Author: William Ernest Henley
The beach was crowded. Pausing now and then, He groped and fiddled doggedly along, His worn face glaring on the thoughtless throng The stony peevishness of sightless men. He seemed scarce older than his clothes. Again, Grotesquing thinly many an old sweet song, So cracked his fiddle, his hand so frail and wrong, You hardly could distinguish one in ten. He stopped at last, and sat him on the sand, And, grasping wearily his bread-winner, Stared dim towards the blue immensity, Then leaned his head upon his poor old hand. He may have slept: he did not speak nor stir: His gesture spoke a vast despondency.
Type of Poem: Sonnet
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem vividly portrays the struggles of an elderly, sightless man in a world that appears indifferent to his pain. The setting of a crowded beach accentuates the protagonist’s isolation and the theme of loneliness. The poem's structure is highly organized, employing a consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme that strengthens its narrative flow. The poet's deliberate choice of words paints a poignant picture of the man's plight, using phrases like "stony peevishness", "worn face glaring", and "thinly grotesquing" to underscore his physical hardships and emotional turmoil.
The poet employs the literary device of synecdoche, using the protagonist's "poor old hand" and "bread-winner" (his fiddle) to represent his entire being and his struggle for survival, respectively. The poem’s tone is melancholic, reflecting the man’s desolation, while the use of visual imagery, particularly in the last few lines, intensifies the sense of despair. The "blue immensity" symbolizes the vastness and indifference of the world, and his "gesture" expressing "vast despondency" powerfully concludes the poem, leaving the reader with a deep sense of empathy for the hardships faced by the less fortunate.
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:
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.