Opium.

Author: Madison Julius Cawein

On reading De Quincey's "Confessions of an Opium Eater."


 I seemed to stand before a temple walled
 From shadows and night's unrealities;
 Filled with dark music of dead memories,
 And voices, lost in darkness, aye that called.
 I entered. And, beneath the dome's high-halled
 Immensity, one forced me to my knees
 Before a blackness, throned 'mid semblances
 And spectres, crowned with flames of emerald.
 Then, lo! two shapes that thundered at mine ears
 The names of Horror and Oblivion,
 Priests of this god, and bade me die and dream.
 Then, in the heart of hell, a thousand years
 Meseemed I lay, dead; while the iron stream
 Of Time beat out the seconds, one by one.
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Type of Poem: Sonnet

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

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Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem, an homage to De Quincey's "Confessions of an Opium Eater," delves into the themes of illusion, memory, and time, embracing a tone of darkness and foreboding. The speaker seems to enter a nightmarish realm, filled with uncanny music, spectral voices, and ominous figures. The imagery is powerful and unsettling, drawing the reader into a world that is both unreal and disturbingly vivid.

The structure of the poem, with its structured rhyme scheme, lends a sense of order and rhythm to the chaotic and dark world it describes, creating a paradoxical feeling of control within chaos. The poet uses various literary devices such as personification and vivid imagery to enhance the eerie atmosphere of the poem. The reference to 'Horror and Oblivion' as priests of a dark god is particularly striking, suggesting the terror and nothingness that the speaker perceives in the opium-induced dream state. Additionally, the use of phrases like 'the iron stream of Time' and 'dead memories' add to the poem's hauntingly beautiful melancholy, hinting at the destructive power of time and the torment of past memories. In all, the poem is a complex and powerful exploration of the dark recesses of the mind and the terrifying beauty of altered states of consciousness.

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.