Prayer To My Lord

By John Frederick Freeman

Sonnet
    If ever Thou didst love me, love me now,     When round me beat the flattering vans of life,     Kissing with rapid breath my lifted brow.     Love me, if ever, when the murmur of strife,     In each dark byway of my being creeps,     When pity and pride, passion and passion's loss     Wash wavelike round the world's eternal cross,     Till 'mid my fears a new-born love indignant leaps.     If ever Thou canst love me, love me yet,     When sweet, impetuous loves within me stir     And the frail portals of my spirit fret--     The love of love, that makes Heaven heavenlier,     The love of earth, of birds, children and light,     Love of this bitter, lovely native land....     O, love me when sick with all these I stand     And Death's far-rumoured wings beat on the lonely night.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem engages with themes of love, life, mortality, and human emotions in an emotionally-rich, passionate, and somewhat desperate plea. The speaker is confronting their own mortality and vulnerability, reaching out for love in the throes of life's turmoil and the imminent specter of death. This creates a poignant and urgent tone, emphasized by the repetition of the phrases "If ever Thou didst love me" and "If ever Thou canst love me."

The structure of the poem, divided equally into two stanzas, reflects the dual themes of life and death. The first stanza is filled with conflict and struggle, invoking imagery of strife, pity, pride, and passion. The second stanza, in contrast, is brimming with life-affirming images of love, earth, birds, children, and light, despite the hint of suffering in the lines "Love of this bitter, lovely native land" and "sick with all these I stand."

The poem also employs standout literary devices such as alliteration ("flattering fans," "bitter, lovely"), metaphor ("world's eternal cross," "Death's far-rumoured wings"), and hyperbole ("makes Heaven heavenlier"). These devices, coupled with the rhythmic flow of the lines, enrich the sensory experience of the poem and heighten its emotional intensity. The poem, therefore, is a deeply moving exploration of the human condition, grappling with the complexity of love, life's trials, and the inevitable prospect of mortality.

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.