Before The End

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
How does the Autumn in her mind conclude The tragic masque her frosty pencil writes, Broad on the pages of the days and nights, In burning lines of orchard, wold, and wood? What lonelier forms, that at the year's door stood At spectral wait, with wildly wasted lights Shall enter? and with melancholy rites Inaugurate their sadder sisterhood? Sorrow, who lifts a signal hand, and slow The green leaf fevers, falling ere it dies; Regret, whose pale lips summon, and gaunt Woe Wakes the wild-wind harps with sonorous sighs; And Sleep, who sits with poppied eyes and sees The earth and sky grow dream-accessories.

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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 vivid exploration of the transition from summer to autumn, using the season as a metaphor for the progression of life and the inevitability of sorrow and loss. The personification of Autumn as a writer who traces "burning lines of orchard, wold, and wood" paints a picture of the season's dramatic transformation of nature, and by extension, the transformation that happens in life.

The tone of the poem is tinged with melancholy and a sense of longing. The poet uses vivid, somber images to evoke an emotional response. The "spectral wait" and "wildly wasted lights" suggest a sense of foreboding, while "sorrow," "regret," and "woe" are personified as characters entering the scene, heightening the sense of drama and sadness. The use of personification and alliteration in these lines enhances the mournful tone.

The structure of the poem, with its progression from the general to the specific, reflects the unfolding of the season. The poem ends with the image of Sleep, personified as a figure observing the world with "poppied eyes," suggesting a sense of acceptance and resignation to the cycle of life and the inevitability of loss. This serves as a powerful conclusion to the poem, unifying its themes and images.

Overall, the poem is a compelling exploration of the cycle of life and the inevitability of sorrow, loss, and acceptance, using the metaphor of the changing seasons to evoke these universal themes.

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.