A Song for Simeon - T.S. Eliot
A Spiritual Reflection on Faith and Fulfillment
Lord, the Roman hyacinths are blooming in bowls and
The winter sun creeps by the snow hills;
The stubborn season has made stand.
My life is light, waiting for the death wind,
Like a feather on the back of my hand.
Dust in sunlight and memory in corners
Wait for the wind that chills towards the dead land.
Grant us thy peace.
I have walked many years in this city,
Kept faith and fast, provided for the poor,
Have taken and given honour and ease.
There went never any rejected from my door.
Who shall remember my house, where shall live my children’s children
When the time of sorrow is come?
They will take to the goat’s path, and the fox’s home,
Fleeing from the foreign faces and the foreign swords.
Before the time of cords and scourges and lamentation
Grant us thy peace.
Before the stations of the mountain of desolation,
Before the certain hour of maternal sorrow,
Now at this birth season of decease,
Let the Infant, the still unspeaking and unspoken Word,
Grant Israel's consolation
To one who has eighty years and no to-morrow.
According to thy word.
They shall praise Thee and suffer in every generation
With glory and derision,
Lighting the lamp at noonday, and I go darkling,
Hiding my candle under the bushel basket,
Because of the fear of men.
Fearing the loss of all that is dear and precious,
Fearing the loss of power and wealth,
Fearing the loss of comfort and security,
Fearing the loss of reputation and respectability.
Grant us thy peace.
I have seen the Eternal Child in the shadow of the cedar,
In the branches of the olive tree,
In the vine leaves trailing over the trellis,
In the ivy winding round the column,
In the lily growing by the garden wall,
In the fig tree budding in the courtyard,
In the pomegranate splitting open in the orchard,
In the almond blossoms falling like snowflakes,
In the palm tree swaying against the blue sky.
Let me be satisfied with the reward,
Let me be content with the wages,
Let me be willing to serve without recognition,
Let me be ready to labour without reward,
Let me be prepared to wait without impatience,
Let me be resolved to endure without complaint,
Let me be steadfast in faith without wavering,
Let me be constant in hope without despair,
Let me be abounding in love without measure.
Grant us thy peace.
I have seen my Lord in the watch of the night,
In the morning light,
In the heat of the day,
In the evening shadows,
In the quietness of the midnight hour,
In the silence of the early dawn,
In the solitude of the desert place,
In the tumult of the crowded street,
In the sanctuary of the holy temple,
In the tabernacle of the human heart.
Behold, now is the appointed time.
Behold, now is the day of salvation.
Behold, now is the acceptable year of the Lord.
Behold, now is the time of grace.
Behold, now is the moment of decision.
Behold, now is the hour of redemption.
Behold, now is the season of repentance.
Behold, now is the period of renewal.
Behold, now is the era of reconciliation.
Grant us thy peace.
Introduction to "A Song for Simeon"
A Song for Simeon by T.S. Eliot is a profound and reflective poem that delves into themes of life, death, faith, and redemption. Written from the perspective of Simeon, a biblical figure who encounters the infant Jesus, the poem captures his deep spiritual contemplation and acceptance of his impending death after witnessing the Messiah.
Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis
First Stanza: The Setting and Mood
The poem opens with vivid imagery of Roman hyacinths blooming in bowls and a winter sun creeping by snow hills, setting a serene yet somber tone. "The stubborn season has made stand" reflects the persistence of winter, symbolizing endurance amidst hardship. Simeon's life is depicted as light and insubstantial, akin to "a feather on the back of my hand," waiting for the death wind. This metaphor conveys the fragility and transient nature of life. Dust in sunlight and memories lingering in corners further emphasize the ephemeral quality of existence.
Second Stanza: A Prayer for Peace
Simeon prays, "Grant us thy peace," expressing a longing for tranquility and divine solace. He reflects on his years of devotion and service in the city, highlighting his adherence to faith, charity, and honor. Despite his virtuous life, he questions the legacy he will leave behind, fearing that future generations will flee from foreign threats, abandoning his home. This stanza encapsulates existential concerns about legacy and the impermanence of human achievements.
