“Silver” by Walter de la Mare is a lyrical and evocative poem that captures the serene and transformative beauty of a moonlit night. Through exquisite imagery and gentle rhythm, de la Mare invites the reader into a world hushed and bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon, where everyday objects and creatures are imbued with a magical, shimmering quality. This detailed analysis will explore the poem line by line, delve into its background, and highlight the rich tapestry of figures of speech and literary devices that contribute to its timeless charm and enduring appeal.
Contents
Poem: “Silver” by Walter de la Mare
Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws and a silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
— Walter de la Mare
Line-by-Line Explanation and Detailed Analysis:
Stanza 1:
- “Slowly, silently, now the moon”: This opening line establishes the quiet, almost magical atmosphere. The adverbs “slowly” and “silently” set a contemplative and gentle tone, immediately drawing the reader into a nocturnal scene.
- “Walks the night in her silver shoon;”: Here, the moon is personified as a female figure (notice “her”) walking. “Shoon” is an archaic plural of “shoe,” suggesting a timeless, perhaps even whimsical quality. The “silver shoon” immediately introduces the dominant motif of silver, which represents the moon’s light transforming everything it touches.
- “This way, and that, she peers, and sees”: The personification continues, depicting the moon as actively observing its surroundings, almost with a sense of wonder or curiosity. This emphasizes the moon’s pervasive influence.
- “Silver fruit upon silver trees;”: This line vividly illustrates the transformative power of moonlight. Ordinary fruit and trees are rendered extraordinary, shimmering with the moon’s silver glow. This image emphasizes the pervasive nature of the moonlight, touching every detail.
Stanza 2:
- “One by one the casements catch”: “Casements” refer to windows that open on hinges. The line suggests a gradual illumination, as the moon’s beams selectively light up each window. This adds a sense of quiet progression to the night.
- “Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;”: The moon’s “beams” are its rays of light. “Thatch” refers to a roof made of straw or reeds. The adjective “silvery” again underscores the moon’s effect, making even humble elements like a thatched roof gleam.
- “Couched in his kennel, like a log,”: This line shifts focus to a domestic animal. “Couched” means lying down. The dog is deep in sleep, emphasizing the stillness and peace of the night. The simile “like a log” highlights its deep slumber and stillness.
- “With paws of silver sleeps the dog;”: The silver motif extends to the sleeping dog, whose paws are imagined to be shimmering under the moonlight. This detail reinforces the idea that everything is touched and transformed by the moon’s light.
Stanza 3:
- “From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep”: “Cote” refers to a dovecote, a shelter for doves. The “shadowy” nature of the cote contrasts with the “white breasts,” suggesting that even in darkness, the moon’s light reveals glimpses of beauty.
- “Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;”: The doves, like the dog, are asleep, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. Their feathers are described as “silver-feathered,” again emphasizing the moon’s pervasive influence and its ability to turn the ordinary into something precious.
- “A harvest mouse goes scampering by,”: This introduces a tiny, quick-moving creature, adding a subtle element of life and movement to the otherwise still scene. “Scampering” suggests a fleeting, almost delicate presence.
- “With silver claws and a silver eye;”: Even this tiny mouse is not immune to the moon’s transformative power. Its claws and eye are rendered “silver,” showing how comprehensively the moonlight covers the world, down to the smallest detail.
Stanza 4:
- “And moveless fish in the water gleam,”: This line shifts to aquatic life. “Moveless” suggests the fish are still, perhaps suspended in the water or appearing motionless from the observer’s perspective, reflecting the overall quietness. Their “gleam” indicates the moon’s light reflecting off their scales.
- “By silver reeds in a silver stream.”: The final line brings the poem to a close by returning to the pervasive “silver” motif. The reeds and the stream itself are bathed in moonlight, creating a complete picture of a world transformed and illuminated by the moon. This emphasizes the complete immersion of the scene in the moon’s light, creating a harmonious and unified vision.
Themes:
- The Transformative Power of Moonlight: The central theme is how moonlight transforms the ordinary world into something magical and ethereal. Everything touched by the moon’s “silver” light becomes beautiful and precious.
- Peace and Tranquility: The poem evokes a profound sense of calm and stillness, as animals sleep and the world is bathed in a gentle, quiet glow.
- Beauty in Nature: De la Mare highlights the inherent beauty of the natural world, even in its simplest forms (fruit, trees, animals, water), which is further enhanced by the moonlight.
- Observation and Wonder: The poem encourages the reader to observe the world closely and appreciate the subtle wonders that occur at night.
