An Overview of the Themes in D. H. Lawrence’s Poetry
Poem Call into Death Piano
The Mosquito Snake
Humming-Bird Intimates Delight of Being Alone Absolute Reverence What Have They Done to You? Bavarian Gentians Main Theme(s)
„„Love „„Loss „„Death
„„Love „„Nostalgia „„Music
„„Nature „„Nature
„„Nature „„Evolution
„„Relationships
„„Solitude „„Self-fulfilment
„„Creativity „„Gratitude „„Self-fulfilment
„„Power „„Dehumanisation of industrial society
„„Power „„Darkness
Baby-Movements II, “Trailing Clouds” „„ Love „„Compassion
„„Vulnerability
D. H. Lawrence was a well-travelled man with wide-ranging interests. His ever-curious personality is reflected in the diverse themes explored in the selection of poems prescribed for the Leaving Certificate course. He explores the themes of love and loss in the poems he wrote about his mother. The theme of nature is widely explored in a whimsical and original fashion. Other themes are specific to individual poems and these include the themes of self-fulfilment, evolution, nostalgia, relationships, solitude, compassion, creativity, power and darkness.
LOSS
Lawrence was very close to his mother, Lydia, and was devastated by her death. Two of his poems, ‘Call into Death’ and ‘Piano’, explore the theme of loss in a very profound way. In ‘Call into Death’ his sorrow is evident in his desire to be reunited with his beloved mother: ‘And I am willing to come to you now, my dear’. ‘Piano’ gives us an
