Pix: Note Lovecraft's attention to the poem's background storm.
And, the deep Gothic atmosphere - right before he smacks us in the face - with a cosmic ending!
Most of his writing strengths have grown but, he still needs a light push.
And, it's coming - in 1917.
Stay tuned...
A. "Seething Sky."
B. "Mottled Moon."
C. "Waves Surging High!"
D. "Storm's Raving Rune."
E. "Wild Clouds Reel."
F. "Wild Wind Shouting!"
G. "Black Vapours Steal."
H. "In Ghastly Rout."
J. "Thru Rift Is Shot."
K. "That Blot Upon Its Face!"
Intro: This is the 4th out of 6 poems that HPL published in October 1916.
It's also an advance preview of his overwrought writing style - though more controlled here.
Title: "The Unknown."
Text:
A seething sky¹ -
A mottled moon² -
Waves surging high -
Storm's raving rune³;
Wild clouds a-reel⁴ -
Wild winds a-shout⁵ -
Black vapours steal
In ghastly rout⁶.
Thru rift is shot⁷
The moon's wan grace⁸ -
But God! That blot⁹
Upon its face!
Notes:
1. A "seething sky" is an agitated & menacing atmosphere, with some unknown but, suppressed energy.
2. A "mottled moon" describes the dark, irregular patches caused by ancient volcanic lava flows.
But, in folklore & myth, people 'saw' familiar shapes in the dark spots.
Things like:
• The Man on the Moon, who was banished there for gathering sticks on the Sabbath.
• The Rabbit in the Moon, Asian & 1st Nations folk saw a hare - pounding on a pestle!
• The Toad/Frog in the Moon, which is associated with immortality & lunar gods.
• The Jaguar in the Moon, the Incas thought a mottled, red moon was a jaguar attacking & eating our lunar satellite.
• There were also certain prophecies & omens related to 'blood' moons & future events - none good.
3. A "storm's raving rune" might be connected to two Norse runes:
• Hagalaz, that symbolizes sudden, destructive hail storms necessary for new growth.
• Thurisaz, which represents unruly & powerful destructive forces - like bad thunderstorms.
4. "A-reel" seems to be Howard's own shortening of "reeling" - to stagger or lurch about.
There's also a lively folk dance from the UK, where dancers weave & step in place.
5. "A-shout" might be another HPL shortening, this time of "shouting" - calling out loudly to express strong emotions.
6. A "ghastly rout" is a devastating defeat, which results in more deaths from a disorderly retreat, than in the main fighting itself!
7. "Thru rift is shot", here, refers to an opening in the storm clouds above.
8. The "Moon's wan grace" is a poetic phrase for weak moonlight.
9. "That blot upon its face" is a return to the moon's now frozen lava flows.
But, it seems to emphasize a visible flaw that somehow taints the moon's appearance.
An obvious stain that mars the lunar surface.
End.
