In a Convex Mirror
By Rosemary Dobson
See, in the circle, how we stand,
As pictured angels touching wings
Inflame a Dutch interior
Bespeaking birth, foretelling kings.The room is still and brushed with dusk;
Shall we not disregard the clock
Or let alone be eloquent
The silence between tick and tock?Shall we be fixed within the frame,
This breathing light to clear-cold glass
Until our images are selves
And words to wiser silence pass?But ruined Rostov falls in flame,
Cities crumble and are gone,
Time’s still waters deeply flow
Through Here and Now as Babylon.And swirling through this little frame
Will rive the two of us apart,
Engulfing with unnumbered floods
The hidden spaces of the heart.
Summary of In a Convex Mirror
- Popularity of “In a Convex Mirror”: The poem ‘In a Convex Mirror’ was written by Rosemary Dobson, an Australian poet, anthologist, and illustrator. The poem, which is included in her 1944 collection of poems with the same title, is considered to be a symbolic masterpiece. The poet and her lover are depicted in the poem through the use of a convex mirror, giving the impression that they have the power to foresee future births and histories. The poem’s exceptional poetic characteristic is based on its portrayal of the intersection of time and timelessness through the artist’s personal depiction in the supposed painting.
- “In a Convex Mirror” As a Representative of Art and Love: The poem is written in the first person point of view. The poet is evaluating the couple in the convex mirror as the title of the poem informs the readers. She proceeds to suggest that the depictions on the Dutch wall portray angels with the ability to foretell the birth dates and fortunes of the kings. However, what they feel seemingly eloquent is just the passing of time that she shows through a rhetorical question. In the next stanza, she repeats the same question and suggests that they could transition from visuals to language in order to narrate their tale. Then she moves to the time, stating that it will go on through the ruins of Rostov to Babylon, while they will be mirrored through the convex mirror as if the time is a river and many floods may separate them.
- Major Themes in “In a Convex Mirror”: The poem presents the theme of time, timelessness, and love that she fears that time may become a river and bring a flood to separate them. The poem opens with their enduring love, captured through a convex mirror. The painting may survive time, but the cities may not. Despite this, there is a fear that this river of time may separate them. The confusion given at the end shows their love that is not sure to pass the test of time.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in In a Convex Mirror
literary devices refer to the specific tools that the writers use in their writings. Rosemary Dobson also inserted some literary devices in this poem. A few devices are analyzed below.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “Bespeaking birth, foretelling kings” and the sound of /o/ in “Or let alone be eloquent.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /c/ in “clear-cold”.
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /ng/ in “As pictured angels touching wings,” the sound of /th/ and /l/ in “And swirling though this little frame” and the sound of /f/ in “But ruined Rostov falls in flame.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example,
Shall we be fixed within the frame,
This breathing light to clear-cold glass
Until our images are selves
And words to wiser silence pass?
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “The room is still and brushed with dusk”, “Time’s still waters deeply flow” and “Engulfing with unnumbered floods.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poet used the metaphors of silence as if it is a human being or of time as if it is a river.
- Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. The poet has personified silence as having life and emotions of its own.
- Rhetorical Question: The poem shows the use of rhetorical questions in the second and the third stanzas.
- Simile: The poem shows the use of a simile such as “how we stand,/as pictured angels.”
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. Here, the poem has used the symbols of time, water, and floods.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in In a Convex Mirror
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: The poem shows descriptive diction using similes and personifications.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows the ABCB rhyme scheme in all of its five stanzas. However, the last two stanzas show an ABAB rhyme scheme.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are five stanzas with each having four verses.
Quotes to be Used
The lines stated below from “In a Convex Mirror” are useful to use when motivating the students and telling them about wisdom in a quizzical manner.
Shall we be fixed within the frame,
This breathing light to clear-cold glass
Until our images are selves
And words to wiser silence pass?
