In Ages Past

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
    I Stood upon a height and listened to     The solemn psalmody of many pines,     And with the sound I seemed to see long lines     Of mountains rise, blue peak on cloudy blue,     And hear the roar of torrents hurling through     Riven ravines; or from the crags' gaunt spines     Pouring wild hair, where, as an eyeball shines,     A mountain pool shone, clear and cold of hue.     And then my soul remembered felt, how once,     In ages past, 't was here that I, a Faun,     Startled an Oread at her morning bath,     Who stood revealed; her beauty, like the sun's,     Veiled in her hair, heavy with dews of dawn,     Through which, like stars, burnt blue her eyes' bright wrath.

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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 and evocative exploration of nature and mythology, using sensory details and a sense of timelessness to draw the reader in. A key theme is the intersection of the natural world and the fantastical, as the speaker recalls not just the physical reality of a landscape, but also a past life as a mythical creature, a faun. The poem seems to suggest that the natural world is imbued with a kind of ancient magic that transcends our everyday experiences.

The tone is contemplative and slightly wistful, as the speaker seems to long for the simplicity and beauty of a past existence. The structure of the poem is a traditional sonnet, with the first eight lines setting the scene and the last six lines revealing the speaker's personal connection and response. The use of enjambment and a consistent iambic pentameter gives the poem a rhythmic, flowing quality, mirroring the movement of the natural world it describes. The poet employs potent imagery, such as “blue peak on cloudy blue” and “like stars, burnt blue her eyes' bright wrath,” creating a vibrant and expansive sensory landscape for the reader. The personification of nature, as seen in phrases like “solemn psalmody of many pines,” adds a depth of character and spirit to the setting. The allusion to Greek mythology with the references to a faun and an Oread, a mountain nymph, further contributes to the poem's fantastical ambiance and blurs the line between reality and myth.

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.