'I CALL AND I CALL' by Robert Herrick
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I call, I call:who do ye call?
The maids to catch this cowslip ball!
But since these cowslips fading be,
Troth, leave the flowers, and maids, take me!
Yet, if that neither you will do,
Speak but the word, and I'll take you,
Editor 1 Interpretation
I CALL AND I CALL: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Robert Herrick, a 17th-century English poet, is known for his unique style of writing that combines sensuality, wit, and melancholy. His poem "I Call and I Call" is a great example of his style. In this poem, Herrick explores the theme of unrequited love through the use of metaphors and vivid imagery. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem and analyze its structure, language, and symbolism to understand its meaning.
Analysis
Structure
The poem "I Call and I Call" consists of three stanzas of six lines each. The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward, but it is also effective in conveying the theme of the poem. The short stanzas create a sense of urgency and desperation, which mirrors the speaker's emotions. The repetition of the phrase "I call and I call" in each stanza also emphasizes the speaker's desperation.
Language
The language used in the poem is simple yet powerful. Herrick uses metaphors and vivid imagery to create a sense of longing and sadness. In the first stanza, the speaker compares his love to a "fading rose." This metaphor suggests that the speaker's love is dying or fading away. The speaker also compares his love to a "withered tree," which emphasizes the speaker's feeling of emptiness and loneliness.
In the second stanza, the speaker compares his love to a "sparkling stream," which suggests that the speaker's love is vibrant and alive. However, the speaker also compares his love to a "poisoned spring," which suggests that his love is toxic and harmful. This contrast between the sparkling stream and the poisoned spring creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.
In the third stanza, the speaker compares his love to a "morning dew," which suggests that his love is fleeting and ephemeral. The speaker also compares his love to a "broken glass," which suggests that his love is fragile and easily shattered. This metaphor emphasizes the speaker's fear of losing his love.
Symbolism
The poem "I Call and I Call" is rich in symbolism. The fading rose, withered tree, sparkling stream, poisoned spring, morning dew, and broken glass are all symbols that represent the speaker's emotions and the theme of the poem.
The fading rose represents the speaker's dying love, while the withered tree represents the speaker's feeling of emptiness and loneliness. The sparkling stream represents the speaker's vibrant and alive love, while the poisoned spring represents the toxic and harmful nature of his love.
The morning dew represents the fleeting and ephemeral nature of the speaker's love, while the broken glass represents the fragility and vulnerability of his love. These symbols create a sense of depth and meaning in the poem, and they help to convey the speaker's emotions and the theme of the poem.
Interpretation
The poem "I Call and I Call" is a meditation on unrequited love. The speaker is deeply in love with someone who does not return his affections. The fading rose, withered tree, sparkling stream, poisoned spring, morning dew, and broken glass are all symbols that represent the speaker's emotions and the theme of the poem.
The speaker's love is dying and fading away, and he feels empty and lonely. However, his love is also vibrant and alive, but it is also toxic and harmful. The speaker's love is fleeting and ephemeral, and it is also fragile and easily shattered.
The repetition of the phrase "I call and I call" emphasizes the speaker's desperation and his desire for his love to be returned. However, the poem ends with a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity. The speaker's love remains unrequited, and he is left to contemplate the fragility and fleeting nature of love.
Conclusion
"I Call and I Call" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the theme of unrequited love. Herrick's use of metaphors, vivid imagery, and symbolism creates a sense of depth and meaning in the poem. The structure of the poem and the repetition of the phrase "I call and I call" emphasize the speaker's desperation and his desire for his love to be returned. The poem ends with a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, leaving the reader to contemplate the fragility and fleeting nature of love.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
"I Call and I Call" by Robert Herrick: A Poetic Exploration
Robert Herrick, a 17th-century English poet, is known for his lyrical and pastoral poetry. His works often explore themes of love, nature, and the fleeting nature of life. "I Call and I Call" is one such poem that captures the essence of Herrick's poetic style.
The Poem
I call and I call,
But nobody hears,
The words that I speak,
And the tears that I shed.
I wander alone,
In the dark of the night,
With nothing but sorrow,
And pain in my heart.
I call and I call,
But nobody comes,
To comfort my soul,
Or ease my distress.
I cry out in anguish,
And plead for relief,
But the silence is deafening,
And my heart is left bereft.
I call and I call,
But nobody answers,
And I am left to suffer,
In this world of despair.
Oh, how I long for a friend,
To share in my grief,
To hold me close,
And offer me solace.
But alas, I am alone,
In this world of woe,
And all I can do,
Is call and call and call.
Analysis
"I Call and I Call" is a poem that explores the theme of loneliness and the human need for companionship. The speaker of the poem is calling out for someone to hear their cries and offer them comfort. However, nobody responds, and the speaker is left to suffer alone.
The repetition of the phrase "I call and I call" emphasizes the speaker's desperation and the futility of their efforts. The use of the word "nobody" further emphasizes the speaker's isolation and the lack of response to their calls for help.
The imagery of the speaker wandering alone in the dark of the night adds to the sense of despair and hopelessness. The use of the words "sorrow" and "pain" further emphasizes the speaker's emotional state.
The repetition of the phrase "I call and I call" in the second stanza reinforces the speaker's sense of abandonment. The use of the word "anguish" and the phrase "plead for relief" further emphasizes the speaker's desperation.
The silence that greets the speaker's calls for help is described as "deafening," emphasizing the lack of response and the speaker's isolation. The use of the word "bereft" further emphasizes the speaker's emotional state.
The final stanza of the poem expresses the speaker's longing for companionship and the comfort that it would bring. The use of the word "woe" emphasizes the speaker's sense of despair, while the repetition of the phrase "call and call and call" emphasizes the speaker's continued efforts to find someone to hear their cries.
Interpretation
"I Call and I Call" can be interpreted as a commentary on the human need for companionship and the pain of loneliness. The speaker's repeated calls for help and the lack of response emphasize the isolation that many people feel in their lives.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of communication. Despite the speaker's repeated calls for help, nobody hears or responds. This can be seen as a commentary on the difficulties of communication and the challenges of truly connecting with others.
Finally, the poem can be interpreted as a commentary on the fleeting nature of life. The speaker's calls for help and their sense of isolation emphasize the transience of human existence and the importance of making meaningful connections while we can.
Conclusion
"I Call and I Call" is a powerful poem that explores themes of loneliness, communication, and the fleeting nature of life. The repetition of the phrase "I call and I call" emphasizes the speaker's desperation and the futility of their efforts. The imagery of the speaker wandering alone in the dark of the night adds to the sense of despair and hopelessness. Ultimately, the poem can be interpreted as a commentary on the human need for companionship and the pain of loneliness.
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