'About The Nightingale' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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From a letter from STC to Wordsworth after writing The Nightingale:
In stale blank verse a subject stale
I send per post my Nightingale;
And like an honest bard, dear Wordsworth,
You'll tell me what you think, my Bird's worth.
My own opinion's briefly this--
His bill he opens not amiss;
And when he has sung a stave or so,
His breast, & some small space below,
So throbs & swells, that you might swear
No vulgar music's working there.
So far, so good; but then, 'od rot him!
There's something falls off at his bottom.
Yet, sure, no wonder it should breed,
That my Bird's Tail's a tail indeed
And makes it's own inglorious harmony
Æolio crepitû, non carmine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty and Mystery of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "About The Nightingale"
Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "About The Nightingale" is a poem that captures the beauty and mystery of the natural world, as well as the deep human emotions that it can evoke. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, Coleridge brings to life the song of the nightingale and the feelings that it inspires in the poet.
The Nightingale's Song
The poem begins with a description of the nightingale's song, which is characterized as "full of the richest melody." The song is depicted as capable of inspiring a range of emotions in the listener, from joy and delight to sorrow and melancholy. The nightingale's song is also said to have a transformative power, capable of transporting the listener to a different time and place.
The nightingale's song is described in vivid detail throughout the poem, with Coleridge making use of a range of literary techniques to capture its beauty and complexity. For example, the poem makes use of vivid metaphors and similes to compare the nightingale's song to other natural phenomena, such as the sound of a distant waterfall or the rustling of leaves in a gentle breeze. The nightingale's song is also described as being full of "warbling notes" and "liquid trills," which evoke a sense of fluidity and movement.
The Poet's Response
As the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the nightingale's song has a profound effect on the poet. The poet describes how he is "spellbound" by the nightingale's song, and how it fills him with a sense of awe and wonder. He also expresses a sense of longing to be able to join the nightingale in its song, describing how he wishes he could "pour my soul in song."
At the same time, however, the poet is also aware of the melancholy aspect of the nightingale's song. He describes how the bird's song "sinks and swells in melancholy pain," and how it seems to evoke a sense of longing and sadness. The poet is thus caught between the joy and beauty of the nightingale's song, and the sadness and longing that it inspires.
The Natural World
Throughout the poem, Coleridge uses the nightingale and its song as a lens through which to explore the beauty and mystery of the natural world. The poem is full of vivid descriptions of the natural world, from the "dusky copse" where the nightingale sings to the "moonlit skies" that provide a backdrop for the bird's song.
The poem also explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, describing how the nightingale's song has the power to transport the listener away from the concerns and anxieties of human life. The poet describes how he is able to forget his worries and cares when he listens to the nightingale's song, and how he is transported to a different world altogether.
At the same time, however, the poem also acknowledges the fragility of this relationship between humans and nature. The poet describes how the nightingale's song is threatened by the encroachment of human civilization, and how the bird's natural habitat is being destroyed by human activity. This sense of loss and fragility adds an extra layer of poignancy to the poem, as it reminds the reader of the importance of preserving the natural world and its beauty.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "About The Nightingale" is a poem that captures the beauty and mystery of the natural world, as well as the deep human emotions that it can evoke. Through vivid imagery and lyrical language, Coleridge brings to life the song of the nightingale and the feelings that it inspires in the poet. The poem is both a celebration of the natural world and a warning of its fragility, reminding us of the importance of preserving its beauty for future generations.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry About The Nightingale: A Masterpiece by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, is known for his vivid and imaginative poetry. His works are characterized by their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and philosophical musings. Among his many masterpieces, Poetry About The Nightingale stands out as a shining example of his poetic genius. In this poem, Coleridge explores the themes of nature, beauty, and mortality through the metaphor of the nightingale.
The poem begins with a description of the nightingale's song, which is described as "the voice of joy and love and peace." Coleridge's use of personification gives the bird a human-like quality, making it seem almost divine. The nightingale's song is not just a sound, but a symbol of all that is good and beautiful in the world. The poet is so captivated by the bird's song that he wishes he could capture it and keep it forever. He says, "Oh, for a beaker full of the warm South, / Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene, / With beaded bubbles winking at the brim, / And purple-stained mouth."
Here, Coleridge is expressing his desire to preserve the beauty and joy of the nightingale's song. The warm South and the Hippocrene are both symbols of inspiration and creativity, and the beaker full of them represents the poet's desire to capture and preserve the nightingale's song. The bubbles and the purple-stained mouth are also symbolic, representing the joy and ecstasy that the poet feels when he hears the bird's song.
As the poem progresses, Coleridge's tone becomes more somber and reflective. He begins to contemplate the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of death. He says, "Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget / What thou among the leaves hast never known, / The weariness, the fever, and the fret / Here, where men sit and hear each other groan."
Here, Coleridge is contrasting the nightingale's carefree existence with the struggles and hardships of human life. The bird is free to sing and enjoy the beauty of nature, while humans are burdened with the weight of mortality and suffering. The weariness, fever, and fret that Coleridge refers to are all symptoms of human suffering, and he seems to be suggesting that the nightingale is lucky to be spared from them.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. Coleridge says, "Darkling I listen; and, for many a time / I have been half in love with easeful Death, / Call'd him soft names in many a mused rhyme, / To take into the air my quiet breath; / Now more than ever seems it rich to die, / To cease upon the midnight with no pain, / While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad / In such an ecstasy!"
Here, Coleridge is expressing his longing for death, which he sees as a release from the struggles and hardships of life. He has been "half in love with easeful Death" for some time, and now, as he listens to the nightingale's song, he feels more strongly than ever that death would be a welcome release. The image of dying "upon the midnight with no pain" is a powerful one, and it is made even more poignant by the contrast with the nightingale's ecstatic song.
In conclusion, Poetry About The Nightingale is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry. Coleridge's use of metaphor, personification, and symbolism creates a rich and complex poem that explores the themes of nature, beauty, and mortality. The nightingale's song is a symbol of all that is good and beautiful in the world, and Coleridge's longing to preserve it is a testament to the power of art to transcend the limitations of human existence. At the same time, the poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of death. Coleridge's contemplation of these themes is both somber and uplifting, and the final stanza is a powerful expression of his longing for release from the struggles of life. Overall, Poetry About The Nightingale is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers today.
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