Author: Madison Julius Cawein
There is no inspiration in the view. From where this acorn drops its thimbles brown The landscape stretches like a shaggy frown; The wrinkled hills hang haggard and harsh of hue: Above them hollows the heaven's stony blue, Like a dull thought that haunts some sleepdazed clown Plodding his homeward way; and, whispering down, The dead leaves dance, a sere and shelterless crew. Let the sick day stagger unto its close, Morose and mumbling, like a hoary crone Beneath her fagots huddled fogs that soon Shall flare the windy west with ashen glows, Like some deep, dying hearth; and let the lone Night come at last night, and its withered moon.
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 poem, rich in its stark descriptiveness, casts a melancholic and bleak sense of the world. The prevalent themes appear to be despair, desolation, and perhaps the inescapability of time and mortality. The tone is somber and weary, creating a sense of despondency through effective use of imagery and personification.
The poem's structure is notable, with an ABAB rhyme scheme that lends a rhythmic regularity to the verse which contrasts the chaotic and desolate imagery within. The language is both highly figurative and starkly descriptive, employing metaphors and similes to personify the landscape, the day, and the night. This personification gives a vivid life to the inanimate and emphasizes the poem's melancholic atmosphere. For example, the description of day as a 'sick' and 'hoary crone' imbues it with a sense of fatigue and decrepitude, while the 'withered moon' of the night suggests a spent, exhausted life force. The 'dead leaves' dancing as a 'sere and shelterless crew' offer a poignant image of lifelessness and vulnerability, underscoring the theme of mortality. Overall, this poem masterfully combines structure, thematic depth, and vivid imagery to paint a starkly beautiful, if somber, picture of the world.
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.