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VA, PENSIERO, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

"Va, Pensiero" by William Matthews is a contemplative and evocative meditation on mortality, memory, and the power of music. The poem references the final days of the great Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, juxtaposing his death with reflections on personal grief and the emotional resonance of his music.

The poem opens with an image of the Milanese people laying straw around Verdi's house to muffle the noise of horses, allowing the dying composer to pass peacefully. The detail of "scattered straw for blocks around his house" illustrates the reverence and care the community had for Verdi, seeking to honor him with a serene departure. The phrase "easily cede / his breath, piano, no more fuss than that" emphasizes the gentle, unceremonious nature of his passing, marked by a quiet surrender to death.

Matthews then transitions to a personal reflection, describing the moment of realization when "the silence had gone slack," signaling the end of Verdi's life. This moment is paralleled with the speaker's own experience of loss, particularly the death of his father. The phrase "as I thought when my father was first dead, / the consolations will begin" captures the anticipation of the grieving process, where the initial shock of loss gives way to the slow unfolding of consolation and remembrance.

The speaker then delves into the complexity of emotions that accompany grief. The line "Time now to spurn all balms, to hold up like a glass of wine (Libiamo!) the malice" suggests a moment of defiance, rejecting easy comfort and instead embracing the rawness of unresolved feelings. The invocation of "Libiamo," from Verdi's opera "La Traviata," adds a layer of irony and theatricality, juxtaposing the celebratory toast with the bitterness of unexpressed malice and blessings held "like spit."

The speaker's admission of holding onto "spite I burned for fuel" suggests a deeper, introspective acknowledgment of the darker emotions that can accompany grief and loss. The poem questions the roles we play in life, symbolized by the theatrical imagery of "snarls across the stage with a drawn sword" and the complexities of giving and then defiling one's word. This reflects the inherent contradictions in human behavior, where the same individuals can be capable of both noble and ignoble actions.

The mention of "consolation" takes on a nuanced meaning in this context. It is no longer merely a soothing balm but becomes something deeper, shaped by the complexities of memory and emotion. The culmination of the poem's reflection is marked by the historical moment in February 1901, when three massed choirs sang "Va, Pensiero" at Verdi's funeral. This chorus, from Verdi's opera "Nabucco," is a hymn of longing and exile, symbolizing the power of collective memory and emotion.

The description of "their visible, blobbed breath rose like a ghost above the flower-barnacled coffin" captures the ethereal, almost ghostly presence of the singers' breath in the cold air, mingling with the flowers adorning Verdi's coffin. The imagery evokes a sense of the ephemeral nature of life and the enduring power of music to capture and express deep emotions.

The hymn "Va, Pensiero," which translates to "Fly, thought," becomes a metaphor for the movement of thought and emotion. The poem concludes with the line "like a falcon thought goes, and like a falcon thought comes home," suggesting the cyclical nature of memory and the return of thoughts and feelings, much like a falcon returning to its perch. This image encapsulates the poem's exploration of how music and memory transcend time, carrying the weight of collective and individual emotions.

"Va, Pensiero" is a poignant reflection on the intersections of personal and cultural memory, the complexities of grief, and the enduring impact of art. Matthews skillfully intertwines the narrative of Verdi's death with his own meditations on loss, creating a rich tapestry of imagery and emotion that speaks to the universal experience of mourning and the solace found in music.


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