London Types - XII. Flower-Girl

By William Ernest Henley

Sonnet
    There's never a delicate nurseling of the year     But our huge LONDON hails it, and delights     To wear it on her breast or at her ear,     Her days to colour and make sweet her nights.     Crocus and daffodil and violet,     Pink, primrose, valley-lily, clove-carnation,     Red rose and white rose, wall-flower, mignonette,     The daisies all - these be her recreation,     Her gaudies these!    And forth from DRURY LANE,     Trapesing in any of her whirl of weathers,     Her flower-girls foot it, honest and hoarse and vain,     All boot and little shawl and wilted feathers:     Of populous corners right advantage taking,     And, where they squat, endlessly posy-making.

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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 vivid, sensory celebration of the city of London's vibrant interplay with nature, particularly through its multitude of flowers. The poet uses personification to give London a feminine persona, referring to the city as 'her' and attributing to it human qualities such as delight, adornment, and recreation. The city is pictured as a nurturing entity that absorbs the beauty of flowers and uses them to enhance her appeal, bringing colour and sweetness to her existence.

The poem is built with a blend of structure and free form, contributing to an overall tone of joy mixed with a touch of melancholy. The poet's choice of flowers is not random; each one signifies a particular phase or mood, adding layers to the city's character. The imagery of flower-girls, who are depicted as "honest and hoarse and vain", provides a stark contrast to the delicate beauty of the flowers. This juxtaposition effectively portrays the harsh reality of urban life amidst the city's natural beauty.

There's a wonderful application of alliteration and consonance in lines like "Trapesing in any of her whirl of weathers," where the 'w' sound subtly echoes, enhancing the rhythmic quality of the poem. The ending line "And, where they squat, endlessly posy-making," leaves the reader with a lasting image of the city's ceaseless cycle of life and beauty. The poet not only captures the spirit of London through its seasons and flowers, but also through its people, who persist in their daily struggles, yet contribute to the city's charm and vitality.

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.