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Ash Wednesday

T. S. EliotEnglish226 lines1 public analyses
English
Original Poetry
Translation
I
I
Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope to turn
Because I do not hope to turn
Desiring this man's gift and that man's scope
Desiring this man's gift and that man's scope
I no longer strive to strive towards such things
I no longer strive to strive towards such things
(Why should the agèd eagle stretch its wings?)
(Why should the agèd eagle stretch its wings?)
Why should I mourn
Why should I mourn
The vanished power of the usual reign?
The vanished power of the usual reign?
Because I do not hope to know
Because I do not hope to know
The infirm glory of the positive hour
The infirm glory of the positive hour
Because I do not think
Because I do not think
Because I know I shall not know
Because I know I shall not know
The one veritable transitory power
The one veritable transitory power
Because I cannot drink
Because I cannot drink
There, where trees flower, and springs flow, for there is nothing again
There, where trees flower, and springs flow, for there is nothing again
Because I know that time is always time
Because I know that time is always time
And place is always and only place
And place is always and only place
And what is actual is actual only for one time
And what is actual is actual only for one time
And only for one place
And only for one place
I rejoice that things are as they are and
I rejoice that things are as they are and
I renounce the blessèd face
I renounce the blessèd face
And renounce the voice
And renounce the voice
Because I cannot hope to turn again
Because I cannot hope to turn again
Consequently I rejoice, having to construct something
Consequently I rejoice, having to construct something
Upon which to rejoice
Upon which to rejoice
And pray to God to have mercy upon us
And pray to God to have mercy upon us
And pray that I may forget
And pray that I may forget
These matters that with myself I too much discuss
These matters that with myself I too much discuss
Too much explain
Too much explain
Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope to turn again
Let these words answer
Let these words answer
For what is done, not to be done again
For what is done, not to be done again
May the judgement not be too heavy upon us
May the judgement not be too heavy upon us
Because these wings are no longer wings to fly
Because these wings are no longer wings to fly
But merely vans to beat the air
But merely vans to beat the air
The air which is now thoroughly small and dry
The air which is now thoroughly small and dry
Smaller and dryer than the will
Smaller and dryer than the will
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still.
Teach us to sit still.
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death
Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
II
II
Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper-tree
Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper-tree
In the cool of the day, having fed to sateity
In the cool of the day, having fed to sateity
On my legs my heart my liver and that which had been contained
On my legs my heart my liver and that which had been contained
In the hollow round of my skull. And God said
In the hollow round of my skull. And God said
Shall these bones live? shall these
Shall these bones live? shall these
Bones live? And that which had been contained
Bones live? And that which had been contained
In the bones (which were already dry) said chirping:
In the bones (which were already dry) said chirping:
Because of the goodness of this Lady
Because of the goodness of this Lady
And because of her loveliness, and because
And because of her loveliness, and because
She honours the Virgin in meditation,
She honours the Virgin in meditation,
We shine with brightness. And I who am here dissembled
We shine with brightness. And I who am here dissembled
Proffer my deeds to oblivion, and my love
Proffer my deeds to oblivion, and my love
To the posterity of the desert and the fruit of the gourd.
To the posterity of the desert and the fruit of the gourd.
It is this which recovers
It is this which recovers
My guts the strings of my eyes and the indigestible portions
My guts the strings of my eyes and the indigestible portions
Which the leopards reject. The Lady is withdrawn
Which the leopards reject. The Lady is withdrawn
In a white gown, to contemplation, in a white gown.
In a white gown, to contemplation, in a white gown.
Let the whiteness of bones atone to forgetfulness.
Let the whiteness of bones atone to forgetfulness.
There is no life in them. As I am forgotten
There is no life in them. As I am forgotten
And would be forgotten, so I would forget
And would be forgotten, so I would forget
Thus devoted, concentrated in purpose. And God said
Thus devoted, concentrated in purpose. And God said
Prophesy to the wind, to the wind only for only
Prophesy to the wind, to the wind only for only
The wind will listen. And the bones sang chirping
The wind will listen. And the bones sang chirping
With the burden of the grasshopper, saying
With the burden of the grasshopper, saying
Lady of silences
Lady of silences
Calm and distressed
Calm and distressed
Torn and most whole
Torn and most whole
Rose of memory
Rose of memory
