Pearl
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:09 pm
J.R.R. Tolkien translated the medieval poem Pearl originally with the assistance of his Oxford colleague E.V. Gordon in the 1920s, but later in life decided to do his own translation years after Gordon's death. It is the most overtly religious poem of the three poem translations featured in the Tolkien book Sir Gawain and the Green Knight/Pearl/Sir Orfeo, and not being very religious myself caused me a bit of...impatience...in reading it, but it has some beautiful and memorable moments.
The speaker of the poem talks of losing his valuable pearl in the grass, and it becomes clear he is speaking of losing his two-year-old daughter Pearl to death, and the grass he is referring to is that which has grown over his daughter's grave. It becomes easy to feel for the speaker of the poem, as he lies grieving on the grave, and is given a divine vision to give him comfort.
The speaker of the poem talks of losing his valuable pearl in the grass, and it becomes clear he is speaking of losing his two-year-old daughter Pearl to death, and the grass he is referring to is that which has grown over his daughter's grave. It becomes easy to feel for the speaker of the poem, as he lies grieving on the grave, and is given a divine vision to give him comfort.
The speaker in the poem get to see his daughter as one of the saints, in the glorious background of the New Jerusalem, and she proceeds, in an adult manner of speech, to try to bolster his faith in trusting God's will. The poem is impressive in its descriptive power.From that spot my spirit sprang apace,
On the turf my body abode in trance;
My soul was gone by God's own grace
Adventuring where marvels chance.
I knew not where in the world was that place
Save by cloven cliffs was set my stance;
And towards a forest I turned my face,
Where rocks in splendor met my glance;
From them did a glittering glory lance,
None could believe the light they lent;
Never webs were woven in mortal haunts
Of the half such wealth and wonderment.