Work.

By Jean Ingelow

Sonnet
    Like coral insects multitudinous         The minutes are whereof our life is made.         They build it up as in the deep's blue shade     It grows, it comes to light, and then, and thus     For both there is an end. The populous         Sea-blossoms close, our minutes that have paid         Life's debt of work are spent; the work is laid     Before our feet that shall come after us.     We may not stay to watch if it will speed,         The bard if on some luter's string his song     Live sweetly yet; the hero if his star     Doth shine. Work is its own best earthly meed,         Else have we none more than the sea-born throng     Who wrought those marvellous isles that bloom afar.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem crafts a meditation on the fleeting nature of life, where the speaker contemplates the passage of time and its impact on human existence. The poem's structure, with its irregular line lengths and sparse stanza pattern, mirrors the fluid and dynamic quality of time itself. The use of enjambment and caesura creates a sense of urgency and fragmentation, underscoring the idea that life is made up of countless, minute moments that are constantly being built and lost. The voice is introspective and melancholic, with a focus on the inevitability of mortality. The poem's tone shifts subtly from a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of time's creation, to a recognition of the futility of human endeavor in the face of its passage. The image of the sea-blossoms closing, and the work being laid before the feet of those who come after, serves as a stark reminder of the transience of human achievement. The poem's final line, with its reference to the sea-born throng who wrought the marvellous isles that bloom afar, offers a haunting observation that even the most magnificent creations are ultimately subject to the erosive power of time.

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.