Love And The Sea

Author: Madison Julius Cawein

    Love one day, in childish anger,
    Tired of his divinity,
    Sick of rapture, sick of languor,
    Threw his arrows in the sea.
    Since then Ocean, like a woman,
    Variable of nature seems:
    Smiling; cruel; kind; inhuman;
    Gloomed with grief and drowned in dreams.
Send via Email Share via WhatsApp Share on X

Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This striking poem employs vivid imagery and metaphor to explore the complexities of love and emotion. The primary theme revolves around love's capricious nature, symbolized through the persona of Love, a divine being tired of his own immensity, who in a moment of 'childish anger' discards his arrows into the sea. This act serves as a metaphor for love's unpredictability and its power to incite a spectrum of emotions, ranging from rapture to languor.

The tone of the poem is introspective and subtly melancholic, with an undercurrent of resignation towards love's inherent contradictions. The structure, composed of two quatrains, allows for a narrative progression, with the first stanza presenting an action (Love discarding his arrows) and the second stanza revealing its effect (the sea reflecting varied emotions).

The sea is personified as a woman, a standout literary device that accentuates the poem's theme. The sea, like love, is shown to be 'variable of nature', capable of exhibiting a range of emotions - 'smiling', 'cruel', 'kind', 'inhuman', and being 'gloomed with grief and drowned in dreams'. This powerful imagery paints a vivid portrait of love's multifaceted nature, echoing the sentiments of Love in the opening stanza. Overall, the poem presents a thoughtful exploration of love's complexity, its capacity to inspire both joy and despair, and its fundamental unpredictability.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.