Rose of forgetfulness
Rose of forgetfulness
Exhausted and life-giving
Exhausted and life-giving
Worried reposeful
Worried reposeful
The single Rose
The single Rose
Is now the Garden
Is now the Garden
Where all loves end
Where all loves end
Terminate torment
Terminate torment
Of love unsatisfied
Of love unsatisfied
The greater torment
The greater torment
Of love satisfied
Of love satisfied
End of the endless
End of the endless
Journey to no end
Journey to no end
Conclusion of all that
Conclusion of all that
Is inconclusible
Is inconclusible
Speech without word and
Speech without word and
Word of no speech
Word of no speech
Grace to the Mother
Grace to the Mother
For the Garden
For the Garden
Where all love ends.
Where all love ends.
Under a juniper-tree the bones sang, scattered and shining
Under a juniper-tree the bones sang, scattered and shining
We are glad to be scattered, we did little good to each other,
We are glad to be scattered, we did little good to each other,
Under a tree in the cool of day, with the blessing of sand,
Under a tree in the cool of day, with the blessing of sand,
Forgetting themselves and each other, united
Forgetting themselves and each other, united
In the quiet of the desert. This is the land which ye
In the quiet of the desert. This is the land which ye
Shall divide by lot. And neither division nor unity
Shall divide by lot. And neither division nor unity
Matters. This is the land. We have our inheritance.
Matters. This is the land. We have our inheritance.
III
III
At the first turning of the second stair
At the first turning of the second stair
I turned and saw below
I turned and saw below
The same shape twisted on the banister
The same shape twisted on the banister
Under the vapour in the fetid air
Under the vapour in the fetid air
Struggling with the devil of the stairs who wears
Struggling with the devil of the stairs who wears
The deceitul face of hope and of despair.
The deceitul face of hope and of despair.
At the second turning of the second stair
At the second turning of the second stair
I left them twisting, turning below;
I left them twisting, turning below;
There were no more faces and the stair was dark,
There were no more faces and the stair was dark,
Damp, jaggèd, like an old man's mouth drivelling, beyond repair,
Damp, jaggèd, like an old man's mouth drivelling, beyond repair,
Or the toothed gullet of an agèd shark.
Or the toothed gullet of an agèd shark.
At the first turning of the third stair
At the first turning of the third stair
Was a slotted window bellied like the figs's fruit
Was a slotted window bellied like the figs's fruit
And beyond the hawthorn blossom and a pasture scene
And beyond the hawthorn blossom and a pasture scene
The broadbacked figure drest in blue and green
The broadbacked figure drest in blue and green
Enchanted the maytime with an antique flute.
Enchanted the maytime with an antique flute.
Blown hair is sweet, brown hair over the mouth blown,
Blown hair is sweet, brown hair over the mouth blown,
Lilac and brown hair;
Lilac and brown hair;
Distraction, music of the flute, stops and steps of the mind
Distraction, music of the flute, stops and steps of the mind
over the third stair,
over the third stair,
Fading, fading; strength beyond hope and despair
Fading, fading; strength beyond hope and despair
Climbing the third stair.
Climbing the third stair.
Lord, I am not worthy
Lord, I am not worthy
Lord, I am not worthy
Lord, I am not worthy
but speak the word only.
but speak the word only.
IV
IV
Who walked between the violet and the violet
Who walked between the violet and the violet
Whe walked between
Whe walked between
The various ranks of varied green
The various ranks of varied green
Going in white and blue, in Mary's colour,
Going in white and blue, in Mary's colour,
Talking of trivial things
Talking of trivial things
In ignorance and knowledge of eternal dolour
In ignorance and knowledge of eternal dolour
Who moved among the others as they walked,
Who moved among the others as they walked,
Who then made strong the fountains and made fresh the springs
Who then made strong the fountains and made fresh the springs
Made cool the dry rock and made firm the sand
Made cool the dry rock and made firm the sand
In blue of larkspur, blue of Mary's colour,
In blue of larkspur, blue of Mary's colour,
Sovegna vos
Sovegna vos
Here are the years that walk between, bearing
Here are the years that walk between, bearing
Away the fiddles and the flutes, restoring
Away the fiddles and the flutes, restoring
One who moves in the time between sleep and waking, wearing
One who moves in the time between sleep and waking, wearing
White light folded, sheathing about her, folded.
White light folded, sheathing about her, folded.
The new years walk, restoring
The new years walk, restoring
Through a bright cloud of tears, the years, restoring
Through a bright cloud of tears, the years, restoring
With a new verse the ancient rhyme. Redeem
With a new verse the ancient rhyme. Redeem
The time. Redeem
The time. Redeem
The unread vision in the higher dream
The unread vision in the higher dream
While jewelled unicorns draw by the gilded hearse.
While jewelled unicorns draw by the gilded hearse.
The silent sister veiled in white and blue
The silent sister veiled in white and blue
Between the yews, behind the garden god,
