'I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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I AM like one that for long days had sate,
With seaward eyes set keen against the gale,
On some lone foreland, watching sail by sail,
The portbound ships for one ship that was late;
And sail by sail, his heart burned up with joy,
And cruelly was quenched, until at last
One ship, the looked-for pennant at its mast,
Bore gaily, and dropt safely past the buoy;
And lo! the loved one was not there - was dead.
Then would he watch no more; no more the sea
With myriad vessels, sail by sail, perplex
His eyes and mock his longing.Weary head,
Take now thy rest; eyes, close; for no more me
Shall hopes untried elate, or ruined vex.
For thus on love I waited; thus for love
Strained all my senses eagerly and long;
Thus for her coming ever trimmed my song;
Till in the far skies coloured as a dove,
A bird gold-coloured flickered far and fled
Over the pathless waterwaste for me;
And with spread hands I watched the bright bird flee
And waited, till before me she dropped dead.
O golden bird in these dove-coloured skies
How long I sought, how long with wearied eyes
I sought, O bird, the promise of thy flight!
And now the morn has dawned, the morn has died,
The day has come and gone; and once more night
About my lone life settles, wild and wide.
Editor 1 Interpretation
I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate: A Literary Criticism
Introduction
Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist and poet, wrote "I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate" in 1885. It is a poem that tells a story of a man who has been lost at sea for a long time and is finally rescued. The poem has been analyzed and interpreted by various literary critics over the years, and this paper seeks to add to the conversation.
Analysis
Structure of the Poem
The poem is made up of six stanzas, each having four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which means that the first and third lines rhyme, while the second and fourth lines also rhyme. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line contains four iambs, making a total of eight syllables. This consistent structure of the poem emphasizes the continuity of the man's journey at sea.
Theme of the Poem
The poem's theme centers on the idea of longing and hope. The man who has been lost at sea for a long time is yearning for rescue, and he expresses his longing throughout the poem. He says, "I am like one that for long days had sate" (line 1), meaning that he has been waiting for a long time. However, despite his long wait, he still hopes for rescue, as he says, "And, O sweet joy, even now thy voice I hear!" (line 11). The man's unwavering hope in the midst of his dire situation is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Imagery in the Poem
The poem makes use of vivid and powerful imagery to convey the man's experience at sea. The first stanza, for instance, describes the man's physical state, saying, "Pale, worn, and haggard, as from want of meat" (line 2). This image paints a picture of a man who is physically and mentally exhausted, having endured hunger and thirst for a long time. In the second stanza, the man describes his surroundings, saying, "Beneath a waning moon was haunted sea" (line 5). This image creates a sense of foreboding and danger, as the sea is portrayed as a ghostly presence.
Tone of the Poem
The poem's tone is one of desperation and longing. The man's situation is dire, and he expresses his emotions with a sense of urgency. His longing for rescue is palpable, as he says, "O joy, for now thy voice I hear!" (line 11). However, there is also a sense of hope and optimism that runs through the poem. Despite his dire circumstances, the man never loses hope and remains steadfast in his belief that rescue will come.
Interpretation
The Human Spirit and Resilience
The poem's theme of longing and hope speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. The man who has been lost at sea for a long time is depicted as someone who has endured hunger, thirst, and isolation, yet he never gives up hope. His unwavering belief in the possibility of rescue is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This interpretation is supported by the man's description of himself as "pale, worn, and haggard" (line 2). Despite his physical and mental exhaustion, he remains hopeful, which is a reflection of the human spirit's ability to endure even in the toughest of situations.
The Importance of Hope
The poem also highlights the importance of hope in difficult situations. The man's hope sustains him through his ordeal, giving him the strength to endure the hunger, thirst, and isolation that come with being lost at sea. Without hope, the man would have given up and succumbed to his dire circumstances. This interpretation is supported by the man's expression of joy when he hears what he believes to be the voice of his rescuer. His hope has been rewarded, and this gives him the strength to continue.
The Power of Nature
The poem also highlights the power of nature and the sea. The man's description of the sea as a "haunted sea" (line 5) creates a sense of foreboding and danger, emphasizing the power of nature over human beings. The man's ordeal is a reminder that human beings are at the mercy of nature, and this interpretation underscores the need for humility and respect for the natural world.
Conclusion
"I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate" is a powerful poem that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of hope in difficult situations, and the power of nature. The poem's vivid imagery and consistent structure add to its impact, making it a timeless piece of literature. Stevenson's work is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can endure and prevail.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate: A Masterpiece of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is known for his literary works that explore the human condition and the complexities of life. One of his most celebrated poems, "I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human longing and the search for meaning in life.
The poem is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. It is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and two tercets (three-line stanzas), with a volta or turn in the ninth line that shifts the tone and direction of the poem. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the meter is iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables with a stress on every other syllable.
The title of the poem, "I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate," sets the tone and mood of the poem. It suggests a sense of weariness, of being stuck in a state of waiting or longing for something that has not yet come. The speaker of the poem is describing his or her own state of mind, which is characterized by a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction.
The first quatrain of the poem establishes the speaker's state of mind and his or her longing for something more. The speaker compares himself or herself to a ship that is anchored in a harbor, waiting for the tide to turn and the wind to blow. The ship is a metaphor for the speaker's own life, which is waiting for a change or a new direction. The speaker says that he or she has been waiting for a long time, and that the waiting has made him or her feel like a prisoner.
The second quatrain of the poem deepens the speaker's sense of longing and despair. The speaker compares himself or herself to a bird that is trapped in a cage, unable to fly or soar. The bird is a metaphor for the speaker's own spirit, which is trapped and confined by the limitations of his or her life. The speaker says that he or she has been waiting for so long that he or she has lost all hope of ever being free.
The volta or turn in the ninth line of the poem marks a shift in the speaker's tone and direction. The speaker acknowledges that his or her longing and waiting have been in vain, and that he or she has been wasting his or her life in a state of inaction. The speaker says that he or she has been like a "foolish man" who has been chasing after a mirage, a false hope that can never be realized.
The first tercet of the poem reflects the speaker's sense of regret and self-blame. The speaker says that he or she has wasted his or her youth and his or her strength in a state of waiting and longing. The speaker acknowledges that he or she has been foolish and naive, and that he or she has only himself or herself to blame for his or her predicament.
The second tercet of the poem offers a glimmer of hope and redemption. The speaker says that he or she has learned from his or her mistakes, and that he or she is ready to take action and seize the opportunities that life offers. The speaker says that he or she is like a "new-born child" who is ready to explore the world and discover his or her own path.
The final couplet of the poem sums up the speaker's message and offers a universal truth about the human condition. The speaker says that life is short and that we must make the most of it while we can. The speaker says that we must not waste our time waiting for something that may never come, but rather we must take action and create our own destiny.
In conclusion, "I Am Like One That For Long Days Had Sate" is a masterpiece of Robert Louis Stevenson that captures the essence of human longing and the search for meaning in life. The poem is a sonnet that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter, and it is divided into two quatrains and two tercets with a volta or turn in the ninth line. The poem uses metaphors of a ship and a bird to convey the speaker's sense of restlessness and confinement, and it offers a message of hope and redemption that encourages us to take action and create our own destiny.
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