Certitude

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Sonnet
    There was a time when I was confident     That God's stupendous mystery of birth     Was mine to know.    The wonder of it lent     New ecstasy and glory to the earth.     I heard no voice that uttered it aloud,     Nor was it written for me on a scroll;     Yet, if alone or in the common crowd,     I felt myself a consecrated soul.     My child leaped in its dark and silent room     And cried, 'I am,' though all unheard by men.     So leaps my spirit in the body's gloom     And cries, 'I live!    I shall be born again.'     Elate with certitude towards death I go,     Nor doubt, nor argue, since I know, I know!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem explores profound themes of spiritual confidence, divine mystery, and the cyclical nature of life and death. The tone is contemplative yet assertive, with the speaker asserting their certainty in spiritual rebirth and the continuity of the soul. The structure is consistent, adhering to a rhythmic meter and a rhyme scheme that lends the poem a formal, almost hymnal quality.

Among the standout literary devices used, metaphor and personification play key roles. The speaker conveys the birth of their child as a metaphor for their own spiritual awakening - the child's first assertion of existence ("I am") mirrors the speaker's spiritual affirmation ("I live!"). This connection between the physical and the spiritual, the tangible and the transcendent, is further emphasized through the personification of the speaker's spirit, which 'leaps' in the 'body's gloom', suggesting a dynamic, vibrant force within the physical confines of the human form.

The concluding lines illustrate the speaker's conviction in the face of mortality, their assuredness stemming from a deep, unshakeable knowledge of spiritual continuity, a theme that pervades the poem. The repeated phrase "I know, I know" underscores this certainty, leaving the reader with an image of a speaker who, while confronting the mystery of existence, finds comfort and joy in spiritual conviction.

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.