Wings

By Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Sonnet
    As a blue-necked mallard alighting in a pool     Among marsh-marigolds and splashing wet     Green leaves and yellow blooms, like jewels set     In bright, black mud, with clear drops crystal-cool,     Bringing keen savours of the sea and stir     Of windy spaces where wild sunsets flame     To that dark inland dyke, the thought of her     Into my brooding stagnant being came.     And all my senses quickened into life,     Tingling and glittering, and the salt and fire     Sang through my singing blood in eager strife     Until through crystal airs we seemed to be     Soaring together, one fleet-winged desire     Of windy sunsets and the wandering sea.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem uses the image of a mallard alighting in a marsh to explore the speaker's reawakening to desire, symbolized by the return of a lost love. The speaker's voice is one of fervent longing, intensified by the poem's tight structure and vivid sensory imagery. The sonnet form, with its strict rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, creates a sense of both order and intensity. This structure mirrors the speaker's emotional journey, moving from a state of stagnation to a sudden surge of passion. The poem's language is rich in sensory details, evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of the marsh. The mallard's vibrant plumage, the splashing water, and the keen savours of the sea all contribute to a sense of life and vibrancy. This sensory richness intensifies the speaker's emotional awakening, as if the natural world itself is mirroring their own rekindled passion. The poem's volta, or shift in tone, occurs in the ninth line, where the speaker's senses are quickened into life. This marks the moment when the speaker is fully consumed by the desire that has been reawakened. The poem's final couplet solidifies this connection, linking the windy sunsets and wandering sea to the speaker's fleet-winged desire. Through the evocative language and structured form, the poem explores the power of memory and desire, suggesting that even in the seemingly stagnant depths, passion can reemerge with sudden force.

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.