Heaven And Hell

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Sonnet
    While forced to dwell apart from thy dear face,          Love, robed like sorrow, led me by the hand          And taught my doubting heart to understand     That which has puzzled all the human race.     Full many a sage has questioned where in space          Those counter worlds were? where the mystic strand          That separates them?    I have found each land,     And Hell is vast, and Heaven a narrow space.     In the small compass of thy clasping arms,          In reach and sight of thy dear lips and eyes,          There, there for me the joy of Heaven lies.     Outside, lo! chaos, terrors' wild alarms,     And all the desolation fierce and fell     Of void and aching nothingness, makes Hell.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a profound exploration of love, separation, and connection, using rich metaphors and vivid imagery. The speaker communicates the depth of their longing for their beloved and how their absence is akin to a personal hell. This theme of longing is expressed through the contrast between the celestial and the personal, with the speaker's loved one being equated to heaven and their absence to hell.

The poet employs an effective use of paradox, portraying love as something that is simultaneously sorrowful and enlightening. This paradox serves to underline the complex duality of the human experience of love. The tone of the poem is melancholic yet hopeful, suggesting the power of love to illuminate and give meaning to existence even in the face of despair. The structure of the poem with its rhymed couplets and iambic pentameter, contributes to the overall solemn and rhythmic flow of the piece, invoking a sense of longing and contemplation. The use of celestial metaphors and religious imagery lends a timeless quality to the poem, highlighting the universal relevance of its themes.

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.