Correspondences

By Charles Baudelaire

Sonnet
    In Nature's temple living pillars rise,     And words are murmured none have understood,     And man must wander through a tangled wood     Of symbols watching him with friendly eyes.     As long-drawn echoes heard far-off and dim     Mingle to one deep sound and fade away;     Vast as the night and brilliant as the day,     Colour and sound and perfume speak to him.     Some perfumes are as fragrant as a child,     Sweet as the sound of hautboys, meadow-green;     Others, corrupted, rich, exultant, wild,     Have all the expansion of things infinite:     As amber, incense, musk, and benzoin,     Which sing the sense's and the soul's delight.

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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 profound exploration of the human experience of nature, weaving together themes of mystery, sensory perception, and the sublime. The tone is reverential, suggesting a sense of awe and wonder towards the natural world. The poet uses the metaphor of nature as a temple, invoking a sense of spirituality and highlighting the human quest for understanding in the face of nature's inscrutable beauty.

The structure of the poem underscores its themes, with the first stanza setting up the mystery of nature's language, and the subsequent stanzas exploring the sensory experiences of sound, color, and scent. The use of synesthesia, a literary device that mixes the senses, is particularly striking. The poet describes perfumes in terms of sound ("Sweet as the sound of hautboys") and color ("meadow-green"), which serves to blur the boundary between the senses and create a heightened, immersive experience of nature. The final lines, with their evocative list of rich, sensual perfumes, suggest a culmination of sensory delight, emphasizing the theme of nature's overwhelming and transformative power. The poem is a testament to the human capacity for wonder and the sensual delight in the face of nature's grandeur.

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.