Walking At Eve

By John Frederick Freeman

Sonnet
    Walking at eve I met a little child     Running beside a tragic-featured dame,     Who checked his blitheness with a quick "For shame!"     And seemed by sharp caprice froward and mild.     Scarce heeding her the sweet one ran, beguiled     By the lit street, and his eyes too aflame;     Only, at whiles, into his eyes there came     Bewilderment and grief with terror wild.     So, Beauty, dost thou run with tragic life;     So, with the curious world's caress enchanted,     Even of ill things thine ecstasy dost make;     Yet at the touch of fear and vital strife     The splendours thy young innocency forsake,     And with thy foster-mother's woe thou art haunted.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is an evocative exploration of the themes of innocence, beauty, and the tragic realities of life. It uses the poignant image of a child running beside a 'tragic-featured' woman as an allegory for beauty's relationship with life's hardships. The child is filled with curiosity and delight, yet the woman's stern rebuke and his glimpses of fear and confusion underscore the harsh realities that temper his innocence.

The tone of the poem is a delicate balance of tenderness and melancholy, effectively capturing the bittersweet nature of growing up. The structure, consisting of two stanzas, mirrors the dual nature of the child's experience - joy and fear, innocence and knowledge. The use of personification in the second stanza, with Beauty running alongside tragic life, heightens the emotional impact of the poem.

The poet's choice of words such as 'bewilderment', 'terror', and 'haunted' imbues the poem with a sense of unease, suggesting the inevitable loss of innocence. Yet, the 'lit street' and 'ecstasy' hint at the beauty and wonder that still exist within the world. This duality creates a poignant tension that resonates throughout the poem. It is a moving portrayal of the complex intersection between joy, sorrow, innocence, and understanding in the human experience.

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.