'Farewell' by John Clare
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Farewell to the bushy clump close to the river
And the flags where the butter-bump hides in forever;
Farewell to the weedy nook, hemmed in by waters;
Farewell to the miller's brook and his three bonny daughters;
Farewell to them all while in prison I lie—
In the prison a thrall sees naught but the sky.
Shut out are the green fields and birds in the bushes;
In the prison yard nothing builds, blackbirds or thrushes.
Farewell to the old mill and dash of waters,
To the miller and, dearer still, to his three bonny daughters.
In the nook, the larger burdock grows near the green willow;
In the flood, round the moor-cock dashes under the billow;
To the old mill farewell, to the lock, pens, and waters,
To the miller himsel', and his three bonny daughters.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Farewell by John Clare: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
John Clare, one of the most remarkable English poets of the early nineteenth century, was a man of humble origins, born into a family of agricultural workers in Northamptonshire, England. Despite his lack of formal education, he became a prolific writer of poetry and prose, earning praise for his ability to capture the beauty of nature and the human experience. One of his most famous poems, "Farewell," is a deeply emotional work that explores the themes of loss, separation, and the transience of life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
Poem Analysis
Structure
The poem "Farewell" consists of eight stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker addressing an unnamed person who is departing. The first three stanzas set the scene, describing the natural beauty of the world around them and the joy of being together. The fourth stanza introduces the idea of separation, as the speaker says, "Farewell, my friend, we meet no more." The remaining stanzas expand on this theme, with the speaker lamenting the loss of their friendship and the transience of life.
Themes
The poem "Farewell" explores several themes, including the beauty of nature, the joy of friendship, and the pain of separation and loss. The opening stanzas celebrate the natural world and the pleasure of being together, with the speaker describing "the beauty of the day" and "the woods and fields so gay." However, the theme of separation soon emerges as the speaker bids their friend goodbye, acknowledging that they will "meet no more." From there, the poem becomes more poignant, as the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the pain of saying farewell.
Literary Devices
Clare uses several literary devices in "Farewell" to convey the poem's themes and emotions. One of the most prominent is imagery, with the speaker describing the natural world in vivid detail. For example, they describe "the morning dew so bright" and "the soaring lark's sweet song." The use of imagery creates a sense of wonder and beauty, setting the stage for the poem's more melancholy themes.
Another important literary device in the poem is repetition. The phrase "Farewell, my friend" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the sense of loss and separation. The repetition also creates a sense of rhythm and structure, giving the poem a musical quality.
Finally, there is the use of metaphor, with the speaker comparing their friendship to flowers that wither and fade. The metaphor emphasizes the transience of life and the inevitability of change, a theme that runs throughout the poem.
Interpretation
Nature and Friendship
At its core, "Farewell" is a poem about the beauty of nature and the joy of friendship. The opening stanzas celebrate the natural world, with the speaker describing the "beauty of the day" and the "woods and fields so gay." This imagery creates a sense of wonder and joy, setting the stage for the poem's exploration of friendship.
The poem's central theme is the relationship between the speaker and their departing friend. The two are described as being "as close as flowers on a stem," emphasizing the deep bond between them. The repeated phrase "Farewell, my friend" underscores the pain of separation, as the speaker acknowledges that they will "meet no more."
Loss and Transience
Another important theme in the poem is the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The metaphor of the flowers withering and fading emphasizes this theme, as the speaker reflects on the fragility of their friendship and the fleeting nature of all things.
The poem's closing stanzas are particularly poignant, as the speaker laments the loss of their friend and the passing of time. They think of the departed friend and wonder where they are now, imagining them "far away, beyond the sea," a powerful image of distance and separation.
Personal Response
As a reader, I found "Farewell" to be a deeply emotional and moving poem. The use of vivid imagery and repetitive phrasing created a sense of rhythm and structure that drew me in, while the exploration of themes such as friendship, loss, and transience resonated with me on a personal level.
