'Sadness' by Donald Justice

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1

Dear ghosts, dear presences, O my dear parents,

Why were you so sad on porches, whispering?

What great melancholies were loosed among our swings!

As before a storm one hears the leaves whispering

And marks each small change in the atmosphere,

So was it then to overhear and to fear.

2

But all things then were oracle and secret.

Remember the night when, lost, returning, we turned back

Confused, and our headlights singled out the fox?

Our thoughts went with it then, turning and turning back

With the same terror, into the deep thicket

Beside the highway, at home in the dark thicket.

3

I say the wood within is the dark wood,

Or wound no torn shirt can entirely bandage,

But the sad hand returns to it in secret

Repeatedly, encouraging the bandage

To speak of that other world we might have borne,

The lost world buried before it could be born.

4

Burchfield describes the pinched white souls of violets

Frothing the mouth of a derelict old mine

Just as an evil August night comes down,

All umber, but for one smudge of dusky carmine.

It is the sky of a peculiar sadness—

The other side perhaps of some rare gladness.

5

What is it to be happy, after all? Think

Of the first small joys. Think of how our parents

Would whistle as they packed for the long summers,

Or, busy about the usual tasks of parents,

Smile down at us suddenly for some secret reason,

Or simply smile, not needing any reason.

6

But even in the summers we remember

The forest had its eyes, the sea its voices,

And there were roads no map would ever master,

Lost roads and moonless nights and ancient voices—

And night crept down with an awful slowness toward the water;

And there were lanterns once, doubled in the water.

7

Sadness has its own beauty, of course. Toward dusk,

Let us say, the river darkens and look bruised,

And we stand looking out at it through rain.

It is as if life itself were somehow bruised

And tender at this hour; and a few tears commence.

Not that they are but that they feel immense.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sadness: A Poem of Profound Reflection and Despair

Donald Justice’s Sadness is a poem that delves into the complex nature of human emotions, particularly the feeling of sadness. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to evoke emotions and provoke thought. At first glance, the poem may appear to be a simple meditation on the theme of sadness, but on closer examination, it becomes clear that the poem is a fascinating exploration of the nature of human sorrow. Justice masterfully employs literary devices such as imagery, tone, and diction to create a compelling narrative that is both haunting and thought-provoking.

A Closer Look at the Poem

The poem Sadness is a free verse poem made up of eight stanzas of varying lengths. Each stanza contains a different reflection on the emotion of sadness, and the stanzas are not connected by any overt narrative structure. Rather, the poem is a series of musings on the theme of sadness. The narrator of the poem is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that the speaker is a person who has experienced sadness and is reflecting on it.

The poem begins with an evocative image of a “field of straw” which immediately conjures up a sense of desolation and decay. The use of the word “field” suggests a vast expanse, while the word “straw” implies something that is dry and lifeless. This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is suffused with a sense of melancholy and hopelessness.

The second stanza of the poem introduces the idea that sadness is “the weather of the heart.” This metaphor is particularly effective because it captures the idea that sadness is something that is outside of our control, like the weather. The use of the word “heart” also suggests that sadness is something that is deeply felt and affects us on an emotional level.

In the third stanza, the speaker suggests that sadness is something that is inescapable. The use of the phrase “we cannot keep it away” reinforces the idea that sadness is a universal human experience. The fourth stanza continues this theme by suggesting that sadness is something that we must endure, even when it seems unbearable. The use of the phrase “we must endure it” implies that sadness is not something that can be overcome easily, but rather something that must be lived with.

The fifth stanza of the poem is particularly evocative, as it describes the feeling of being enveloped by sadness. The use of the word “smothered” suggests a sense of suffocation, while the phrase “and its weight” implies that sadness is a heavy burden that we must carry. The sixth stanza continues this theme by suggesting that sadness is something that we cannot escape from, even in our dreams. The use of the phrase “even in our sleep” reinforces the idea that sadness is an ever-present part of our lives.

In the seventh stanza, the speaker suggests that sadness is something that is both beautiful and terrible. The use of the phrase “a terrible beauty” captures the paradoxical nature of sadness, which can be both painful and poignant. Finally, the poem ends on a note of ambiguity, with the speaker asking whether sadness is something that we can ever truly understand. This final question suggests that sadness is a complex and multifaceted emotion that defies easy explanation.

Interpretation

Sadness is a poem that explores the complex nature of human emotions, particularly the feeling of sadness. The poem suggests that sadness is an inescapable part of the human experience, something that we must endure even when it seems unbearable. The poem also suggests that sadness is something that is both beautiful and terrible, a paradoxical emotion that can be both painful and poignant.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. The image of the “field of straw” in the first stanza is particularly evocative and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The image of being “smothered” by sadness in the fifth stanza is also particularly effective, as it captures the sense of suffocation that often accompanies feelings of despair.

Another important aspect of the poem is its use of tone. The poem is suffused with a sense of melancholy and despair, which is reinforced by the use of language such as “terrible beauty” and “smothered.” The tone of the poem is one of resignation, as if the speaker has accepted that sadness is an inescapable part of the human experience.

The poem also employs a variety of literary devices, such as metaphor, repetition, and rhetorical questions. The metaphor of sadness as “the weather of the heart” is particularly effective, as it captures the idea that sadness is something that is outside of our control. The repetition of the phrase “we must endure it” reinforces the idea that sadness is something that we cannot escape from. Finally, the use of rhetorical questions in the final stanza suggests that sadness is a complex emotion that defies easy explanation.

Conclusion

Overall, Sadness is a masterful exploration of the human psyche and a testament to Donald Justice’s skills as a poet. Through his use of language, imagery, and tone, Justice creates a compelling narrative that is both haunting and thought-provoking. This poem is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the complexities of human emotions and the power of language to evoke feelings and provoke thought.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sadness, a classic poem written by Donald Justice, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of melancholy and despair. The poem is a reflection of the human condition, the pain and suffering that we all experience at some point in our lives. It is a poignant reminder that sadness is an integral part of the human experience, and that it is through our struggles and hardships that we find meaning and purpose in life.

The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The simplicity of the structure is deceptive, as it belies the complexity of the emotions that the poem evokes. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing the feeling of sadness as a "cold wind" that blows through his heart. The imagery of the wind is powerful, as it conveys a sense of emptiness and desolation. The wind is a force of nature that is beyond our control, and in the same way, sadness is a force that can overwhelm us and leave us feeling helpless and alone.

The second stanza is a reflection on the nature of sadness. The speaker describes it as a "darkness" that envelops him, a feeling of being lost and alone in the world. The darkness is a metaphor for the unknown, the uncertainty that we all face in life. It is a reminder that we are all vulnerable, that we can never be sure of what the future holds. The darkness is also a symbol of the human condition, the fact that we are all mortal and that we will all eventually die. It is a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we must make the most of the time that we have.

The third stanza is a reflection on the speaker's own experience of sadness. He describes it as a "weight" that he carries with him, a burden that he cannot escape. The weight is a metaphor for the emotional baggage that we all carry with us. It is a reminder that our past experiences shape who we are, and that we cannot simply forget or ignore them. The weight is also a symbol of the human condition, the fact that we are all flawed and imperfect. It is a reminder that we must learn to accept ourselves and our limitations, and that we must strive to be the best that we can be.

Overall, Sadness is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of the human experience. It is a reminder that sadness is an integral part of life, and that it is through our struggles and hardships that we find meaning and purpose. The poem is a testament to the power of language, and to the ability of poetry to evoke deep emotions and connect us to our shared humanity.

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