September On Cape Ann

By Madison Julius Cawein

    The partridge-berry flecks with flame the way     That leads to ferny hollows where the bee     Drones on the aster. Far away the sea     Points its deep sapphire with a gleam of grey.     Here from this height where, clustered sweet, the bay     Clumps a green couch, the haw and barberry     Beading her hair, sad Summer, seemingly,     Has fallen asleep, unmindful of the day.     The chipmunk barks upon the old stone wall;     And in the shadows, like a shadow, stirs     The woodchuck where the boneset's blossom creams.     Was that a phoebe with its pensive call?     A sighing wind that shook the drowsy firs?     Or only Summer waking from her dreams?

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
This poem beautifully captures the quietude and serenity of a scene in late summer, imbuing it with a sense of warmth and longing. The primary theme is the harmonious coexistence of nature's elements, underscored by the vividly depicted flora and fauna. The tone is contemplative, even elegiac, evoking a sense of time's inexorable passage as the season begins to transition.

The poet employs an array of sensory imagery to bring the scene to life. From the "partridge-berry" that "flecks with flame the way," to the "sighing wind" that shakes the "drowsy firs," each line is steeped in rich, evocative detail. Noteworthy is the anthropomorphism of Summer, depicted as a woman fallen asleep, unmindful of the day, her hair bedecked with haw and barberry. This personification imbues the scene with an air of melancholy, suggesting the transient beauty of the season.

The structure of the poem, a single, unbroken stanza, complements its themes. It mirrors the uninterrupted flow of time, the seamless shift from day to night, and summer to autumn. Additionally, the poet employs a subtle rhyme scheme, which lends a lilting rhythm to the verses, echoing the gentle sway of nature in the breeze. The final line, hinting at Summer's awakening from her dreams, suggests an inevitable cycle, a renewal that follows rest—a poignant end, leaving readers with a reassuring sense of nature's enduring rhythm.

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.