute and sings,
And as she sings a silver crane
Begins his scarlet neck to strain,
And flap his burnished metal wings.
She takes a lute of amber bright,
And from the thicket where he lies
Her lover, with his almond eyes,
Watches her movements in delight.
And now she gives a cry of fear,
And tiny tears begin to start:
A thorn has wounded with its dart
The pink-veined sea-shell of her ear.
And now she laughs a merry note:
There has fallen a petal of the rose
Just where the yellow satin shows
The blue-veined flower of her throat.
With pale green nails of polished jade,
Pulling the leaves of pink and pearl,
There stands a little ivory girl
Under the rose-tree’s dancing shade.
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. Le Panneau Analysis
“Le Panneau” is a vivid and detailed portrayal of a scene under a rose tree, blending elements of nature with a sense of delicate, almost otherworldly beauty.
The poem begins by describing a “little ivory girl” under the shade of a rose tree. The use of “ivory” to describe the girl gives her an almost statue-like, ethereal quality. She is engaged in the gentle activity of pulling leaves of various colors – “pink and pearl” – with her “pale green nails of polished jade,” adding to her exotic and delicate depiction.
The next stanzas focus on the environment around the girl, with a particular emphasis on the colors and movements of the leaves. The “red leaves fall upon the mould,” and the “white leaves flutter” in the air, creating a dynamic scene filled with color and motion. The sun is likened to a “great dragon” in gold, adding a mythical, vibrant quality to the setting.
The girl then begins to sing while playing a lute, which attracts the attention of a silver crane. The crane’s reaction – “to strain, and flap his burnished metal wings” – adds to the magical atmosphere. The girl’s music not only animates the natural world around her but also captivates her hidden lover, who watches her with delight.
However, the scene briefly turns as the girl cries out in fear, mistaking a falling rose petal for a thorn pricking her ear. This momentary shift to pain and fear is quickly resolved as she realizes the true nature of what has touched her and laughs.
The poem ends as it began, with the girl under the rose tree, pulling leaves. This circular structure emphasizes the timelessness and continuity of the scene. The imagery throughout the poem – combining elements of nature, subtle movements, mythical references, and a hint of romance – creates a dreamlike and enchanting world. The poem overall evokes a sense of serene beauty, delicate interactions between nature and the girl, and a hint of hidden love and magic.
3. Conclusion
May the enchanting imagery of “Le Panneau” by Oscar Wilde, with its ivory girl and rose-tree’s shade, captivate your imagination. Delve deeper into Wilde’s world of poetry with our list at Sevenov.
