Dusk.

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
    Corn-Colored clouds upon a sky of gold,     And 'mid their sheaves, where, like a daisy bloom     Left by the reapers to the gathering gloom,     The star of twilight flames, as Ruth, 't is told,     Dreamed homesick 'mid the harvest fields of old,     The Dusk goes gleaning color and perfume     From Bible slopes of heaven, that illume     Her pensive beauty deep in shadows stoled.     Hushed is the forest; and blue vale and hill     Are still, save for the brooklet, sleepily     Stumbling the stone, its foam like some white foot:     Save for the note of one far whippoorwill,     And in my heart her name, like some sweet bee     Within a flow'r, blowing a fairy flute.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem presents a vivid tableau of a serene twilight landscape, employing an array of visual and auditory sensory details that contribute to its tranquil tone. The use of color, such as "Corn-Colored clouds upon a sky of gold," and the reference to the "star of twilight," serve to paint a picture of a warm, welcoming dusk. The poet employs the metaphor of dusk as a gleaner, collecting "color and perfume from Bible slopes of heaven," which injects a spiritual dimension into the scene.

The structure of the poem is carefully crafted, with the first eight lines constructing the visual portrayal of the surroundings, while the remaining six lines blend the sounds of the environment and the poet's emotional state. The stillness of the scene is punctuated by a brooklet and the note of a whippoorwill, using auditory details to deepen the sensory experience. The concluding lines bring a personal and emotional element into the poem, as the speaker reveals that the tranquility of the scene evokes a specific, treasured memory or longing. The simile of a bee within a flower blowing a fairy flute is a delightful and fitting end, encapsulating the poem's themes of nature's beauty, nostalgia, and quiet introspection.

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.