Rhyme Of The Dead Self

A.R.D.Fairburn

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1. What is the poem Rhyme of the Dead Self about?
2. What is the theme of the poem Rhyme of the Dead Self?
3. What is the structure of the poem Rhyme of the Dead Self?
4. Line by Line Analysis and Literary Devises

What is the poem Rhyme of the Dead Self about?

A.R.D. Fairburn (1904-1957) was a prominent New Zealand poet, artist, and critic. He is known for his contributions to New Zealand literature and his exploration of themes such as disillusionment, social commentary, and the contrast between idealism and reality. Published in 1930 as part of Fairburn’s collection “He Shall Not Rise,” the poem reflects the poet’s own disillusionment with life and love during that period.

“Rhyme of the Dead Self” showcases Fairburn’s ability to blend dark humor with introspection, highlighting the conflict between youthful dreams and the harsh realities of life.

What is the theme of the poem Rhyme of the Dead Self?

The theme of “Rhyme of the Dead Self” revolves around the conflict between youthful idealism and cynical disillusionment. The poem presents a speaker who, frustrated by his own past idealistic beliefs about love and life, metaphorically murders his younger self. The speaker triumphs over his former innocence, dismissing it as mere folly and foolish dreams of love. The poem suggests that this rejection of youthful idealism comes at a significant cost. While the speaker revels in the act of discarding his naive self, there is an underlying sense of sadness and loss. The rejection of idealism signifies resignation to bleak cynicism, leaving behind hope and innocence.

What is the structure of the poem Rhyme of the Dead Self?

“Rhyme of the Dead Self” is a three-stanza poem written in free verse. Although it contains hints of a rough, irregular four-beat rhythm, there is no consistent meter. The poem is neatly organized into quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme follows an ABAB pattern. The form of the poem reflects the speaker’s mental state. The mixture of structured stanzas, steady rhyme, and erratic rhythms suggests that the speaker is capable of organizing their thoughts within a traditional form, but their rambling and ranting nature reveals a sense of madness or turmoil.

Line by Line Analysis and Literary Devises

Tonight I have taken all that I was
and strangled him that pale lily-white lad
I have choked him with these my hands these claws
catching him as he lay a-dreaming in his bed.

The poem is a profound exploration of the loss of innocence and idealism that comes with the passage of time and the harsh realities of life. The first line “Tonight I have taken all that I was” indicates that the speaker has undergone a significant change and has decided to move away from their past beliefs and ideals. In the second line, the speaker refers to their past self as a “pale lily-white lad.” This description suggests the innocence, purity, and naivety of the speaker’s former self. The speaker metaphorically strangles and chokes their younger self, symbolizing the act of suppressing or killing off their dreams, ideals, and illusions. The use of the words “hands” and “claws” suggests a sense of desperation and aggression in this act. The younger self was caught in an inopportune moment of fantasizing and dreaming which suggests the fragility and vulnerability of dreams when confronted with the realities of life.

Then chuckling I dragged out his foolish brains
that were full of pretty love-tales heighho the holly
and emptied them holus bolus to the drains
those dreams of love oh what ruinous folly.

• heighho the holly – alludes to the song “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind” in As You Like It.

The second stanza is an intricate and vivid description of the meticulous process of discarding the illusions and dreams clouding the judgment of the younger self. The “chuckling” in the first line reflects a sadistic pleasure in removing their younger self’s foolish thoughts and ideas. In the second line “heighho the holly” alludes to the song Amiens, a follower of Duke Senior, sang comparing the harshness of winter to the ingratitude of human beings. In both instances, “heighho” serves as an interjection expressing resignation or a sigh. However, while the preceding lines of the poem and the song carry negative or melancholic undertones, the interjection “heighho” is juxtaposed with the negative mood, adding a touch of joyfulness or lightheartedness. The third line suggests that the speaker has moved beyond the phase of sighing over love and indulging in idealized fantasies by metaphorically describing the act as emptying the brain “holus blous to the drains”. The stanza ends with the speaker reflecting on the romantic dreams and ideals as foolish and destructive. They view these dreams as having led to ruin or disappointment, indicating a negative perception of the effects of love and idealism.

He is dead pale youth and he shall not rise
on the third day or any other day
sloughed like a snakeskin there he lies
and he shall not trouble me again for aye.

• similie – sloughed like a snakeskin there he lies
• allusion – shall not rise on the third day or any other day

The third stanza reveals a sense of cynicism towards the act of killing off the speaker’s naive past self. The speaker metaphorically declares the death of their former self, emphasizing that their youthful, naive self is gone and will not return. The phrase “pale youth” suggests a lifeless and faded version of the speaker’s former identity. The reference to the resurrection of Jesus in the second line, “on the third day or any other day,” alludes to the potential for rebirth or revival. However, by explicitly stating that there is no chance of resurrection, the speaker indicates that the transformation they have undergone is complete and irreversible. This emphasizes the finality of their departure from their former naive self. The line “sloughed like a snakeskin there he lies” employs a simile to describe the discarded past self. Like a snake shedding its skin, the speaker has shed their old identity and left it behind, symbolizing a complete separation from their previous naive state. The phrase “there he lies” further emphasizes the sense of finality and detachment. The poem ends with the speaker expressing relief that their younger self will no longer bother or burden them. They anticipate a future free from the naivety and idealism that they associate with their former self.