A Dedication. To Charlotte Cushman.

By Sidney Lanier

Sonnet
    As Love will carve dear names upon a tree,     Symbol of gravure on his heart to be,     So thought I thine with loving text to set     In the growth and substance of my canzonet;     But, writing it, my tears begin to fall -     This wild-rose stem for thy large name's too small!     Nay, still my trembling hands are fain, are fain     Cut the good letters though they lap again;     Perchance such folk as mark the blur and stain     Will say, `It was the beating of the rain;'     Or, haply these o'er-woundings of the stem     May loose some little balm, to plead for them.     1876.

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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 lamentation of unrequited love, where the speaker's emotions are inscribed in a musical composition, but ultimately fall short of expressing the depth of their feelings. The poem's structure, with its irregular meter and short, fragmented lines, conveys a sense of urgency and desperation. The use of the canzonet, a musical form, serves to underscore the speaker's emotional state, as if the music itself is a manifestation of their heart's turmoil. The voice is that of a lover who is torn between the desire to express their emotions and the impossibility of doing so. A structural turn occurs in the third stanza, where the speaker's resolve to inscribe their love in the music falters, and they begin to doubt the efficacy of their art. The image of the wild-rose stem for thy large name's too small suggests that even the most beautiful and expressive forms may be insufficient to contain the speaker's emotions. The final line, Or, haply these o'er-woundings of the stem / May loose some little balm, to plead for them, implies that even the imperfect expression of love may bring some solace. The observation that the speaker's tears fall while writing, and that their hands are trembling with emotion, underscores the intense, almost painful nature of their longing.

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.