Between the yews, behind the garden god,
Whose flute is breathless, bent her head and signed but spoke no word
Whose flute is breathless, bent her head and signed but spoke no word
But the fountain sprang up and the bird sang down
But the fountain sprang up and the bird sang down
Redeem the time, redeem the dream
Redeem the time, redeem the dream
The token of the word unheard, unspoken
The token of the word unheard, unspoken
Till the wind shake a thousand whispers from the yew
Till the wind shake a thousand whispers from the yew
And after this our exile
And after this our exile
V
V
If the lost word is lost, if the spent word is spent
If the lost word is lost, if the spent word is spent
If the unheard, unspoken
If the unheard, unspoken
Word is unspoken, unheard;
Word is unspoken, unheard;
Still is the unspoken word, the Word unheard,
Still is the unspoken word, the Word unheard,
The Word without a word, the Word within
The Word without a word, the Word within
The world and for the world;
The world and for the world;
And the light shone in darkness and
And the light shone in darkness and
Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
About the centre of the silent Word.
About the centre of the silent Word.
O my people, what have I done unto thee.
O my people, what have I done unto thee.
Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
For those who walk in darkness
For those who walk in darkness
Both in the day time and in the night time
Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not here
The right time and the right place are not here
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice
Will the veiled sister pray for
Will the veiled sister pray for
Those who walk in darkness, who chose thee and oppose thee,
Those who walk in darkness, who chose thee and oppose thee,
Those who are torn on the horn between season and season, time and time, between
Those who are torn on the horn between season and season, time and time, between
Hour and hour, word and word, power and power, those who wait
Hour and hour, word and word, power and power, those who wait
In darkness? Will the veiled sister pray
In darkness? Will the veiled sister pray
For children at the gate
For children at the gate
Who will not go away and cannot pray:
Who will not go away and cannot pray:
Pray for those who chose and oppose
Pray for those who chose and oppose
O my people, what have I done unto thee.
O my people, what have I done unto thee.
Will the veiled sister between the slender
Will the veiled sister between the slender
Yew trees pray for those who offend her
Yew trees pray for those who offend her
And are terrified and cannot surrender
And are terrified and cannot surrender
And affirm before the world and deny between the rocks
And affirm before the world and deny between the rocks
In the last desert before the last blue rocks
In the last desert before the last blue rocks
The desert in the garden the garden in the desert
The desert in the garden the garden in the desert
Of drouth, spitting from the mouth the withered apple-seed.
Of drouth, spitting from the mouth the withered apple-seed.
O my people.
O my people.
VI
VI
Although I do not hope to turn again
Although I do not hope to turn again
Although I do not hope
Although I do not hope
Although I do not hope to turn
Although I do not hope to turn
Wavering between the profit and the loss
Wavering between the profit and the loss
In this brief transit where the dreams cross
In this brief transit where the dreams cross
The dreamcrossed twilight between birth and dying
The dreamcrossed twilight between birth and dying
(Bless me father) though I do not wish to wish these things
(Bless me father) though I do not wish to wish these things
From the wide window towards the granite shore
From the wide window towards the granite shore
The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying
The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying
Unbroken wings
Unbroken wings
And the lost heart stiffens and rejoices
And the lost heart stiffens and rejoices
In the lost lilac and the lost sea voices
In the lost lilac and the lost sea voices
And the weak spirit quickens to rebel
And the weak spirit quickens to rebel
For the bent golden-rod and the lost sea smell
For the bent golden-rod and the lost sea smell
Quickens to recover
Quickens to recover
The cry of quail and the whirling plover
The cry of quail and the whirling plover
And the blind eye creates
And the blind eye creates
The empty forms between the ivory gates
The empty forms between the ivory gates
And smell renews the salt savour of the sandy earth
And smell renews the salt savour of the sandy earth
This is the time of tension between dying and birth
This is the time of tension between dying and birth
The place of solitude where three dreams cross
The place of solitude where three dreams cross
Between blue rocks
Between blue rocks
But when the voices shaken from the yew-tree drift away
But when the voices shaken from the yew-tree drift away
Let the other yew be shaken and reply.
Let the other yew be shaken and reply.
Blessèd sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Blessèd sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated
Suffer me not to be separated
And let my cry come unto Thee.
And let my cry come unto Thee.
 

