The Convergence of the Twain, Thomas Hardy (한쌍의 결합)

 

I

            In a solitude of the sea

            Deep from human vanity,

And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she.

 

II

            Steel chambers, late the pyres

            Of her salamandrine fires,

Cold currents thrid, and turn to rhythmic tidal lyres.

 

III

            Over the mirrors meant

            To glass the opulent

The sea-worm crawls — grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent.

 

IV

            Jewels in joy designed

            To ravish the sensuous mind

Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind.

 

V

            Dim moon-eyed fishes near

            Gaze at the gilded gear

And query: "What does this vaingloriousness down here?" ...

 

VI

            Well: while was fashioning

            This creature of cleaving wing,

The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything

 

VII

            Prepared a sinister mate

            For her — so gaily great —

A Shape of Ice, for the time far and dissociate.

 

VIII

            And as the smart ship grew

            In stature, grace, and hue,

In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too.

 

IX

            Alien they seemed to be;

            No mortal eye could see

The intimate welding of their later history,

 

X

            Or sign that they were bent

            By paths coincident

On being anon twin halves of one august event,

 

XI

            Till the Spinner of the Years

            Said "Now!" And each one hears,

And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres.

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- 타이타닉 호를 인간의 허영과 인생에 대한 자만, 오만의 산물로 보고 있음

- 상상력을 동원해서 해저에 있는 타이타닉 호의 모습을 상상

- Immanent will: 모든 것을 추동하고 움직이게 하는 존재

- 타이타닉 호에 걸맞는 거대한 빙산을 배우자로 준비해둠

- 빙하와 타이타닉 호가 결국 consummation (완성, 결합)을 이룸

- 빙하와 타이타닉 호가 부딪힌 장면을 마치 부부의 성적 관계가 이루어진 것처럼 설명하고 있음