Eternity
Arthur Rimbaud's poem "Eternity" is a complex and thought-provoking meditation on time, life, and transcendence. The poem reflects Rimbaud's deep concern for life, communicating a mystical vision of eternity and a simultaneous fascination with human experience Through vivid imagery of the sea, the sun, and the passing of day and night, Rimbaud analyzes and delves into the cyclical nature of life and the desire to transcend the simplicity Let us draw attention to it.
It has been found again.
What? – Eternity.
The opening line creates an apocalyptic atmosphere. The speaker announces "found again," referring to the discovery or rediscovery. The repetition of the word "again" suggests that eternity is not something newly discovered, but something always there, rediscovered or remembered This moment of insight is presented as something essential and perhaps unknowable—the experience of revelation or of the findings.
The immediate answer to the question "What?"—"Forever"—indicates the central idea of the poem. Eternity is introduced as a rediscovered concept, but the brevity and delivery of the answer suggests something enigmatic: Rimbaud, using this casual question-and-answer format, constructs and performs the elusive nature of eternity itself emphasis on the mystery, such as inexplicability or capture.
It is the sea fled away
With the sun.
Here Rimbaud introduces one of the poem’s central images: the sea and the sun. He describes eternity as “sea and sun escape,” capturing the ephemeral nature of sea and sun, often associated with greatness, power, and endless cycles Sea and sun are essential elements of nature , and represents great and uncontrollable forces , always present but constantly moving and changing
The phrase “flee” refers to something as permanent as the sea and the sun, ever receding and inaccessible This image of the sea and the sun fleeing together can be interpreted as a metaphor for the passage of time—day and night cycle, . life and death. Eternity in this sense is not an unchangeable state, but something dynamic and invisible, constantly drifting away as the sea and sun move across the sky This demonstrates how infinity is a paradox in Rimbaud’s view: it does not have edge and fleeting, always present but always present beyond our comprehension.
Sentinel soul,
Let us whisper the confession
Of the night full of nothingness
And the day on fire.
The speaker addresses the “sentinel soul,” suggesting a soul that is watchful, guarding, or keeping vigil. This metaphor positions the soul as a sentry, standing on the threshold of existence, observing the passage of time and the flow of life. The soul, in this context, is aware of the deeper truths of existence and eternity but remains silent or only “whispers” these truths.
The “confession” that the soul whispers refers to an acknowledgment of the nature of existence—specifically, the emptiness of night (“full of nothingness”) and the intense, burning nature of day (“on fire”). Night is portrayed as a void, a time of emptiness and absence, while day is described as overwhelming, filled with fire and intensity. These contrasting images represent the extremes of existence: the void of nothingness and the overwhelming presence of life and activity.
By calling this a “confession,” Rimbaud suggests that these truths are difficult to accept or articulate. The soul acknowledges the harsh realities of existence—the emptiness, the burning intensity—without fully embracing or confronting them. The whispering tone also conveys a sense of secrecy or reluctance, as if these truths are too profound or painful to be fully expressed.
From human approbation,
From common urges
You diverge here
And fly off as you may.
These lines suggest a departure from conventional human experience. The speaker addresses the soul, encouraging it to break free from "human approbation" (the approval or validation of others) and "common urges" (the ordinary desires and instincts of human life). This departure represents a form of transcendence, where the soul escapes the limitations of human existence, with its need for approval, conformity, and base desires.
The phrase "fly off as you may" conveys a sense of freedom and release. The soul is urged to leave behind the constraints of human life and ascend or "fly" into a higher realm of existence. This reflects a key theme in Rimbaud’s work: the desire to break free from the mundane, to transcend the ordinary and access a higher, more profound experience of life or reality. This flight of the soul symbolizes a departure from the material world and a movement toward the eternal, the infinite.
Since from you alone,
Satiny embers,
Duty breathes
Without anyone saying: at last.
These lines contain more enigmatic imagery. The phrase “since from you alone” suggests that the soul, or perhaps eternity itself, is the source of a deeper truth or essence. The image of “satiny embers” combines softness and fire, suggesting that there is a quiet, glowing truth within the soul—something that is both delicate and burning. Embers are the remnants of a fire, and the description of them as “satiny” evokes a sense of softness, fragility, and beauty, yet they still retain the capacity to ignite.
The mention of “duty” breathing from the soul without anyone saying "at last" implies that the soul fulfills its purpose or duty without external validation or recognition. The soul’s duty is inherent, self-sustaining, and does not require acknowledgment from others. This reflects a sense of inner purpose or destiny that exists beyond human approval or recognition. The soul, in its connection to eternity, operates on a different plane from the human world, where actions are often measured by external rewards or validation.
Here is no hope,
No orietur.
Knowledge and fortitude,
Torture is certain.
These lines introduce a darker, more nihilistic tone. The statement “Here is no hope” suggests that in the realm of eternity, as Rimbaud conceives it, there is no hope for change, progress, or salvation. The word “orietur” is Latin for “he shall rise” or “it shall arise,” often associated with the dawn or new beginnings. By stating “no orietur,” Rimbaud denies the possibility of renewal or rebirth in eternity. Eternity, in this vision, is static and unchanging—there is no new beginning, no dawn to break the cycle of existence.
The mention of “knowledge and fortitude” as leading to certain “torture” underscores the existential tension in the poem. The speaker acknowledges that understanding the truth of existence (knowledge) and enduring it (fortitude) leads to suffering. There is a kind of existential torture that comes with the awareness of the nature of eternity and the futility of human existence. This suggests that the pursuit of knowledge and strength, while noble, inevitably leads to suffering in a world where eternity offers no escape or consolation.
It has been found again.
What? – Eternity.
It is the sea fled away
With the sun.
The poem closes by repeating the opening lines, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time and existence. Eternity is once again equated with the image of the sea and the sun, suggesting that this vision of eternity—fleeting, ever-receding, and elusive—remains constant. The repetition reinforces the idea that eternity is both found and lost, ever-present yet beyond reach, much like the sea and the sun, which are eternal forces but constantly in motion.
Themes and Symbolism
1. Eternal and transcendental:
Rimbaud’s vision of eternity is unruly and contradictory. Eternity is not a static, unchanging state but something that is constantly moving, like the sea and the sun. This reflects the idea that eternity is cyclical, ever present, but also temporary and unattainable. The speaker’s desire to transcend human limitations and reach eternity is central to the poem, but this crossing creates its own existential complications
2. The nature of the soul:
In this poem, the soul is depicted as a guardian of deeper truths. He captured the emptiness of the living and its ignorance of the complexity of the self. The soul strives to free itself from the constraints of human existence and desires, but this freedom comes at a price: the realization of futile hope and suffering.
