Need help in english

  • cellardoor
    17 years ago

    Hello.
    I have a question about a poem that I am trying to understand.
    My problem is that my English is not good enough (it’s not my mother language)
    This quote is by Dylan Thomas:
    “And taken by light in her arms, at long and dear last
    I may without fail
    Suffer the first vision that set fire to the stars.”

    Things I do not quite understand:
    Taken by light – I think it is like “taking very fast” right?

    Suffer the first vision that set fire to the stars –
    I don’t understand what vision is he talking about… Vision of stars on fire?! What kind of vision is that?!
    Maybe fire like “passion”? passion for stars?
    Why is he suffering?
    Why is he saying that he “May without fail” ?

    This is part of the questions jumping to my head when I am reading those lines…

    Thank you all for your help!

  • cellardoor
    17 years ago

    So what are you saying is that when he is saying
    "suffer the first vision that set fire to the stars"
    he means suffering from restraining himself from rushing with her too much?

    (like when you dicover a great song and if you listen to it over and over, after few days you can't listen to it anymore?)

    if so, how can you understand that from those lines? I can't see it. Can you show me which words or phrase brought you to that conclusion?
    im really curious about that.

    and what "taken by light" means?

    thanks ahead.

  • cellardoor
    17 years ago

    First of all, thank you very much for answering!
    but i still don't see how you understand that from the lines...
    The concept I understand, but how you derived it?

    when I read "suffer the first vision that set fire to the stars" i really don't see the connection between the words.
    "star" is a big shiny planet that you see in the sky.
    set fire to the stars? that makes the stars on fire?
    that doesn't make sense... vision of this? of stars on fire? or maybe vision that give him a desire for stars? i dont understand...
    how you derived from this sentence that he wants to love her but he afraid he may take it too fast?

    i miss the connection between the words and the interpertation...

    thanks ahead, again!

  • cellardoor
    17 years ago

    Ok thank you i finally understood...