"Israfel" was written while Edgar Allan Poe was at West Point and was first published in April 1831 in Poems of Edgar A. Poe. The poem was later revised and republished in the August 1836 issue of The Southern Literary Messenger. Poe introduces Israfel as an angel from the Koran, renowned for having the sweetest voice and a heart that is a lute. The poem explores themes of divine versus mortal music, and Poe's friend Thomas Holley Chivers and biographer Hervey Allen have noted its significance in reflecting Poe's ideal of poetry and its own artistic qualities.
"Israfel" Poem Text by Edgar Allan Poe
In Heaven a spirit doth dwell
“Whose heart-strings are a lute”;
None sing so wildly well
As the angel Israfel,
And the giddy stars (so legends tell),
Ceasing their hymns, attend the spell
Of his voice, all mute.
Tottering above
In her highest noon,
The enamored moon
Blushes with love,
While, to listen, the red levin
(With the rapid Pleiads, even,
Which were seven,)
Pauses in Heaven.
And they say (the starry choir
And the other listening things)
That Israfeli’s fire
Is owing to that lyre
By which he sits and sings—
The trembling living wire
Of those unusual strings.
But the skies that angel trod,
Where deep thoughts are a duty—
Where Love’s a grown-up God—
Where the Houri glances are
Imbued with all the beauty
Which we worship in a star.
Therefore thou art not wrong,
Israfeli, who despisest
An unimpassioned song;
To thee the laurels belong,
Best bard, because the wisest!
Merrily live, and long!
The ecstasies above
With thy burning measures suit—
Thy grief, thy joy, thy hate, thy love,
With the fervor of thy lute—
Well may the stars be mute!
Yes, Heaven is thine; but this
Is a world of sweets and sours;
Our flowers are merely—flowers,
And the shadow of thy perfect bliss
Is the sunshine of ours.
If I could dwell
Where Israfel
Hath dwelt, and he where I,
He might not sing so wildly well
A mortal melody,
While a bolder note than this might swell
From my lyre within the sky.
Quick Facts
| Title: | Israfel |
| First Published: | April 1831 |
| Revised and Republished: | August 1836 |
| Form: | Eight Stanzas of Varying Lengths |
| Themes: | Divine Music, Mortal Limitations, Spiritual Aspiration |
| Notable Features: | Contrast Between Divine and Mortal Music, Symbolism of Israfel |
Summary of "Israfel"
"Israfel" explores the contrast between divine and mortal music through the figure of Israfel, an angel described in the Koran whose music is so enchanting that it captivates the stars and influences celestial phenomena. The poem praises Israfel’s celestial music and laments the limitations of mortal song, suggesting that if the poet could live where Israfel dwells, his music might rival that of the angel’s. Poe reflects on the difference between the perfect, eternal music of the heavens and the transient, imperfect nature of earthly music.
Critical Analysis of "Israfel"
"Israfel" is rich with imagery and symbolism, representing the divine and ideal form of art through the character of Israfel. Poe contrasts the angel’s celestial music with the limitations of human creativity, highlighting the gap between the divine perfection and earthly imperfection. This contrast emphasizes Poe’s belief in the transcendence of art and the spiritual aspirations of the poet.
The poem’s structure, with its varying stanza lengths, mirrors the theme of celestial versus mortal music, reflecting the fluidity and expansiveness of divine inspiration compared to the constrained nature of human creativity. The use of Israfel as a symbol for idealized artistic expression reinforces Poe’s view of poetry as an aspirational and transcendent pursuit.
Key Themes in "Israfel"
- Divine Music vs. Mortal Limitations: The poem contrasts the perfect, eternal music of Israfel with the finite and flawed nature of human musical expression.
- Spiritual Aspiration: The poet yearns to transcend mortal limitations and join the angelic realm where music and art achieve their highest form.
- Symbolism of Israfel: Israfel represents the ideal of artistic perfection and the divine inspiration that elevates art beyond earthly constraints.
Stylistic Analysis of "Israfel"
- Stanza Variation: The poem's varying stanza lengths reflect the theme of divine versus mortal music, illustrating the fluidity and expansiveness of celestial art.
- Imagery and Symbolism: Poe uses rich imagery and symbolism to depict the contrast between the angelic and mortal realms, emphasizing the idealization of divine music.
- Contrast and Comparison: The poem effectively contrasts the celestial music of Israfel with human limitations, reinforcing the theme of artistic transcendence.