Sonnet Of Autumn

By Charles Baudelaire

Sonnet
    They say to me, thy clear and crystal eyes:     "Why dost thou love me so, strange lover mine?"     Be sweet, be still! My heart and soul despise     All save that antique brute-like faith of thine;     And will not bare the secret of their shame     To thee whose hand soothes me to slumbers long,     Nor their black legend write for thee in flame!     Passion I hate, a spirit does me wrong.     Let us love gently. Love, from his retreat,     Ambushed and shadowy, bends his fatal bow,     And I too well his ancient arrows know:     Crime, horror, folly. O pale marguerite,     Thou art as I, a bright sun fallen low,     O my so white, my so cold Marguerite.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a complex exploration of love, passion, and human nature. The central theme revolves around a conflict between the speaker's intense, "brute-like" affection and a desire for gentler, restrained love. The language suggests a struggle to reconcile the raw, primal aspects of love with its softer, more serene dimensions. The speaker, in addressing their lover -- likely the Marguerite mentioned in the concluding lines -- seems to be imploring for understanding and acceptance of their duality.

The verse is structured around a series of declarations and pleas, creating a tone of desperation and confession. Its formal language and use of archaic phrases like "dost thou" add a timeless quality, while the repeated use of "love" underlines the poem's recurring focus. Notable literary devices include metaphor and personification. Love is depicted as a dangerous entity, "ambushed and shadowy," that bends "his fatal bow," evoking images of Cupid with his arrow. Meanwhile, the speaker and Marguerite are likened to a "bright sun fallen low," a poignant metaphor suggesting a shared experience of loss or disillusionment. Overall, it's a poem that challenges its readers to question their own perceptions of love, passion, and the human spirit.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.