Harlem Renaissance Mash-up and Analysis
A Mid-Day Dreamer - James Weldon Johnson
I love to sit alone, and dream,
And dream, and dream; In fancy's boat to softly glide Along some stream Where fairy palaces of gold And crystal bright Stand all along the glistening shore: A wondrous sight. My craft is built of ivory, With silver oars, The sails are spun of golden threads, And priceless stores Of precious gems adorn its prow, And 'round its mast An hundred silken cords are set To hold it fast. My galley-slaves are sprightly elves Who, as they row, And as their shining oars they swing Them to and fro, Keep time to music wafted on The scented air, Made by the mermaids as they comb Their golden hair. And I the while lie idly back, And dream, and dream, And let them row me where they will Adown the stream. |
Analysis:
James Weldon Johnson identifies his dream to escape from a reality he struggles with in his poem, “A Mid-Day Dreamer.” The line, “I love to sit alone, and dream” is a representation of how Johnson dreams alone and for himself. Johnson appreciates taking the time to be with himself and think of what a better life would look like. The lines, “My craft is built of ivory, With silver oars/ The sails are spun of golden threads / And priceless stores / Of precious gems adorn its prow” are clearly evident of the highly expensive lifestyle Johnson wishes he had. The entire poem is further proof of Johnson’s intense desire to live amongst the wealthy and have the luxury to “lie idly back.” The lines, “My galley-slaves are sprightly elves - / And I the while lie idly back -/ And let them row me where they will” indicate Johnson’s desire to let go of his inhibitions. This evidence accurately describes his yearning to let go of his responsibilities and let others (such as his sprightly elves) handle his affairs while he dreams. “A Mid-Day Dreamer” illuminates the fantasy behind the dreams James Weldon Johnson wishes could be reality. |
Dreams - Anne Bronte
While on my lonely couch I lie,
I seldom feel myself alone, For fancy fills my dreaming eye With scenes and pleasures of its own. Then I may cherish at my breast An infant's form beloved and fair, May smile and soothe it into rest With all a Mother's fondest care. How sweet to feel its helpless form Depending thus on me alone! And while I hold it safe and warm What bliss to think it is my own! And glances then may meet my eyes That daylight never showed to me; What raptures in my bosom rise, Those earnest looks of love to see, To feel my hand so kindly prest, To know myself beloved at last, To think my heart has found a rest, My life of solitude is past! But then to wake and find it flown, The dream of happiness destroyed, To find myself unloved, alone, What tongue can speak the dreary void? A heart whence warm affections flow, Creator, thou hast given to me, And am I only thus to know How sweet the joys of love would be? |
Analysis:
Anne Bronte identifies her desire for love in her poem, “Dreams.” The lines, “While on my lonely couch I lie, / I seldom feel myself alone, / For fancy fills my dreaming eye / With scenes and pleasures of its own” express how Bronte feels less alone when dreaming. Although she is on her “lonely couch”, her dreams keep her company and make her feel happiness. The line, “To know myself beloved at last” represents how Bronte doesn’t feel loved. In many biographies of Anne Bronte, she is considered to be the “meek and less talented younger sister”, leading her to relying so heavily on her dreams to bring her happiness. The entire poem is further proof of Bronte’s intense desire to not be alone. The lines, “But then to wake and find it flown, / The dream of happiness destroyed” indicate how in her dreams, Bronte is loved, and once she wakes up she is unhappy and alone again. “Dreams” embellishes Anne Bronte’s hope of being loved. |
My Collaboration
While on my lonely couch I lie,
I seldom feel myself alone I love to sit alone, and dream, And dream, and dream; In fancy's boat to softly glide Along some stream For fancy fills my dreaming eye With scenes and pleasures of its own. Where fairy palaces of gold And crystal bright Stand all along the glistening shore: A wondrous sight. And glances then may meet my eyes That daylight never showed to me; My craft is built of ivory, With silver oars, The sails are spun of golden threads, And priceless stores Of precious gems adorn its prow, And 'round its mast An hundred silken cords are set To hold it fast. What raptures in my bosom rise, Those earnest looks of love to see, To feel my hand so kindly pressed, To know myself beloved at last, To think my heart has found a rest, My life of solitude is past! My galley-slaves are sprightly elves Who, as they row, And as their shining oars they swing Them to and fro, Keep time to music wafted on The scented air, Made by the mermaids as they comb Their golden hair. But then to wake and find it flown, The dream of happiness destroyed, To find myself unloved, alone, What tongue can speak the dreary void? And I the while lie idly back, And dream, and dream, A heart whence warm affections flow, Creator, thou hast given to me, And let them row me where they will Adown the stream. And am I only thus to know How sweet the joys of love would be? |
Artist Statement:
My collaboration is the connection between two people who want more than what they have. James Weldon Johnson, an African American man during the Harlem Renaissance, and Anne Bronte, a white woman from England during the early 1800’s, were both oppressed under different circumstances. The closest they get to freedom and independence is through dreaming and poetry. Anne Bronte would never understand Johnson’s dream, but the closest she’ll get is their shared desire for independence and freedom. They both want autonomy in different ways, and use their poetry as an outlet for their frustrations. The first part of my mash-up is, “While on my lonely couch I lie / I seldom feel myself alone / I love to sit alone, and dream / And dream, and dream;” The first two lines are from Anne Bronte, directly followed by the same sentiment by Johnson. They both love to be alone with themselves and dream of things they want and don’t have. The lines, “For fancy fills my dreaming eye / With scenes and pleasures of its own. / Where fairy palaces of gold / And crystal bright” Show that in the first two lines, Anne Bronte is thinking of pleasurable images and scenes, just like how Johnson immediately thinks of gold palaces and beautiful crystal. |