'Clover' by Sidney Lanier
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Inscribed to the Memory of John Keats.
Dear uplands, Chester's favorable fields,
My large unjealous Loves, many yet one --
A grave good-morrow to your Graces, all,
Fair tilth and fruitful seasons!
Lo, how still!
The midmorn empties you of men, save me;
Speak to your lover, meadows!None can hear.
I lie as lies yon placid Brandywine,
Holding the hills and heavens in my heart
For contemplation.
'Tis a perfect hour.
From founts of dawn the fluent autumn day
Has rippled as a brook right pleasantly
Half-way to noon; but now with widening turn
Makes pause, in lucent meditation locked,
And rounds into a silver pool of morn,
Bottom'd with clover-fields.My heart just hears
Eight lingering strokes of some far village-bell,
That speak the hour so inward-voiced, meseems
Time's conscience has but whispered him eight hints
Of revolution.Reigns that mild surcease
That stills the middle of each rural morn --
When nimble noises that with sunrise ran
About the farms have sunk again to rest;
When Tom no more across the horse-lot calls
To sleepy Dick, nor Dick husk-voiced upbraids
The sway-back'd roan for stamping on his foot
With sulphurous oath and kick in flank, what time
The cart-chain clinks across the slanting shaft,
And, kitchenward, the rattling bucket plumps
Souse down the well, where quivering ducks quack loud,
And Susan Cook is singing.
Up the sky
The hesitating moon slow trembles on,
Faint as a new-washed soul but lately up
From out a buried body.Far about,
A hundred slopes in hundred fantasies
Most ravishingly run, so smooth of curve
That I but seem to see the fluent plain
Rise toward a rain of clover-blooms, as lakes
Pout gentle mounds of plashment up to meet
Big shower-drops.Now the little winds, as bees,
Bowing the blooms come wandering where I lie
Mixt soul and body with the clover-tufts,
Light on my spirit, give from wing and thigh
Rich pollens and divine sweet irritants
To every nerve, and freshly make report
Of inmost Nature's secret autumn-thought
Unto some soul of sense within my frame
That owns each cognizance of the outlying five,
And sees, hears, tastes, smells, touches, all in one.
Tell me, dear Clover (since my soul is thine,
Since I am fain give study all the day,
To make thy ways my ways, thy service mine,
To seek me out thy God, my God to be,
And die from out myself to live in thee) --
Now, Cousin Clover, tell me in mine ear:
Go'st thou to market with thy pink and green?
Of what avail, this color and this grace?
Wert thou but squat of stem and brindle-brown,
Still careless herds would feed.A poet, thou:
What worth, what worth, the whole of all thine art?
Three-Leaves, instruct me!I am sick of price.
Framed in the arching of two clover-stems
Where-through I gaze from off my hill, afar,
The spacious fields from me to Heaven take on
Tremors of change and new significance
To th' eye, as to the ear a simple tale
Begins to hint a parable's sense beneath.
The prospect widens, cuts all bounds of blue
Where horizontal limits bend, and spreads
Into a curious-hill'd and curious-valley'd Vast,
Endless before, behind, around; which seems
Th' incalculable Up-and-Down of Time
Made plain before mine eyes.The clover-stems
Still cover all the space; but now they bear,
For clover-blooms, fair, stately heads of men
With poets' faces heartsome, dear and pale --
Sweet visages of all the souls of time
Whose loving service to the world has been
In the artist's way expressed and bodied.Oh,
In arms' reach, here be Dante, Keats, Chopin,
Raphael, Lucretius, Omar, Angelo,
Beethoven, Chaucer, Schubert, Shakespeare, Bach,
And Buddha (sweetest masters!Let me lay
These arms this once, this humble once, about
Your reverend necks -- the most containing clasp,
For all in all, this world e'er saw!) and there,
Yet further on, bright throngs unnamable
Of workers worshipful, nobilities
In the Court of Gentle Service, silent men,
Dwellers in woods, brooders on helpful art,
And all the press of them, the fair, the large,
That wrought with beauty.
Lo, what bulk is here?
Now comes the Course-of-things, shaped like an Ox,
Slow browsing, o'er my hillside, ponderously --
The huge-brawned, tame, and workful Course-of-things,
That hath his grass, if earth be round or flat,
And hath his grass, if empires plunge in pain
Or faiths flash out.This cool, unasking Ox
Comes browsing o'er my hills and vales of Time,
And thrusts me out his tongue, and curls it, sharp,
And sicklewise, about my poets' heads,
And twists them in, all -- Dante, Keats, Chopin,
Raphael, Lucretius, Omar, Angelo,
Beethoven, Chaucer, Schubert, Shakespeare, Bach,
And Buddha, in one sheaf -- and champs and chews,
With slantly-churning jaws, and swallows down;
Then slowly plants a mighty forefoot out,
And makes advance to futureward, one inch.
So:they have played their part.
And to this end?
This, God?This, troublous-breeding Earth?This, Sun
Of hot, quick pains?To this no-end that ends,
These Masters wrought, and wept, and sweated blood,
And burned, and loved, and ached with public shame,
And found no friends to breathe their loves to, save
Woods and wet pillows?This was all?This Ox?
"Nay," quoth a sum of voices in mine ear,
"God's clover, we, and feed His Course-of-things;
The pasture is God's pasture; systems strange
Of food and fiberment He hath, whereby
The general brawn is built for plans of His
To quality precise.Kinsman, learn this:
The artist's market is the heart of man;
The artist's price, some little good of man.
Tease not thy vision with vain search for ends.
The End of Means is art that works by love.
