Prterita

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
Low belts of rushes ragged with the blast; Lagoons of marish reddening with the west; And o'er the marsh the water-fowl's unrest While daylight dwindles and the dusk falls fast. Set in sad walls, all mossy with the past, An old stone gateway with a crumbling crest; A garden where death drowses manifest; And in gaunt yews the shadowy house at last. Here, like some unseen spirit, silence talks With echo and the wind in each gray room Where melancholy slumbers with the rain: Or, like some gentle ghost, the moonlight walks In the dim garden, which her smile makes bloom With all the old-time loveliness again.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem articulates a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, painting a vivid picture of a desolate, decaying landscape. The poet employs a somber tone and a rich tapestry of nature imagery to express themes of aging, loss, and the passage of time. The first half of the poem sets up a scene of a dilapidated landscape, "low belts of rushes ragged with the blast," and "an old stone gateway with a crumbling crest," which serves as a metaphor for the ravages of time. The vivid, evocative, and, at times, harsh imagery is meticulously crafted to convey a sense of desolation and decay.

However, the poem takes a turn in the second half, where the poet introduces elements of hope and regeneration. The once "silent" and "gray" house becomes a place where "silence talks with echo and the wind," suggesting the presence and resonance of past lives and memories. The moonlight is personified as a "gentle ghost" that breathes life into the garden, allowing it to bloom "with all the old-time loveliness again." This shift in tone and imagery, from desolation to rejuvenation, suggests that while time inevitably brings decay, it also carries the power to restore beauty and meaning. The poet uses this to convey the cyclical nature of life, and the inextricable link between death and rebirth.

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.