The poem
Poem: Impression Du Matin
The Thames nocturne of blue and gold Changed to a Harmony in grey: A barge with ochre-coloured hay Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold
The yellow fog came creeping down The bridges, till the houses' walls Seemed changed to shadows and St. Paul's Loomed like a bubble o'er the town.
Then suddenly arose the clang Of waking life; the streets were stirred With country waggons: and a bird Flew to the glistening roofs and sang.
But one pale woman all alone, The daylight kissing her wan hair, Loitered beneath the gas lamps' flare, With lips of flame and heart of stone.
the French title recalls the title of an Impressionist painting. In fact the poem is a description of London at dawn and is based on colours and sounds. Blue , yellow and grey are the dominant colours . they are cold colours and they fit well to the fading of night. The magic atmosphere of blue and gold melts in grey and yellow nuances. Cold fog spreads everywhere . We feel the silence. Suddenly an unreal sight:…
Read the whole commentthe French title recalls the title of an Impressionist painting. In fact the poem is a description of London at dawn and is based on colours and sounds. Blue , yellow and grey are the dominant colours . they are cold colours and they fit well to the fading of night. The magic atmosphere of blue and gold melts in grey and yellow nuances. Cold fog spreads everywhere . We feel the silence. Suddenly an unreal sight: Saint Paul’s dome floats on the fog over the city.
In the second part of the poem sounds and motion dominate: the city is waking up: carts fill the streets, everyone starts work. Also nature seems to wake up: a little bird sings on the wet roofs. But everything fades away when in the fore ground a lonely woman comes forward to symbolize human solitude