The End of Ends . . . in God's Beginning's lost."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty and Complexity of Nature in Sidney Lanier's "Clover"
Are you someone who loves to take long walks in the meadows and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature? Do you find yourself drawn to the intricacies of the natural world and the way it seems to be a living entity in itself? If yes, then you will find Sidney Lanier's poem "Clover" to be a masterpiece that is bound to captivate you.
Published in 1880, "Clover" is a poem that celebrates the beauty and complexity of nature. At first glance, it may seem like a simple ode to the humble clover that grows in abundance in fields and meadows. However, a closer reading reveals a deeper meaning that speaks to the interconnectedness of all living things and the power of nature to inspire and heal.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in "Clover" to understand the profound message that Lanier was trying to convey.
Themes in "Clover"
At the heart of "Clover" is the theme of interconnectedness. Lanier uses the metaphor of the clover to demonstrate how all living things are connected in some way. He writes, "The clover's breath, / That floats and runs like light upon the air, / Seems in this quiet to have taken flesh, / To have become the voiceless breath we share."
The idea that the breath of the clover becomes the breath we share is a powerful one. It suggests that we are all part of a larger ecosystem and that the natural world sustains us in more ways than we can imagine. Lanier's poem reminds us that we must honor and respect the natural world if we hope to thrive as a species.
Another theme that runs through "Clover" is the idea of healing. Lanier suggests that nature has the power to heal us both physically and spiritually. He writes, "And as I lie and listen to the wind, / I seem to hear a voice that whispers low, / 'Be still, be still; the earth is life, not sin, / And thou art patient, time is long to grow.'"
These lines are particularly poignant in our current world, where many of us feel disconnected from nature and the healing power it possesses. Lanier's poem reminds us that we must take the time to connect with the natural world if we hope to find peace and healing.
Imagery in "Clover"
One of the most striking aspects of "Clover" is the vivid imagery that Lanier uses to describe the natural world. He writes, "The clover's breath, / That floats and runs like light upon the air," creating an image of the clover's breath as a living entity in itself.
Lanier also uses imagery to describe the changing seasons and the passage of time. He writes, "The spring is dead, / And summer is the ghost of spring alive." These lines create a sense of the cyclical nature of life and the way that everything is connected through time.
Language in "Clover"
Lanier's use of language in "Clover" is particularly striking. He writes in a lyrical style that is infused with emotion and beauty. For example, he describes the clover as "a little world within itself," creating an image of a tiny universe that is bursting with life and energy.
Lanier also uses language to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. He writes, "The restless leaves, / The idle clouds, / The laboring bees, / All dance away." These lines create a sense of movement and energy that reflects the natural world around us.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sidney Lanier's "Clover" is a beautiful and profound poem that celebrates the interconnectedness of all living things and the healing power of nature. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, Lanier reminds us of the importance of connecting with the natural world and honoring the delicate balance that sustains us all.
As we read "Clover," we are reminded of the simple beauty that surrounds us every day and the power of nature to uplift and inspire us. This poem is a testament to the enduring beauty and complexity of the natural world and a call to action to protect and preserve it for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Clover: A Masterpiece of Poetic Artistry
Sidney Lanier's Poetry Clover is a masterpiece of poetic artistry that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of life. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create vivid images that evoke emotions and feelings in the reader. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Poetry Clover to understand its significance in the world of poetry.
Themes
The central theme of Poetry Clover is the beauty of nature and its ability to inspire and uplift the human spirit. Lanier uses the image of a clover to represent the natural world, and he describes it in detail, highlighting its intricate beauty and delicate structure. He also uses the clover as a metaphor for the human soul, suggesting that just as the clover is a small but essential part of the natural world, so too is the human soul a small but essential part of the universe.
Another theme that emerges in Poetry Clover is the idea of interconnectedness. Lanier suggests that everything in the world is connected, and that the beauty of nature is a reflection of the beauty of the human spirit. He writes, "The clover and I are one in the same, / One in the beauty of the world we claim." This line suggests that the poet sees himself as part of the natural world, and that his own beauty is a reflection of the beauty he sees in nature.
Structure
Poetry Clover is a sonnet, a form of poetry that originated in Italy in the 13th century. Sonnets are typically 14 lines long and follow a strict rhyme scheme and meter. Lanier's sonnet follows the traditional structure of a sonnet, with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.
The structure of the sonnet is important because it creates a sense of order and symmetry that reflects the beauty and harmony of nature. The strict rhyme scheme and meter also create a musical quality to the poem, which adds to its overall beauty and elegance.
Language
The language of Poetry Clover is rich and evocative, with vivid imagery and sensory details that bring the natural world to life. Lanier uses a variety of literary devices, such as metaphor, personification, and alliteration, to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem.
One of the most striking features of the language in Poetry Clover is the use of personification. Lanier personifies the clover, describing it as a "little world" that is "alive with joy." He also personifies the wind, describing it as a "lover" that "kisses" the clover. These personifications create a sense of intimacy and connection between the natural world and the human spirit.
Lanier also uses metaphor to great effect in Poetry Clover. He compares the clover to a "green star" and a "jewel," highlighting its beauty and value. He also compares the human soul to a "little world," suggesting that just as the clover is a small but essential part of the natural world, so too is the human soul a small but essential part of the universe.
Finally, Lanier uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. He repeats the "l" sound in the line "Little world, thy lowliness / Makes me great," creating a sense of harmony and balance in the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Poetry Clover is a masterpiece of poetic artistry that captures the beauty and harmony of nature. Lanier's use of language, structure, and themes creates a sense of depth and complexity that reflects the interconnectedness of all things. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit, and it remains a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today.
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