Why Sad To-Day?

By Rose Hawthorne Lathrop

Sonnet
    Why is the nameless sorrowing look     So often thought a whim?     God-willed, the willow shades the brook,     The gray owl sings a hymn;     Sadly the winds change, and the rain     Comes where the sunlight fell:     Sad is our story, told again,     Which past years told so well!     Why not love sorrow and the glance     That ends in silent tears?     If we count up the world's mischance,     Grieving is in arrears.     Why should I know why I could weep?     The old urns cannot read     The names they wear of kings they keep     In ashes; both are dead.     And like an urn the heart must hold     Aims of an age gone by:     What the aims were we are not told;     We hold them, who knows why?

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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 nuanced exploration of the human experience of sorrow, tracing the complex interplay between the external world and the inner self. The speaker navigates the tension between the fleeting nature of external events and the enduring, unnamable quality of sorrow, which persists despite the passage of time. The poem's formal structure, with its loose iambic meter and irregular line lengths, mirrors the speaker's meandering thoughts and emotions. A significant structural turn occurs in the third stanza, where the poem shifts from a focus on external events and the world's mischance to an introspective exploration of the speaker's own heart. This tonal shift is accompanied by a change in language, as the speaker's voice becomes more introspective and uncertain, reflecting the ambiguity and mystery of human emotion. The poem concludes with a poignant observation on the futility of seeking answers to the question of why we suffer, leaving the reader with a sense of the enduring, unknowable nature of sorrow.

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.