Background:
Walter de la Mare (1873–1956) was an English poet, short story writer, and novelist, best known for his children’s literature and his evocative, often mysterious, poetry. “Silver” is one of his most famous and beloved poems.
While pinpointing the absolute first publication of “Silver” can be tricky without direct access to publishing archives, it is widely associated with and frequently appears in collections of his poetry. One significant early collection where it appeared is Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes (1913). This collection solidified de la Mare’s reputation as a master of whimsical and often haunting verse, particularly for younger readers, though his poems often resonated deeply with adults as well. “Silver” perfectly fits the lyrical and imaginative style prevalent in “Peacock Pie.”
Figures of Speech and Literary Devices:
- Personification:
- “the moon / Walks the night in her silver shoon;” (The moon is given the human action of walking and wearing shoes, and referred to with a feminine pronoun.)
- “she peers, and sees” (The moon is given the human actions of peering and seeing.)
- Imagery: The poem is rich in visual imagery, primarily focusing on the color “silver” and its shimmering effect:
- “silver shoon”
- “Silver fruit upon silver trees”
- “silvery thatch”
- “paws of silver”
- “silver-feathered sleep”
- “silver claws and a silver eye”
- “moveless fish in the water gleam”
- “silver reeds in a silver stream” The consistent use of “silver” creates a cohesive and immersive visual experience. Auditory imagery is also present in “silently.”
- Metaphor/Symbolism:
- “Silver”: While literally describing the color imparted by moonlight, “silver” also acts as a symbol for purity, magic, transformation, and preciousness. It elevates the mundane to the extraordinary.
- The moon itself can be seen as a symbol of gentle guidance, subtle power, and nocturnal mystery.
- Simile:
- “Couched in his kennel, like a log,” (Compares the sleeping dog’s stillness to a log.)
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds adds to the musicality and flow of the poem:
- “Slowly, silently, now the moon” (s sound)
- “silver shoon” (s sound)
- “peers, and sees / Silver” (s sound)
- “Couched…kennel” (k sound)
- “paws…sleeps” (s sound)
- “shadowy cote…silver-feathered sleep” (s sound)
- “moveless…water” (w sound, though subtle)
- “silver stream” (s sound)
- Repetition: The word “silver” (and “silvery”) is repeated extensively throughout the poem. This repetition reinforces the central theme of the moon’s pervasive light and creates a hypnotic, almost lullaby-like effect, emphasizing the magical transformation of the night.
- Enjambment: While not overtly prominent, there are instances where lines flow into the next without punctuation, contributing to the smooth, continuous reading of the poem (e.g., “now the moon / Walks the night”).
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH rhyme scheme, creating a gentle and regular rhythm that enhances the poem’s calm and lyrical quality.
- moon / shoon
- sees / trees
- catch / thatch
- log / dog
- peep / sleep
- by / eye
- gleam / stream
- Rhythm and Meter: The poem largely uses a simple, relatively consistent meter, often an anapestic or iambic rhythm, which contributes to its gentle, flowing, and almost narrative quality, making it easy to read and remember.
Other Necessary Details:
- Tone: The tone of the poem is gentle, peaceful, contemplative, and slightly whimsical or magical. It evokes a sense of quiet wonder.
- Atmosphere: The poem creates an atmosphere of profound tranquility, beauty, and subtle enchantment. The world under the moonlight feels hushed and transformed.
- Sensory Details: While predominantly visual (sight), the poem also hints at touch (the softness of feathers) and a general sense of quietness (absence of loud sound).
- Purpose: The poem’s purpose is to evoke a specific mood and imagery, celebrating the subtle beauty of a moonlit night and the way it transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary. It invites the reader to pause and appreciate the quiet magic of the natural world.
“Silver” remains a timeless example of de la Mare’s ability to imbue everyday scenes with a sense of wonder and mystery, captivating readers with its simple yet profound beauty.
Aman Pal
Literatureman
The imagery in this poem is absolutely mesmerizing! The way Walter de la Mare paints the night with silver hues feels almost magical. I love how every detail, from the moon to the sleeping dog, is touched by this ethereal glow. It makes me wonder if the poet is trying to convey a sense of tranquility or perhaps something deeper, like the passage of time. Do you think the silver theme symbolizes purity, or is it more about the stillness of the night? I’d love to hear your interpretation of the “silver-feathered sleep” of the doves—it’s such a unique phrase! Also, how do you feel about the contrast between the moveless fish and the scampering mouse? It’s such a subtle yet striking detail.
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