The Aurora

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
    Night and the sea, and heaven overhead     Cloudless and vast, as 'twere of hollowed spar,     Wherein the facets gleamed of many a star,     And the half-moon a crystal radiance shed.     Then suddenly, with burning banners spread,     In pale celestial armour, as for war,     Into the heaven, flaming from afar,     The Northern Lights their phalanxed splendours led.     Night, for the moment, seemed to catch her breath,     And earth gazed, silent with astonishment,     As spear on spear the auroral armies came;     As when, triumphant over hell and death,     The victor angels thronged God's firmament     With sword on sword and burning oriflamme.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem is a poignant exploration of the grandeur and mystery of the night sky, with a particular focus on the ethereal spectacle of the Northern Lights. The central theme appears to be the awe-inspiring power and beauty of nature and its ability to stir deep emotions and spiritual contemplation.

The poet employs a rich tapestry of celestial imagery and metaphors, framing the Northern Lights as a heavenly army marching across the night sky, a metaphor that lends both a sense of majesty and a dramatic, warlike tension to the scene. The tone is one of reverence and wonder, underscored by the poet's use of evocative language and vivid descriptions, such as "burning banners spread" and "phalanxed splendours."

The structure of the poem, with its ordered rhyme scheme and rhythm, mirrors the perceived order and symmetry of the stars and the moon in the 'vast' and 'cloudless' heavens, thereby reinforcing the overarching theme of celestial grandeur. The final lines draw a parallel between the 'auroral armies' and 'victor angels,' suggesting a possible religious interpretation of the lights as divine or supernatural beings. This interpretation, combined with the poem's overall tone and imagery, suggests a contemplation of the sublime, the spiritual, and the transcendental aspects of nature.

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.