The poem's closing stanzas were particularly powerful, as the speaker reflected on the passing of time and the pain of separation. I found myself thinking about my own friendships and how they have changed over the years, and the poem left me with a sense of melancholy and reflection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Farewell" is a remarkable poem that explores themes of nature, friendship, loss, and transience. Through its use of vivid imagery, repetition, and metaphor, the poem creates a sense of beauty and wonder that is ultimately tempered by a sense of sadness and loss. As a reader, I found the poem to be deeply affecting, and it remains one of John Clare's most enduring works.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Farewell by John Clare: A Poem of Love and Loss
John Clare, the celebrated English poet, is known for his evocative and poignant poetry that captures the beauty of nature and the human experience. One of his most famous works is the poem "Farewell," which is a powerful expression of love and loss. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this classic poem.
The poem "Farewell" was written in 1827 and was published in Clare's collection "The Rural Muse." It is a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines, and so on.
The poem begins with the speaker bidding farewell to his lover, who is leaving him. The first line sets the tone for the rest of the poem: "Farewell! Thou art too dear for my possessing." The speaker acknowledges that his lover is too precious for him to keep, and he must let her go. The use of the word "possessing" suggests that the speaker sees his lover as an object that he can own, which is a common theme in love poetry.
The second line continues this theme: "And like enough thou know'st thy estimate." The speaker suggests that his lover knows her own worth and is aware that she deserves better than him. This line also implies that the speaker feels inferior to his lover and is not worthy of her love.
The third and fourth lines introduce the theme of nature: "The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing; / My bonds in thee are all determinate." The speaker compares his lover to a natural force that is free to move and change. He sees her worth as a "charter," or a document that grants her freedom. The use of the word "releasing" suggests that the speaker is letting his lover go, but it also implies that she is being set free from something that was holding her back. The phrase "my bonds in thee" suggests that the speaker was tied to his lover in some way, but now those ties have been broken.
The fifth and sixth lines continue the theme of nature: "For how do I hold thee but by thy granting? / And for that riches where is my deserving?" The speaker acknowledges that he can only hold onto his lover if she allows him to. He also questions his own worthiness, suggesting that he does not deserve the love of someone as precious as his lover. The use of the word "riches" suggests that the speaker sees his lover as a valuable commodity, which is another common theme in love poetry.
The seventh and eighth lines introduce the theme of time: "The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting, / And so my patent back again is swerving." The speaker suggests that he is not worthy of his lover's love because he lacks something that she needs. The use of the word "patent" suggests that the speaker sees his lover's love as a legal document that can be revoked. The phrase "back again is swerving" suggests that the speaker's lover is moving away from him, both physically and emotionally.
The ninth and tenth lines introduce the theme of distance: "Thyself thou gav'st, thy own worth then not knowing, / Or me, to whom thou gav'st it, else mistaking;" The speaker suggests that his lover gave herself to him without fully understanding her own worth. He also suggests that she may have made a mistake in giving herself to him, implying that he is not worthy of her love. The use of the word "mistaking" suggests that the speaker sees his lover's love as a misunderstanding, which is a common theme in love poetry.
The eleventh and twelfth lines continue the theme of distance: "So thy great gift, upon misprision growing, / Comes home again, on better judgement making." The speaker suggests that his lover's love was based on a misunderstanding, but now she has come to a better understanding of her own worth. The use of the word "misprision" suggests that the speaker sees his lover's love as a mistake, but the phrase "on better judgement making" suggests that she has corrected that mistake.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines conclude the poem: "Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter, / In sleep a king, but waking no such matter." The speaker suggests that his time with his lover was like a dream, where he felt like a king, but now that he is awake, he realizes that it was not real. The use of the word "flatter" suggests that the speaker's time with his lover was an illusion, which is a common theme in love poetry.
In conclusion, "Farewell" is a powerful expression of love and loss. The poem explores themes of nature, time, distance, and worthiness, and uses vivid imagery and language to convey the speaker's emotions. The poem is a classic example of John Clare's poetic style, which is characterized by its simplicity, sincerity, and emotional depth.
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