Author: Madison Julius Cawein
No eve of summer ever can attain The gladness of that eve of late July, When 'mid the roses, filled with musk and rain, Against the wondrous topaz of the sky, I met you, leaning on the pasture bars, - While heaven and earth grew conscious of the stars. No night of blackest winter can repeat The bitterness of that December night, When at your gate, gray-glittering with sleet, Within the glimmering square of window-light, We parted, - long you clung unto my arm, - While heaven and earth surrendered to the storm.
Type of Poem: Sonnet
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This evocative piece is a journey through the poet's memory, using the dramatic shifts in weather and seasons to express the highs and lows of a past relationship. The poem contrasts the warm, joyous feelings associated with a summer evening to the harsh, painful memories of a winter night, signifying the transition from the beginning of a love to its heartbreaking end.
The first stanza is filled with vivid, sensory-rich imagery that paints a picture of a romantic summer evening. The poet uses the setting of a radiant late July evening to recall the moment of meeting someone special, with the 'wondrous topaz of the sky' and 'roses, filled with musk and rain' serving as symbols of the precious, fleeting beauty of new love. The second stanza, however, is strikingly bleak. The 'night of blackest winter', the 'gate, gray-glittering with sleet', and the 'glimmering square of window-light' effectively convey the cold, harsh reality of parting.
The poet's use of enjambment and parallel structure in both stanzas creates a rhythmic, flowing narrative that compels the reader to share the emotional journey. The repetition of the phrase 'while heaven and earth' at the end of each stanza unifies the two contrasting experiences, suggesting that both joy and sorrow are integral parts of life. The poem, therefore, is not only a tale of a lost love but also a reflection on the universal human experience of passion and loss.
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:
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.