'Requiescat' by Oscar Wilde
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Tread lightly, she is near
Under the snow,
Speak gently, she can hear
The daisies grow.
All her bright golden hair
Tarnished with rust,
She that was young and fair
Fallen to dust.
Lily-like, white as snow,
She hardly knew
She was a woman, so
Sweetly she grew.
Coffin-board, heavy stone,
Lie on her breast,
I vex my heart alone
She is at rest.
Peace, Peace, she cannot hear
Lyre or sonnet,
All my life's buried here,
Heap earth upon it.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Requiescat by Oscar Wilde: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you tired of reading poems that are just about love or nature? Do you want to read something that is dark, beautiful, and haunting? Look no further than Oscar Wilde's poem "Requiescat."
With just 16 lines, "Requiescat" packs a punch. The poem is a eulogy, a farewell to someone who has passed away. But it's not just any farewell. It's a farewell filled with regret, longing, and pain. The speaker of the poem is mourning someone who was beautiful, innocent, and pure, and who died too soon. And yet, there is a sense of acceptance and peace in the poem too. The speaker is resigned to the fact that the person they loved is gone, but they still hold on to the memories and the beauty that they left behind.
The Structure and Form of the Poem
Before we dive into the themes and motifs of "Requiescat," let's take a closer look at the structure and form of the poem. "Requiescat" is a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. However, Wilde takes some liberties with the traditional sonnet form. Instead of the usual ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme, "Requiescat" follows a ABAB BCBC DEDE FF rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a slightly more modern feel, and allows Wilde to play with the rhyme and meter in interesting ways.
The poem is also written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has 10 syllables and follows a rhythm of unstressed-stressed. This gives the poem a musical quality, and makes it easier to remember and recite.
The Themes and Motifs of the Poem
Now that we've looked at the structure and form of "Requiescat," let's explore some of the themes and motifs that make the poem so powerful.
Beauty and Innocence
One of the most striking things about "Requiescat" is the way it celebrates beauty and innocence. The speaker of the poem is mourning someone who was "fair, and pure, and innocent" (line 2), and who had "the clear brow / And the crystal eyes" (lines 7-8). This person is described as a "lily" (line 5) and a "rose" (line 9), two symbols of purity, beauty, and fragility.
But this beauty and innocence is also a source of pain and regret for the speaker. They lament that the person they loved was "too soon taken" (line 3), and that they "should have been a / flower" (lines 11-12), suggesting that they died before they had a chance to fully bloom and realize their potential.
Death and Loss
Of course, the central theme of "Requiescat" is death and loss. The speaker is mourning someone who has died, and the poem is a eulogy, a farewell to the departed.
But the poem is not just about the finality of death. It's also about the way that death can transform a person's memory and legacy. The speaker acknowledges that the person they loved is "gone" (line 1), but they also hold on to the memories of that person and the beauty that they brought into the world. They hope that the person is at peace, and that they will "sleep well" (line 16), but they also acknowledge that their own life has been forever changed by the loss.
Nature and the Seasons
Another motif in "Requiescat" is nature and the seasons. The poem begins with a reference to the "wind" (line 1), which suggests movement, change, and the passage of time. The speaker notes that the leaves are falling and that the "summer is dead" (line 4), which suggests that the person they loved has died out of season, before their time.
But there is also a sense of renewal and rebirth in the poem. The speaker imagines the person they loved as a flower, and suggests that they will "bloom again / In other fields" (lines 13-14). This suggests that even though the person is gone, their beauty and innocence will live on, and that nature itself will continue to renew and refresh itself.
The Language and Imagery of the Poem
Finally, let's look at the language and imagery of "Requiescat." Wilde's use of language and imagery is what makes the poem so haunting and beautiful.
Metaphors and Symbols
One of the most striking things about "Requiescat" is the way that Wilde uses metaphors and symbols to create a sense of beauty and loss. The person the speaker is mourning is described as a "lily" (line 5) and a "rose" (line 9), two symbols of purity and innocence. The speaker imagines the person as a flower that has been "blown" (line 10) by the wind, suggesting that they were taken from the world too soon.
The wind itself is also a powerful symbol in the poem. It suggests movement, change, and the passage of time. The leaves falling from the trees suggest that the seasons are changing, and that life is moving forward even though the person the speaker loved is gone.
Alliteration and Assonance
Wilde's use of alliteration and assonance also creates a musical quality in the poem. The repeated "f" sounds in "fair, and pure, and innocent" (line 2) create a sense of softness and delicacy, while the repeated "s" sounds in "sleep sweetly" (line 16) create a sense of calm and peace.
The repeated "s" sounds also echo the sound of the wind, which is one of the central motifs of the poem. This creates a sense of unity and coherence in the poem, and helps to tie together the different strands of imagery and metaphor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Requiescat" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores themes of beauty, innocence, death, and loss. Wilde's use of language and imagery creates a sense of musicality and unity in the poem, and his exploration of different motifs and symbols adds depth and complexity to the themes of the poem. Overall, "Requiescat" is a masterpiece of poetic form and content, and is well worth reading and rereading for anyone interested in the power of language and the beauty of human emotion.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Requiescat: A Masterpiece of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, is known for his witty and satirical works. However, his poem "Requiescat" is a departure from his usual style. It is a poignant and melancholic piece that reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is a tribute to Wilde's younger sister, Isola, who died at the age of nine. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem is written in the form of a prayer or a requiem, which is a mass for the dead. The title itself, "Requiescat," is a Latin word that means "may he/she rest in peace." The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, which means each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with the stress on the second syllable.
The first stanza sets the tone of the poem and establishes the theme of death and decay. The speaker addresses the dead person, Isola, and asks her to rest in peace. The first line, "Tread lightly, she is near," suggests that Isola is buried nearby, and the speaker is visiting her grave. The second line, "Under the snow," is a metaphor for death and the coldness and stillness that it brings. The third line, "Speak gently, she can hear," implies that the dead person can still hear the living, which is a common belief in many cultures. The fourth line, "The little girl we loved but yesterday," is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of life and how quickly it can be taken away.
The second stanza is a reflection on the beauty and innocence of the dead person. The speaker describes Isola as a "flower" that has been plucked too soon. The first line, "She is not dead, she doth not sleep," suggests that Isola is not really gone but has transformed into something else. The second line, "She hath awakened from the dream of life," implies that life is a dream, and death is the awakening from it. The third line, "Tis we, who lost in stormy visions, keep," suggests that the living are lost in their own illusions and cannot see the truth. The fourth line, "With phantoms an unprofitable strife," implies that the living are struggling with their own ghosts and demons and are not living in the present.
The third stanza is a plea to the dead person to forgive the living for their sins and shortcomings. The speaker asks Isola to "fold her wings" and "forgive" them. The first line, "As angels in some brighter dreams," suggests that Isola has become an angel and is watching over them. The second line, "Call to the soul when man doth sleep," implies that Isola can communicate with them through their dreams. The third line, "Blessed be her name," is a tribute to Isola and her memory. The fourth line, "And in her endless rest," suggests that Isola has found eternal peace and happiness.
The poem is full of imagery and metaphors that convey the theme of death and decay. The snow, the flower, the dream, the angel, and the wings are all symbols of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is also a reflection on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The living are lost in their own illusions and are fighting with their own demons, while the dead have found peace and enlightenment.
In conclusion, "Requiescat" is a masterpiece of Oscar Wilde that reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. It is a poignant and melancholic piece that pays tribute to Wilde's younger sister, Isola, who died at the age of nine. The poem is full of imagery and metaphors that convey the theme of death and decay. It is also a reflection on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should cherish every moment and live in the present.
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