Sonnet LXXI. To The Poppy.

By Anna Seward

Sonnet
     While Summer Roses all their glory yield         To crown the Votary of Love and Joy,         Misfortune's Victim hails, with many a sigh,         Thee, scarlet POPPY of the pathless field,      Gaudy, yet wild and lone; no leaf to shield         Thy flaccid vest, that, as the gale blows high,         Flaps, and alternate folds around thy head. -         So stands in the long grass a love-craz'd Maid,      Smiling aghast; while stream to every wind         Her gairish ribbons, smear'd with dust and rain;         But brain-sick visions cheat her tortur'd mind,      And bring false peace. Thus, lulling grief and pain,         Kind dreams oblivious from thy juice proceed,         THOU FLIMSY, SHEWY, MELANCHOLY WEED.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Sonnets
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem masterfully intertwines themes of nature, beauty, and melancholy, using the vivid image of a poppy to symbolically represent the transient yet captivating allure of life. The poppy, described as "scarlet," "gaudy," yet "wild and lone," serves as a poignant metaphor for the individual who, despite being battered by the harsh winds of misfortune, stands resilient, reflecting the strength of the human spirit amidst adversity.

The tone of the poem oscillates between romantic admiration and somber reflection. The poet's use of contrast—between the "summer roses" and the "flimsy, shewy, melancholy weed"—emphasizes the dichotomy of joy and sorrow, beauty and decay. This juxtaposition is further echoed in the imagery of the "love-craz'd Maid," whose "gairish ribbons" are "smeared with dust and rain," illustrating the idea that beauty and joy are often tainted by the realities of suffering and despair. The poem's structure, consistent in its rhyming scheme, lends a rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality that mirrors the inescapable cycle of life and death, joy and sorrow. The poet's use of personification and vivid imagery transforms the poppy into a symbol of melancholic beauty, a beacon of hope in the face of despair, subtly implying that even in our darkest moments, there exists a unique, if sorrowful, beauty.

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.