The Herb-Gatherer

By Madison Julius Cawein

Sonnet
    A grey, bald hillside, bristling here and there     With leprous-looking grass, that, knobbed with stones,     Slopes to a valley where a wild stream moans,     And every bush seems tortured to despair     And shows its teeth of thorns as if to tear     All things to pieces: where the skull and bones     Of some dead beast protrude, like visible groans,     From one bleak place the winter rains washed bare.     Amid the desolation, in decay,     Like some half-rotted fungus, grey as slag,     A hut of lichened logs; and near it, old,     Unspeakably old, a man, the colour of clay,     Sorting damp roots and herbs into a bag     With trembling hands purple and stiff with cold.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a striking exploration of desolation and decay, presenting a bleak and visceral landscape that mirrors the human condition. The poet employs potent imagery, with the "grey, bald hillside" and "leprous-looking grass", to depict a harsh, uninviting environment. The valley, where even the bushes seem to be "tortured to despair", is imbued with a sense of desolation that is both physical and emotional. The comparison of protruding bones to "visible groans" is a particularly effective image, transforming the abstract concept of pain into something tangibly horrific.

The poem’s structure and tone are as austere as its subject matter, but the last stanza introduces a human element. Amid the desolation, an old man, "unspeakably old", and as grey as the landscape around him, is seen sorting roots and herbs. This image is poignant in its depiction of vulnerability and resilience in the face of harsh circumstances. The man's "trembling hands purple and stiff with cold" underscore the hardship he endures, yet the fact he continues to work suggests an enduring will to survive. In this sense, the poem is not merely a study of desolation, but a testament to human resilience in the face of adversity. The poet’s use of vivid, stark imagery and emotive language to portray this harsh landscape and the enduring human figure within it, is deeply affecting and memorable.

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.