A December Day

By Robert Fuller Murray

Sonnet
         Blue, blue is the sea to-day,                 Warmly the light          Sleeps on St. Andrews Bay--                 Blue, fringed with white.          That's no December sky!                 Surely 'tis June          Holds now her state on high,                 Queen of the noon.          Only the tree-tops bare                 Crowning the hill,          Clear-cut in perfect air,                 Warn us that still          Winter, the aged chief,                 Mighty in power,          Exiles the tender leaf,                 Exiles the flower.          Is there a heart to-day,                 A heart that grieves          For flowers that fade away,                 For fallen leaves?          Oh, not in leaves or flowers                 Endures the charm          That clothes those naked towers                 With love-light warm.          O dear St. Andrews Bay,                 Winter or Spring          Gives not nor takes away                 Memories that cling          All round thy girdling reefs,                 That walk thy shore,          Memories of joys and griefs                 Ours evermore.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a meditation on the passage of time and the enduring power of memory, as embodied in the natural world. The speaker's voice is lyrical and introspective, with a focus on the seasonal cycles of nature, which serves as a metaphor for the human experience. The poem's structure, with its consistent rhyme scheme and stanza pattern, creates a sense of musicality and flow, while the use of enjambment and caesura emphasizes the speaker's thoughts and emotions. A significant structural turn occurs in the poem's final stanza, where the speaker shifts from a focus on the external world to a more personal and introspective tone. The speaker's question, Is there a heart to-day, / A heart that grieves, marks a turning point in the poem, as the speaker begins to consider the emotional resonance of the natural world. The final lines, O dear St. Andrews Bay, / Winter or Spring / Gives not nor takes away / Memories that cling, offer a profound observation: that even in the face of change and decay, the memories we create and experience can endure.

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.