After Our Likeness

Ada Cambridge's After Our Likeness

Introduction

Ada Cambridge's poem "After Our Likeness" presents a profound meditation on the nature of human existence, divine creation, and the journey of the soul through life. This 19th-century work, rich in theological and philosophical implications, invites readers to contemplate the relationship between humanity and divinity through the lens of a child's portrait. The poem's intricate structure, vivid imagery, and deep spiritual undertones warrant a close examination to unravel its multifaceted meanings and significance within the broader context of Victorian poetry and religious thought.

Analysis of Form and Structure

Cambridge employs a consistent rhyme scheme of ABBA throughout the poem's eleven quatrains, creating a sense of harmony and order that mirrors the divine perfection she perceives in the child's face. This structured approach to versification reflects the poet's belief in a well-ordered universe, guided by divine providence. The regularity of the form also serves as a counterpoint to the themes of change and turbulence that the poem explores, suggesting an underlying constancy beneath life's vicissitudes.

The poem's meter, predominantly iambic pentameter, lends a dignified, almost prayerful cadence to the verses. This rhythm evokes the solemnity of religious contemplation, appropriate for a work that grapples with weighty theological concepts. Occasional variations in the meter, such as the trochaic substitution in the opening line "Before me now a little picture lies," serve to draw attention to key moments and prevent the rhythm from becoming monotonous.

Imagery and Symbolism

Central to the poem is the image of the child's portrait, described with delicate precision in the opening stanzas. Cambridge's choice of a child as the subject is significant, as it represents humanity in its most pure and uncorrupted state. The "fair, oval, broad-brow'd face" with its "transparent skin" becomes a canvas upon which the poet projects profound spiritual truths.

The recurring motif of light and reflection throughout the poem serves multiple symbolic functions. Initially, it represents the divine spark within humanity, the "strange, mystic light" that is "a reflection of the Face divine." This imagery draws on the biblical concept of humanity being created in God's image, a theme explicitly referenced in the poem's title and early stanzas.

As the poem progresses, the symbolism of light and reflection evolves. The "lucid waters" in which the divine image is reflected become a metaphor for the soul, susceptible to being "stirred up and troubled like a stormy sea." This turbulence represents the trials and tribulations of life, which have the potential to obscure the divine likeness within.

Thematic Exploration

The Imago Dei and Human Nature

A central theme of the poem is the concept of the Imago Dei, the belief that humans are created in the image of God. Cambridge explores this idea through the child's portrait, suggesting that in childhood, this divine likeness is most clearly visible. The poem posits that as one ages and experiences life's hardships, this image may become obscured but is never truly lost.

This theme intersects with Victorian debates about human nature and the effects of original sin. While acknowledging the potential for life to "cast" shadows across the divine light, Cambridge maintains an optimistic view of human potential for spiritual growth and eventual return to a state of grace.

The Journey of the Soul

The poem traces the spiritual journey of the soul from the innocence of childhood through the trials of life and ultimately to death and transfiguration. This progression is portrayed as a cyclical process of obscuring and revealing the divine image. Cambridge suggests that life's challenges, rather than permanently marring the soul, can lead to a deeper, more mature spirituality:

"They will re-settle in those after-years When life's hard lessons have been conned and learn'd; When this child's beauty will have all return'd, More lovely for the trouble and the tears."

This perspective offers a nuanced view of suffering, presenting it not as a punishment but as a refining process that ultimately enhances the soul's beauty.

Death and Transfiguration

The final stanzas of the poem shift focus to the moment of death, presented not as an end but as a culmination of the soul's journey. Cambridge envisions death as the ultimate clarifying force, where the divine image is fully restored and perfected:

"They will re-settle in the calm of death, When the sweet eyes are laid asleep, and when The heart is hush'd. Truly God's likeness then— The mirror clear, unsullied by a breath."

This treatment of death aligns with Christian eschatological concepts of resurrection and glorification, where the faithful are believed to be fully transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Literary and Theological Context

"After Our Likeness" can be situated within the broader context of Victorian religious poetry. Like many of her contemporaries, Cambridge grapples with the intersection of faith and modernity, seeking to reaffirm traditional Christian beliefs in an era of increasing scientific skepticism.

The poem's themes resonate with the works of other Victorian poets such as Gerard Manley Hopkins, particularly in its exploration of the divine imprint on nature and humanity. However, Cambridge's approach is distinctly feminine in its focus on the child's portrait and its nurturing, maternal perspective on spiritual growth.

Theologically, the poem engages with concepts from both Anglican and Platonic traditions. The idea of the soul as a mirror reflecting the divine echoes Platonic notions of Forms, while the emphasis on the Imago Dei and the transformative power of grace aligns with Anglican doctrine.

Conclusion

Ada Cambridge's "After Our Likeness" is a masterful exploration of profound spiritual and philosophical concepts through the medium of lyric poetry. By focusing on the simple image of a child's portrait, Cambridge creates a work that is at once intimate and universal, addressing the grand themes of human existence with delicacy and insight.

The poem's enduring relevance lies in its nuanced treatment of the human condition, acknowledging both the potential for spiritual obscurity and the persistent hope for renewal and transformation. Through its carefully crafted verses, "After Our Likeness" invites readers to contemplate their own spiritual journeys and the enduring presence of the divine within the human experience.

In the broader context of Victorian literature, this poem stands as a testament to the ongoing dialogue between faith and art in an era of rapid social and intellectual change. It demonstrates the power of poetry to articulate complex theological concepts in a way that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, cementing Ada Cambridge's place among the significant voices of 19th-century religious verse.