Explanation

In 'Ash Wednesday', T. S. Eliot explores the themes of spiritual desolation and the yearning for redemption, reflecting his own conversion to Anglicanism. The poem opens with a series of declarations of hopelessness, as the speaker admits, "Because I do not hope to turn again". This refrain underscores a deep sense of resignation and the acceptance of a lost past. The imagery of the agèd eagle and the vanished power evokes a longing for vitality and purpose that seems unattainable. As the poem progresses, the speaker grapples with the nature of time and existence, asserting that reality is bound to specific moments and places. The line, "I rejoice that things are as they are and / I renounce the blessèd face" signifies a turning away from former aspirations and a recognition of the present state of being.

The emotional arc of the poem shifts from despair to a cautious acceptance, culminating in a plea for divine mercy. The speaker's struggle is articulated through vivid images, such as the leopards under the juniper tree, representing both danger and beauty. The refrain of prayer, "Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death", emphasizes the need for grace amid uncertainty. Eliot employs literary devices such as enjambment and repetition to create a rhythmic flow that mirrors the speaker's internal conflict.

Ultimately, 'Ash Wednesday' serves as a meditation on the complexities of faith, the tension between hope and despair, and the quest for spiritual renewal. Eliot's exploration of these themes reflects the broader modernist concerns of his era, where traditional beliefs were being questioned and redefined. The poem stands as a testament to the struggle for meaning in a fragmented world, inviting readers to contemplate their own paths toward redemption.

Word Dictionary27

WordIn EnglishPlain (English)Pron.
hopeآرزوa feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happenhope
turnموڑto change direction or positionturn
scopeدائرہthe extent of the area or subject matter that something deals withscope
striveکوشش کرناto make great efforts to achieve or obtain somethingstrive
agèdبوڑھاold or elderlyagèd
mournغم کرناto feel or show deep sorrow or regretmourn
vanishedغائبdisappeared suddenly and completelyvanished
infirmکمزورnot physically or mentally stronginfirm
veritableحقیقیused as an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphorveritable
judgementفیصلہthe ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusionsjudgement
wingsپرthe appendages used for flyingwings
vansپتنگےdevices used to create air movement, often in a mechanical contextvans
sateityسیرابیthe state of being satisfied or fullsateity
chirpingچہچہاناthe short, sharp sound made by small birds or insectschirping
goodnessبھلائیthe quality of being morally good or virtuousgoodness
lovelinessخوبصورتیthe quality of being beautiful or attractiveloveliness
honoursعزت دیناto regard with great respecthonours
oblivionبھولناthe state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happeningoblivion
whitenessسفیدیthe quality or state of being whitewhiteness
atoneکفارہ دیناto make amends or reparation for a wrongdoingatone
exhaustedتھکا ہواextremely tired or drained of energyexhausted
terminateختم کرناto bring to an endterminate
inconclusibleغیر نتیجہ خیزnot leading to a conclusioninconclusible
graceرحمتsimple elegance or refinement of movement; also, divine favorgrace
mockتمسخر کرناto tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous mannermock
sufferبرداشت کرناto experience or be subjected to something bad or unpleasantsuffer
separatedالگset or kept apartseparated

Poet & Context

PoetT. S. Eliot
EraModernist

Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888–1965) was a leading figure in modernist poetry, known for his innovative use of language and structure. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 and is celebrated for works like 'The Waste Land' and 'Ash Wednesday'.

View on WikipediaView on englishverse.com
When1930
WhyThe poem reflects Eliot's spiritual journey and conversion to Anglicanism, exploring themes of faith, doubt, and the search for redemption.
FormLong poem divided into six parts

Themes & More

Themes
Spiritual DesolationRedemption and SalvationHope and DespairThe Nature of Time and ExistenceThe Search for Meaning
Literary devices
Repetition: The phrase 'Because I do not hope' emphasizes the speaker's despair and resignation.Imagery: Vivid images such as 'three white leopards' and 'the agèd eagle' create a rich visual landscape that enhances the poem's themes.Enjambment: The use of enjambment throughout the poem creates a flowing rhythm that mirrors the speaker's internal struggle.Symbolism: The juniper tree and the leopards symbolize both danger and beauty, reflecting the complexities of the speaker's journey.Allusion: References to religious themes and figures, such as the Virgin Mary, deepen the poem's exploration of faith.
Ash Wednesday by T. S. Eliot — Poem, Translation & Meaning