10/24 The Poem + Lolita

The Poem

Here is my stab at deciphering the poetry of Nabokov.
So far themes I have picked up from the poem itself are:

the mirror: doubles, doubling
human and animal metaphors
metaphors of transformation
psychoanalysis
otherworldliness

Nabokov describes "the poem" as something thats different that "plain prose" the same way a nymphette is different than a young girl.
The poetry comes from "heights unknown", which gives off the theme of heavenly, otherworldly powers that provide the inspiration for the poetry, or the poetry to the poet, Lolita is often seen as otherworldly, a nymphette is categorized as a different species.
There are creature references : "leopards of words", "leaflike insects", "eye spotted birds", all things that are not what they seem, that can alter their appearances. Lolita is often described as a creature, and HH often refers to himself as a beast, or various animals.
"fuse and form" are used in the poem, and HH often describes his interactions with L as their fusing into one, their connection.
"mimetic" is also used in the poem, and we are aware of all the various doubles in Lolita (HH and Quilty, Annabel and Lolita, etc)

Nabokov uses the word "cacodemons" in the poem, which means both an evil spirit from the latin root, or in psychology its a form of insanity in which the patient believes they are possessed by an evil spirit. It is also used in Shakespeare's Richard III Act 1 Sc 3 when Queen Margaret calls Richard a cacodemon for his foul deeds and manipulations
 this related well to Lolita, HH is possessed by the powers of the nymphette, as well as by the powers of his addiction. At times he believes Lolita is possessed by a demon when she disobeys him or acts like a regular young teen.
the words "carnal pain" are used directly after "cacodemon", physical sexual needs and desires, which seem to control HH, and like Richard III cause him to do foul deeds and manipulations