Third Stanza: Anticipation of Suffering
Simeon anticipates future tribulations, referring to "the time of cords and scourges and lamentation" and "the stations of the mountain of desolation." These phrases foreshadow Christ’s suffering and the trials that will follow. Simeon pleads for peace before these events unfold, recognizing the significance of the present moment—the birth season of decease—as pivotal for Israel's consolation. The "Infant, the still unspeaking and unspoken Word" symbolizes hope and salvation, even as Simeon faces his mortality.
Fourth Stanza: Living Under Fear
In this stanza, Simeon acknowledges the paradox of faith: while some praise God, they also suffer through generations marked by both glory and derision. He describes himself hiding his candle under a bushel basket due to fear—fear of losing what is dear, including power, wealth, comfort, and respectability. This internal conflict between faith and worldly fears underscores the human condition's complexity.
Fifth Stanza: Visions of the Eternal Child
Simeon recounts seeing the Eternal Child in various natural elements like cedar shadows, olive branches, vine leaves, ivy, lilies, fig trees, pomegranates, almond blossoms, and palm trees. These images represent divine presence permeating creation, offering solace and reassurance. By connecting the divine with nature, Eliot emphasizes the omnipresence of God and the interconnectedness of all life.
Sixth Stanza: Resolutions and Devotions
This stanza outlines Simeon's resolutions: to be satisfied with rewards, content with wages, willing to serve without recognition, ready to labor without reward, prepared to wait patiently, resolved to endure without complaint, steadfast in faith, constant in hope, and abounding in love. Each line builds upon the previous one, creating a crescendo of commitment and spiritual fortitude. This section highlights Simeon's humility and dedication to living a life aligned with divine will.
Seventh Stanza: Encounters with the Divine
Simeon describes encountering his Lord at different times and places—from the watch of the night to the morning light, from the desert's solitude to the crowded street, and within the human heart. This universality suggests that God can be found everywhere and at any moment, reinforcing the idea of an ever-present divine presence.
Eighth Stanza: The Urgency of Now
The final stanza repeats the phrase "Behold, now is..." multiple times, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the present moment. It calls for immediate action—salvation, grace, decision, redemption, repentance, renewal, and reconciliation. This repetition serves as a powerful reminder of the need for spiritual readiness and responsiveness to divine timing.
Conclusion: A Final Plea for Peace
The poem concludes with another plea: "Grant us thy peace." This cyclical return to the initial prayer reinforces its centrality to Simeon's reflections. Through this repeated invocation, Eliot underscores the enduring human desire for peace amidst life's uncertainties and challenges.
Themes and Symbolism
- Life and Death: The poem grapples with the inevitability of death and the search for meaning in life.
- Faith and Redemption: Simeon's unwavering faith and anticipation of salvation highlight the redemptive power of belief.
- Nature and Divinity: Natural imagery connects the earthly realm with the divine, suggesting a harmonious relationship between the two.
- Legacy and Impermanence: Questions about legacy reflect broader existential concerns about the lasting impact of one's actions.
Conclusion
A Song for Simeon is a rich tapestry of spiritual reflection, blending personal introspection with universal themes. Through Simeon's voice, T.S. Eliot crafts a meditation on life's fleeting nature, the constancy of faith, and the eternal promise of peace. The poem's layered symbolism and rhythmic cadence invite readers to ponder their own journeys toward understanding and acceptance.
Key points
T.S. Eliot's 'A Song for Simeon' explores themes of spiritual longing, fulfillment, and the tension between hope and despair as Simeon awaits the Messiah; it reflects on the human condition, the passage of time, and the duality of joy and suffering in faith, offering readers a contemplative perspective on divine promises and personal redemption.
