Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Of Nicolette" by E.E. Cummings is a lush, romantic poem that captures the ethereal beauty and delicate emotions of its titular character, Nicolette. The poem is rich with imagery and classical references, evoking a sense of timelessness and dreamlike fantasy.

The poem begins with a description of a castle "dreaming in marble," which sets the scene as one of grandeur and mystery. The castle, compared to a "gigantic ghost-flower born of night," is depicted as both ethereal and monumental, with "white towers to the moon" that emphasize its otherworldly nature. The setting is infused with a "passionate darkness" and the gentle music of "tiny troubadours," creating a serene yet haunting atmosphere.

Cummings then describes a "Winged Passion" awakening within the night, as the "syllables of that mysterious prayer" fall like "angel's tears." This suggests an atmosphere charged with emotion and a sense of divine or mystical presence, as though the night itself is alive with spiritual energy. The metaphor of an "opening lily" is used to convey the gradual unveiling of a "trembling heart," symbolizing the emergence of something pure and beautiful from the depths of the night.

As the poem progresses, Cummings introduces the figure of Nicolette, who is revealed as the embodiment of this ethereal beauty. The "high shining tower" that "gave the moon a nymphlike face" represents Nicolette, whose "snowy symmetry of grace" captivates the night. Her beauty is described as haunting, much like "music haunts the lyre," suggesting that her presence is both enchanting and melancholic.

Nicolette is depicted as a creature of light and purity, with "white hands" and "shining feet." She carefully avoids the "treacherous snare" of the moonbeam, seeking refuge in the "harbouring dark," which may symbolize her desire to remain untainted or hidden from the harshness of the world. Her movements are delicate, as she "glided, a drop of radiance, to the grass," and her emotions are portrayed as sensitive, with her "heart at every kiss of daisy-cup" beating wildly, showing her deep connection to the natural world.

The poem concludes with a focus on Nicolette's beauty and the reverence it inspires in the surrounding nature. The "beauteous colour" of her cheek fades with the approach of each "bough that reverently bent / to touch the yellow wonder of her hair." This final image encapsulates the delicate interplay between Nicolette and her environment, emphasizing her purity, vulnerability, and the profound effect she has on the world around her.

"Of Nicolette" is a lyrical and evocative exploration of beauty, innocence, and the tension between light and darkness. Cummings uses rich, sensory language to create a dreamlike atmosphere, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and where the character of Nicolette embodies the fragile and fleeting nature of beauty and grace.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...