In Fisherrow

By William Ernest Henley

Sonnet
    A hard north-easter fifty winters long     Has bronzed and shrivelled sere her face and neck;     Her locks are wild and grey, her teeth a wreck;     Her foot is vast, her bowed leg spare and strong.     A wide blue cloak, a squat and sturdy throng     Of curt blue coats, a mutch without a speck,     A white vest broidered black, her person deck,     Nor seems their picked, stern, old-world quaintness wrong.     Her great creel forehead-slung, she wanders nigh,     Easing the heavy strap with gnarled, brown fingers,     The spirit of traffic watchful in her eye,     Ever and anon imploring you to buy,     As looking down the street she onward lingers,     Reproachful, with a strange and doleful cry.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a vivid and detailed portrait of an aged woman, possibly a street-vendor, who has been weathered by time and hardship. The poet uses strong, evocative imagery to portray her physical appearance and demeanor. The first four lines focus on the ravages of time on her body, while the next four lines describe her clothing in detail, suggesting a sense of old-world charm and resilience. The tone of the poem is a mixture of sympathy, respect, and a hint of melancholy.

The structural arrangement of the poem in two quatrains and a sestet typically resonates with a sonnet form, with the initial quatrains presenting the subject of the poem and the sestet exploring their actions or emotional state. The poet employs alliteration, as in "bronzed and shrivelled sere," and assonance, as in "vast" and "spar," to create musicality and rhythm within the lines. Additionally, the poet's choice of words such as "gnarled," "hard," and "stern" contribute to the overall depiction of the woman's hard life and indomitable spirit. The final lines evoke the woman’s persistence and sense of purpose, even as they hint at a certain sadness or desperation. This poem, in essence, is a celebration of endurance and survival against the odds.

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.