Analysis of "Evening Concert, Saint-Chapelle" by John Updike

At first, the poem seems like a person is attending a concert in the chapel.  The "violins vaunting Vivaldi's strident strength, then Brahms" are actually our "beating hearts."  The music from the concert is really the colorful light coming through the stain glass windows, yet the light is confined by lead walls which keep the light inside the chapel.  At the same time, the iron gives the light shape and form of "shield and cross."  Without the iron, the light would be nothing.  Updike uses alliteration to create images in the reader's mind about "blazing blues," violins vaunting Vivaldi's" with "strident strength".  Updike makes a comparison using light and music saying that eyes listen and hear whispers.  The light dances around the chapel as if it is dancing to music.  The windows are a form of art like music is, and just like music, they provide entertainment.  Our eyes see the light, and then our hearts bring out the images and the beauty of the windows.