Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a stark picture of disillusionment with an idealized concept, referred to as the "fair Ideal." Initially, this ideal is embraced, only to be discarded when its imperfections or a "splintered Crown" are revealed. This discovery shatters the perceived divine order, making "Heavens portable" and "Gods—a lie," suggesting a profound loss of faith or certainty. The narrator draws a parallel to Adam's supposed regret in Eden after his "perjury," highlighting a sense of betrayal or a fall from grace associated with this broken ideal.
The second stanza shifts to a different, perhaps more personal, form of idealization: "our pool Ideal." This ideal is cherished until it is seen "glorified— / In purer dress." However, the comfort sought in this ideal is undermined by the realization that the "broken creatures— / We adored—for whole" are ultimately revealed in their flawed state. The hope is that these imperfections can be "washed— / Transfigured—mended—" to eventually "Meet us—with a smile," suggesting a longing for acceptance of imperfection or a redemption of the flawed ideal.
The core tension lies in the contrast between the initial worship of an unblemished ideal and the painful discovery of its inherent flaws. The lyrics question the validity of holding onto such perfect notions when reality inevitably presents fractures. This disillusionment is not just a passive observation but an active process of "taking up" and then "casting down," a cycle of hope and subsequent disappointment. The imagery of a "splintered Crown" and "broken creatures" powerfully conveys the fragility and ultimate failure of these elevated expectations.
What makes these lyrics resonate is their unflinching examination of how deeply we invest in ideals, only to be wounded when they inevitably crumble. The language, though somewhat archaic, conveys a timeless human experience: the painful process of confronting reality's imperfections. The shift from the grand "fair Ideal" to the more intimate "our pool Ideal" suggests this struggle plays out on both cosmic and personal scales, making the eventual hope for a "smile" from the mended, flawed entity feel earned and deeply human.
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