The Pleiades

In the poem “A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass,” the chapter consisting of “Wind” and “The Pleiades” presents a vivid, whimsical exploration of nature and the cosmos through the eyes of a child-like perspective.

“Wind” personifies the wind as a playful, elusive force, engaging with the world in a dance of both creation and mild chaos. The wind’s interactions are multifaceted; it shouts in the sails of ships, steals down from honeybees, causes forests to sing, and plays with a child’s kite until it breaks. This segment of the poem captures a joyful and mischievous character of the wind, appreciated in every direction—north, south, east, and west. The wind’s abilities are further showcased as it calls up fog to hide hills, whirls the wings of windmills, and makes weathercocks turn in an attempt to discover its location. Nature responds to the wind’s presence with delight; pine trees toss cones, flowers bow, waves throw up pearls, and flags unfurl, symbolizing a harmonious interaction between the wind and its surroundings.

Following “Wind,” “The Pleiades” shifts the poetic gaze from the earthy dynamism of the wind to the celestial calmness of the night sky. The poem contrasts the daytime sky, too bright and distant to reveal its secrets, with the nighttime sky, which unveils the stars as familiar, comforting presences. The constellations—among them the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Orion’s Belt, and the Milky Way—are depicted not just as astronomical phenomena but as old friends and playful elements of a child’s imagination. The Pleiades, in particular, are imagined as either a cluster of bees or perhaps toys left behind by an angelic child, suggesting a universe that is intimately connected with and reflective of youthful innocence and play.

Together, these poems depict a world where natural elements like the wind and the celestial bodies of the night sky are imbued with life, personality, and a deep connection to human emotion and imagination. The language and style, consistent throughout, maintain a sense of wonder and playfulness, inviting readers to see the natural world through a lens of enchantment and curiosity.