After A Night Of Rain

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
    The rain made ruin of the rose and frayed     The lily into tatters: now the Morn     Looks from the hopeless East with eyes forlorn,     As from her attic looks a dull-eyed maid.     The coreopsis drips; the sunflowers fade;     The garden reeks with rain: beneath the thorn     The toadstools crowd their rims where, dim of horn,     The slow snail slimes the grasses gaunt and greyed.     Like some pale nun, in penitential weeds,     Weary with weeping, telling sad her beads,     Her rosary of pods of hollyhocks,     September comes, heavy of heart and head,     While in her path the draggled four-o'-clocks     Droop all their flowers, saying, "Summer's dead."

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a somber, melancholic reflection on the transition from summer to autumn, using rich, evocative imagery to depict the effects of rain on a once vibrant garden. The natural world is personified throughout, imbuing the landscape with human emotions and experiences. The morning is depicted as a "dull-eyed maid," while September is likened to a "pale nun," weary and sorrowful. These personifications add a layer of depth to the poem, transforming the garden into a stage where the drama of the seasons is enacted.

The poem's tone is one of melancholy and introspection, mirroring the grey, dreary weather it describes. The structure is consistent and balanced, comprised of two quatrains and two tercets with a precise rhyme scheme. This lends a formal, almost solemn air to the poem, reinforcing its somber themes. The use of alliteration and assonance, such as in "the slow snail slimes the grasses gaunt and greyed" and "weary with weeping, telling sad her beads," creates a rhythmic, musical quality that further enhances the poem's reflective mood. The final line, "Droop all their flowers, saying, 'Summer's dead,'" is particularly poignant, signaling an ending and reinforcing the theme of transience and the inevitable passage of time.

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.