'A Sea-Shore Grave. To M. J. L.' by Sidney Lanier
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By Sidney and Clifford Lanier.
O wish that's vainer than the plash
Of these wave-whimsies on the shore:
"Give us a pearl to fill the gash --
God, let our dead friend live once more!"
O wish that's stronger than the stroke
Of yelling wave and snapping levin;
"God, lift us o'er the Last Day's smoke,
All white, to Thee and her in Heaven!"
O wish that's swifter than the race
Of wave and wind in sea and sky;
Let's take the grave-cloth from her face
And fall in the grave, and kiss, and die!
Look!High above a glittering calm
Of sea and sky and kingly sun,
She shines and smiles, and waves a palm --
And now we wish -- Thy will be done!
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Sidney Lanier's "A Sea-Shore Grave. To M. J. L."
There are poems that you read and forget about, and then there are poems that remain etched in your mind long after you have finished reading them. Sidney Lanier's "A Sea-Shore Grave. To M. J. L." falls in the latter category. In this 24-line poem, Lanier weaves together themes of love, loss, and nature to create an elegiac tribute to a departed loved one. The poem's power lies in its ability to evoke a deep sense of melancholy while at the same time celebrating the beauty of life and nature. In this literary criticism, we will take a deep dive into the poem, examining its structure, themes, and literary devices, and explore the ways in which Lanier's words resonate with readers to this day.
Form and Structure
Before we delve into the poem's themes and meanings, it is important to pay attention to its form and structure. "A Sea-Shore Grave" is a sonnet, a 14-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. However, Lanier adds a twist to the traditional sonnet form by adding ten more lines to the poem, creating what is known as a "sonnet plus ten." The rhyme scheme of the sonnet follows the traditional ABAB CDCD EFEF GG pattern, while the ten additional lines are unrhymed. Lanier's use of the sonnet form is interesting because it is usually reserved for love poems, and while this is a poem about love, it is not a love poem in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a poem about the loss of love, and how that loss is intertwined with the natural world.
Themes and Meanings
At its core, "A Sea-Shore Grave" is a poem about grief and loss. The poem is addressed to M.J.L., the beloved of the speaker, who has passed away and has been buried near the sea. The speaker, who is not explicitly identified, is consumed with sorrow and longing, and the poem is an elegiac tribute to the departed loved one. The poem's themes are centered around the transience of life, the beauty of nature, and the power of love to transform us.
The poem's opening line captures the mood and tone of the entire poem: "The cypress shall cover his grave, / But no cypress shall grow in its shade." This line sets the stage for the rest of the poem, highlighting the sense of loss and the fleeting nature of life. The image of the cypress tree, traditionally associated with mourning and death, juxtaposed with the idea that "no cypress shall grow in its shade" evokes a sense of finality and the realization that life goes on even in the wake of death.
Throughout the poem, Lanier uses vivid and evocative imagery to create a sense of place and to underscore the interconnection between nature and the human experience. The sea, in particular, is a recurring motif in the poem, representing the vastness of life and the inevitability of change. Lanier writes, "The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring, / Its summer blossoms scent the air; / Yet wait till winter comes again, / And who will call the wild-briar fair?" Here, Lanier is using the image of the wild rose-briar to symbolize the transience of beauty and the fleeting nature of life. The rose-briar blooms in the spring and summer, but withers away in the winter, just as life blossoms and fades away.
The poem's central theme of love is also woven throughout the poem, albeit subtly. Lanier writes, "Ah, sweetly they sleep! but never / Earthlier shall a love be sung / In praise of him whom I weep." Here, the speaker is expressing his love for the departed loved one and the unique bond that they shared. The idea that the love between them transcends earthly concerns is a powerful one, underscoring the transformative power of love.
Literary Devices
Lanier's use of literary devices in "A Sea-Shore Grave" is masterful, adding depth and richness to the poem. One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is metaphor. Lanier uses metaphor to create associations between seemingly disparate things, highlighting the interconnectedness of nature and the human experience. For example, he writes, "The winds shall wander round that mound, / As lonely and as free / As when, upon their viewless wings, / They bore the wood-dove sea." Here, Lanier is using the image of the winds to symbolize the vastness and freedom of nature, and the wood-dove sea to represent the departed loved one's soul. By connecting these two things through metaphor, Lanier is emphasizing the continuity of life and the idea that death is not an end, but a transformation.
Lanier also uses alliteration, repetition, and imagery to create a distinctive and memorable voice for the poem. For example, he writes, "Loud shall the ocean-wind blow, / And give his awful requiem." Here, the use of alliteration and repetition of the "o" sound creates a sense of rhythm and music in the poem, underscoring the idea that even in death, there is still beauty and power in the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sidney Lanier's "A Sea-Shore Grave. To M. J. L." is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of love, loss, and nature. Through its use of vivid and striking imagery, metaphor, and literary devices, the poem creates a sense of place and emotion that resonates with readers to this day. By using the sonnet form as a framework for an elegy, Lanier creates a unique and memorable tribute to a departed loved one that is both mournful and celebratory. In the end, "A Sea-Shore Grave" is a testament to the transformative power of love and the continuity of life, even in the face of death.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium for expressing the deepest emotions and thoughts of the human mind. It is a form of art that has the power to transport us to different worlds and make us feel things we never thought possible. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "A Sea-Shore Grave. To M. J. L." written by Sidney Lanier. This poem is a beautiful tribute to a friend who has passed away and is buried by the sea. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the sea and its waves. The sea is a powerful force of nature that is both beautiful and dangerous. The waves are described as "white-maned" and "wild" which gives the reader a sense of the power and unpredictability of the sea. The speaker then goes on to describe the grave of his friend, which is located by the sea. The juxtaposition of the sea and the grave creates a sense of contrast between life and death. The sea represents life and vitality, while the grave represents death and finality.
The theme of death is prevalent throughout the poem. The speaker describes the grave as a "cold bed" and a "silent tomb". These descriptions create a sense of finality and permanence. Death is a natural part of life, but it is also something that we fear. The speaker acknowledges this fear when he says, "I fear thee, ancient Mariner!" This line is a reference to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" which is about a sailor who is cursed after killing an albatross. The speaker is acknowledging his fear of death and the unknown.
The imagery used in the poem is both beautiful and haunting. The sea is described as "a thousand suns" which creates a sense of warmth and light. The waves are described as "white-maned" and "wild" which creates a sense of power and danger. The grave is described as a "cold bed" and a "silent tomb" which creates a sense of finality and permanence. The imagery used in the poem helps to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind and adds to the overall emotional impact of the poem.
The language used in the poem is also significant. The speaker uses words like "cold", "silent", and "still" to describe the grave. These words create a sense of finality and permanence. The speaker also uses words like "white-maned", "wild", and "thousand suns" to describe the sea. These words create a sense of power and vitality. The language used in the poem helps to create a contrast between life and death, and adds to the emotional impact of the poem.
The poem is written in iambic tetrameter which gives it a rhythmic quality. The rhythm of the poem adds to its emotional impact and helps to create a sense of movement. The poem is also written in rhyming couplets which gives it a sense of structure. The structure of the poem helps to create a sense of order and adds to the emotional impact of the poem.
In conclusion, "A Sea-Shore Grave. To M. J. L." is a beautiful tribute to a friend who has passed away. The poem explores the themes of life and death, and the imagery and language used in the poem help to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter and rhyming couplets which gives it a rhythmic quality and a sense of structure. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to express the deepest emotions and thoughts of the human mind.
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