Worlds

By Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Sonnet
    Through the pale green forest of tall bracken-stalks,     Whose interwoven fronds, a jade-green sky,     Above me glimmer, infinitely high,     Towards my giant hand a beetle walks     In glistening emerald mail; and as I lie     Watching his progress through huge grassy blades     And over pebble boulders, my own world fades     And shrinks to the vision of a beetle's eye.     Within that forest world of twilight green     Ambushed with unknown perils, one endless day     I travel down the beetle-trail between     Huge glossy boles through green infinity ...     Till flashes a glimpse of blue sea through the bracken asway,     And my world is again a tumult of windy sea.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem depicts a meditative journey through the shifting perspectives of human consciousness. The speaker, positioned as an observer within a verdant, almost overwhelming landscape, undergoes a profound transformation as his focus narrows to the beetle's world. The poem's single stanza, with its 14 lines reminiscent of a sonnet, mirrors this inward journey. The speaker initially describes the towering bracken ferns and the beetle's slow, deliberate movement. The imagery of jade-green sky and glistening emerald mail evokes a sense of lushness and enchantment. As the speaker identifies with the beetle's perspective, the language becomes more intimate and claustrophobic, emphasizing the vastness of the imagined world. The volta, marked by the phrase And my world is again a tumult of windy sea, signifies a return to the speaker's own reality, leaving him disoriented yet enriched by the experience. The poem's subtle shift from the stillness of the forest to the turbulence of the sea reflects the cyclical nature of human perception, forever oscillating between the microcosm and the macrocosm.

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.