And Love will drop you like a bird
Scorched flying near the sun
Do not the dizzy heights disturb
Love’s quest to become one.
As explained in the first two blog entries previous to this, the poetic parable on Love has meanings and interpretations which flow as an under-current and at times contrary to the face value of the poem.
Typically, the reader who does not reflect on these meanings will feel the story is about emotional or romantic love. And that is fine. As it partly is. The reality is though that in the visitor's use of the word Love he means more than the emotional / romantic / feeling connotation of Love. The Visitor makes an argument through the novel that it is the misuse of language which makes many words now meaningless; and cites the word Love as being one of those words.
The first two stanzas on Love (discussed in previous blogs) explain how through the Visitor's eyes Love is more than a feeling, but rather an entity and describes it as a sacred sentiment. As such, the first two stanzas talk about Love (subject) beckoning or lifting (action); and then wrap up by the concept of our response to Love may best be served by the concept of sacrifice.
Love Stanza III - Line I : And Love will drop you like a bird
In the first line of stanza III again the reader is subjected to the concept of Love as an entity capable of action. This is similar to the notion in the first two stanzas, but in this case Love (object) drops (action).
The idea of "like a bird" is consistent with the Corvus/Crow concept. Here again we build on the physical (height, flight, vantage) as well as the spiritual notions of the impact of Love on our lives. Often we talk about "falling in Love". In this reverse perspective, we talk more of the idea of "falling from Love".
It is a cost of Love. The reader will see this sentiment in various other areas of The Visitor, such as at the outset of the book (Silence is Broken) when the narrator describes:
As all those who enter our lives are destined to go, we embrace the initial welcome, even knowing the pain of departure will someday arrive. Still, the Visitor knew that to go in peace he must come in peace, and leave thoughts of his leaving behind.
This is further reflected in some of the first comments of the visitor in the same chapter (Silence is Broken). When speaking to the crowd he shares in his style of poetic parable
I wish I had more time to live,
And yet less time to grieve.
To feel the ground beneath my feet,
And taste the Love I leave.
Besides other examples which will be explored later, this concept is really driven home in the first chapter of The Stranger (Book II of the Corvus Chronicles) which is shared in the epilogue of the The Visitor. In the opening chapter of The Stranger the main character comes across a stranger outside a hospital while grieving for his mother, and the stranger engages him with the comment of:
“Have you just now realized that the price for life is death and the cost of love is hurt?”
Love Stanza III - Line II : Scorched flying near the sun
Phoenix from Metz Cathedral, Lorraine France.
The imagery now of a bird flying too close to the sun depicts the mythology of The Phoenix. The reference to the phoenix calls to mind the influence of Kahlil Gibran on The Visitor. Although Gibran does not mention the phoenix, the phoenix is a Greek mythical creature that symbolizes cyclical regeneration and rebirth (which is a similar message with Gibran's The Prophet).
But why a departure from Gibran and the imagery of the phoenix? As the reader will understand; the common message of the phoenix it is about rebirth, or arising from the ashes. This can be interpreted as either moving on after death, or a spiritual rebirth as in baptism.
The imagery and height was not lost on the architecture of Metz Cathedral, A Roman Catholic church built in 1200 in Lorraine France. The image in this blog is from Metz Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church also known as "The Good Lord's Lantern" due to the fact it boasts the largest display of stained glass windows within a Catholic Church.
Love Stanza III - Line III : Do not the dizzy heights disturb
The idea of Love, of lifting, of flight, of heavens have already been discussed in the previous two blogs on Love which dealt with the first two stanzas of the poetic parable on Love. This concept of "rising up" is also captured by the phoenix imagery in the first two lines of stanza three. It is not mere coincidence that "The Good Lord's Lantern" (from where the image of the phoenix in this blog is from) also boasts one of the highest naves of all churches.
But the idea of dizzy heights disturb also calls to the feeling or disorientation one may experience in the acceptance of Love. It can be scary. To accept Love as well as to sacrifice as the cost of acceptance (described in stanzas I and II; see previous two blogs) and deny self interest (Self interest must be breached) is disturbing. This third line basically again brings up the notion of "staying strong" or FAITH. To not be disturbed.
Love Stanza III - Line IV : Love’s quest to become one.
If there was any doubt in the "personification" of Love, (the concept of Love as an entity) this line itself should remove all doubt. Here Love as described by the visitor is not a feeling. It is an entity. An entity with purpose. To declare Love has a quest, is declare it has intention. That intention as described by the visitor in the fourth line of the third stanza is "to become one".
This is again a common theme throughout The Visitor and The Corvus Chronicles. The journey of Love is a quest to become one. The very first words of the visitor in the first chapter of the book direct the course of this journey when the narrator states, "If anyone had asked the Visitor who or what he was, he would have simply said"
I am a part of you, just as you are part of me.
No more, no less; just another guest
Whose time has come to leave.
Upon reading the novel the reader will not be able to evade this concept. The idea that "we are one" is constantly refreshed both through the narrator's narrative and through the visitor's poetic parables.
If you have read the first three blogs, I hope that within these first three stanzas of the poetic parable of Love you are starting to feel and see that The Visitor is not the simple read it appears to be at first passing. Again, the interpretations are broad, and you may find other meanings or messages that resonate for you. Take the time, explore and look inwards. I can not, even as the author, tell you what message waits for you on your journey. As the Visitor comments in the section regarding KNOWLEDGE when asked about teaching (see Chapter V - Communion) , the visitor shares:
He strips you from reason to reveal the truth
For these visions he sees are not yours.
He guides you to knowledge that lives within you
And leaves you - to open the doors.
He leaves you to walk through the threshold alone
As we all stand alone before God
And lifting your gaze you will see we are one
And the division is but a façade.
Until my next blog, when I discuss my interpretation of Love - Stanza IV I leave you with the first three stanzas on Love:
When Love beckons, do not sleep
And let none stand in defiance of;
Though cost be high and loss be steep
Leave doubt behind and yield to Love.
As sure as Love will lift you high
To heights beyond your reach
To fully grasp; you must partly die
Self-interest must be breached.
And Love will drop you like a bird
Scorched flying near the sun
Do not the dizzy heights disturb
Love’s quest to become one.
Journey in Love
Michael Paul