'TO SAPHO' by Robert Herrick
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Sapho, I will chuse to go
Where the northern winds do blow
Endless ice, and endless snow;
Rather than I once would see
But a winter's face in thee,--
To benumb my hopes and me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To Sapho by Robert Herrick: A Masterpiece of Love Poetry
Robert Herrick's "To Sapho" is a masterful piece of love poetry that captures the essence of a lover's yearning for his beloved. In this poem, Herrick uses a range of literary devices, such as imagery, metaphor, and allusion, to create a vivid, emotional landscape that immerses the reader in the speaker's passionate emotions. By examining the poem's structure, language, and themes, we can unravel its complex layers of meaning and appreciate its timeless beauty.
Structure and Form
"To Sapho" is a sonnet, a form of poetry that consists of 14 lines, typically with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. Herrick follows this structure closely, with each line containing ten syllables and the final couplet serving as a resolution to the poem's conflict. The poem's tight structure echoes the speaker's intense emotions, which are constrained by the conventions of society and the limitations of language.
The sonnet is also divided into two quatrains and a sestet, each with a distinct theme and tone. In the first quatrain, the speaker addresses Sapho directly, expressing his desire for her and his frustration at being unable to express his feelings fully. The second quatrain shifts to a more philosophical tone, as the speaker reflects on the ephemeral nature of love and the inevitability of death. Finally, the sestet offers a resolution to the conflict, as the speaker vows to immortalize his love for Sapho through his poetry.
The poem's structure and form thus serve to reinforce its central theme: the tension between the fleeting nature of love and the desire for permanence.
Imagery and Metaphor
Herrick's use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a rich, sensory landscape that allows the reader to experience the speaker's emotions firsthand. For example, in the first quatrain, the speaker compares his love for Sapho to a shipwreck, an image that conveys both the intensity and the danger of his passion. The shipwreck also suggests a loss of control, as if the speaker's love has taken him by surprise and left him adrift.
Similarly, in the second quatrain, the speaker uses the metaphor of a flower to describe the fleeting nature of love. The image of a flower that blooms and then withers away reminds us of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. This metaphor also suggests that love, like a flower, requires nurturing and care to survive.
Throughout the poem, Herrick uses sensory language to evoke the speaker's feelings of desire and frustration. For example, in the first quatrain, he describes Sapho's "rosy cheeks" and "lips that do the honey keep," images that appeal to the senses of sight and taste. In the second quatrain, he uses the image of a "winding sheet," a cloth used to wrap the dead, to suggest the finality of death.
Allusion
Herrick also employs allusion, or references to other literary works or historical events, to enrich the poem's meaning. For example, in the second quatrain, he alludes to the classical myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death. The speaker suggests that he, like Icarus, is doomed to fail in his quest for lasting love. This allusion also adds a layer of complexity to the speaker's character, as he identifies himself with a tragic figure from mythology.
In the final couplet, Herrick alludes to the biblical story of King David, who immortalized his love for Bathsheba in his Psalms. By invoking this story, the speaker suggests that his poetry will be his legacy, a way to ensure that his love for Sapho will endure beyond his own mortality.
Themes
The central theme of "To Sapho" is the tension between the ephemeral nature of love and the desire for permanence. The speaker's passion for Sapho is intense, but he is aware that it may not last, and that he may not be able to express it fully. This tension is heightened by the conventions of society, which require him to be discreet and restrained in his expressions of love.
The poem also explores the theme of mortality, as the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death and the impermanence of all things. The image of the flower that blooms and withers away serves as a reminder that even love, the most powerful of emotions, is subject to the ravages of time.
Finally, the poem celebrates the power of poetry to immortalize love and to transcend the limitations of language. By vowing to write verses that will "live and last" beyond his own life, the speaker suggests that poetry can give voice to emotions that cannot be expressed in ordinary language.
Conclusion
"To Sapho" is a masterpiece of love poetry that combines tight structure, vivid imagery, and allusion to create a complex, emotionally rich work of art. Herrick's use of metaphor and sensory language allows the reader to experience the speaker's passion and frustration firsthand, while his allusions to mythology and the Bible add depth and complexity to the poem's themes. Ultimately, "To Sapho" celebrates the power of poetry to transcend the limitations of time and language and to immortalize the most powerful of emotions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expression for human emotions and experiences. It has the power to evoke feelings and thoughts that are often difficult to articulate. One such poem that captures the essence of love and desire is "To Sapho" by Robert Herrick.
Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English poet who is known for his lyrical poetry. He was a contemporary of John Donne and Ben Jonson and was influenced by their works. Herrick's poetry is characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and sensuality. "To Sapho" is one of his most famous poems and is a tribute to the Greek poetess Sappho.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing Sapho, saying, "Thou art not, Sapho, what thou wert." The speaker is acknowledging that Sapho is no longer the same person she once was. This could be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, it could be a reference to the fact that Sapho was an ancient Greek poetess who lived in the 6th century BC. Therefore, the speaker is acknowledging that Sapho is no longer alive and that her legacy lives on through her poetry. Secondly, it could be interpreted as a reference to the fact that Sapho is no longer the same person she once was emotionally. The speaker could be suggesting that Sapho has changed and that her experiences have shaped her.
The next line, "Those times are gone when beauty brightened thee," reinforces the idea that Sapho is no longer the same person she once was. The speaker is suggesting that Sapho's beauty has faded with time. However, the speaker goes on to say that Sapho's beauty is still present in her poetry. He says, "When, if not now, will it revive thee?" The speaker is suggesting that Sapho's poetry is timeless and that it will continue to revive her beauty.
The next stanza is where the poem takes a sensual turn. The speaker says, "Thou wert a pretty love-sick bird." He is referring to Sapho's love for other women, which is well-documented in her poetry. The speaker is acknowledging Sapho's sexuality and is celebrating it. He goes on to say, "Of prey, that loved'st to be observed, And for thy sake would feign have been." The speaker is suggesting that Sapho was aware of her beauty and sexuality and that she enjoyed being observed. He is also suggesting that other women were attracted to Sapho because of her beauty and that they would have pretended to be love-sick birds for her sake.
The next stanza is where the speaker expresses his desire for Sapho. He says, "But, Sapho, I am none of those; I must have thee, and thou must know it." The speaker is suggesting that he is not like the other women who were attracted to Sapho. He is a man who desires her and wants her to know it. He goes on to say, "I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way." The speaker is suggesting that he is willing to go to any lengths to be with Sapho, even if it means facing obstacles.
The final stanza is where the speaker expresses his love for Sapho. He says, "And I will kiss thee, and thy bowers, And thy soft beds, and sweetest flowers." The speaker is suggesting that he wants to be intimate with Sapho and that he wants to explore her body and her surroundings. He goes on to say, "There's nothing, Sapho, thou canst show, To make me love thee more." The speaker is suggesting that he loves Sapho for who she is and that nothing she does or shows him can make him love her more.
In conclusion, "To Sapho" is a beautiful poem that celebrates love, desire, and sexuality. Robert Herrick's use of language is simple yet elegant, and his imagery is sensual and evocative. The poem is a tribute to the Greek poetess Sappho and her legacy, which lives on through her poetry. The speaker's desire for Sapho is expressed in a way that is both romantic and passionate, and his love for her is unconditional. "To Sapho" is a timeless poem that continues to inspire and evoke emotions in readers even today.
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