In Defense of Narcissus

[Thunderembargo]

Who sees himself reflected
And makes a loving sigh,
Whose crown is self-elected
Whose favorite word is "I"

He reflects in man
As man reflects in God
As clay within His hand
A self-reflective wad

As Plato is alone
In his Platonic form
So Narcissus' home
Is, by himself, kept warm

As he reflects,
He sees himself

I entirely disagree with Dale, and, consequentially with the reviewer who seconded his excorciating remark.   Dale seems to be arguing against the two critical and underpinning theories of the poem: (1) that the symbolic-allegory of Narcissism can take the place of a thing, or in the case of the poem, a man.   (2) that Platonic Idealism is the perfect milieu-idiom-methodology by which self-reflection and projection result in the analogy which the poet has constructed.

Poetry is itself the perfect language by which such ideas aught to be developed and explored.   Without poetry they could not.   Dale seems to favour the voice of the critic above that of the poet, and for that he should read Alexander Pope's "Essay on Criticism" in which the relationship between author and critic is summarily and consummately rendered.

Although Dale's analytical observations are helpful insofar as he enumerates and identifies the meter of the verse, it's form, the use of pronouns and the rhetorical closure or lackthereof (this is arguable) with the final couplet, the central idea of the poem that the self-reflection of Narcissus can be used to study Man's own analogical Deity is fascinating and compelling.

Please only critique the content of the poem.  Please do not critique the content of other critiques.  Whether or not you agree with Dale’s critique is irrelevant.  What you think of the poem is the only relevant topic in this thread. 

Thank you.
—Quix/admin