Work

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet
    What are we set on earth for? Say, to toil;     Nor seek to leave thy tending of the vines     For all the heat o' the day, till it declines,     And Death's mild curfew shall from work assoil.     God did anoint thee with his odorous oil,     To wrestle, not to reign; and He assigns     All thy tears over, like pure crystallines,     For younger fellow-workers of the soil     To wear for amulets. So others shall     Take patience, labor, to their heart and hand     From thy hand and thy heart and thy brave cheer,     And God's grace fructify through thee to     The least flower with a brimming cup may stand,     And share its dew-drop with another near.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This fourteen-line poem, structured as a sonnet, presents a meditation on labor and divine purpose, framed as a rhetorical question that resolves into a directive. The iambic pentameter, unrhymed but with occasional half-rhymes, lends a measured, almost liturgical cadence, reinforcing the poem's spiritual and pastoral themes. The voice is didactic, addressing an implied thee with urgency, while the imagery shifts from vineyards and toil to tears crystallized into amulets, suggesting both suffering and its transmutation into shared resilience. The volta arrives in the couplet, where the speaker pivots from individual labor to communal legacy, proposing that God's grace multiplies through human effort, culminating in the modest, yet profound, image of a flower sharing its dew. The poem's final line underscores its central claim: even the smallest acts of labor, when imbued with grace, create ripples of meaning that extend beyond the self.

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.