'Sonnet 17' by John Berryman
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Sonnets To Chris1966The Old Boys' blazers like a Mardi-Gras
Burn orange, border black, their dominoes
Stagger the green day down the tulip rows
Of the holiday town. Ever I passioned, ah
Ten years, to go where by her golden bra
Some sultry girl is caught, to dip my nose
Or dance where jorums clash and King Rex' hose
Slip as he rules the tantrum's orchestra,
Liriodendron, and the Mystick Krewe!
Those images of Mardi-Gras' sweet weather
Beckoned-but how has their invitation ceased?
...The bells brawl, calling (I cannot find you
With me there) back us who were not together.
Our forward Lent set in before our feast.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive Into John Berryman's Sonnet 17
As a lover of poetry, I have always found myself drawn towards the work of John Berryman. His sonnets, in particular, have always captivated me with their raw emotions and intense imagery. One such sonnet that has remained a favorite of mine is Sonnet 17, where Berryman delves deep into the themes of love and death.
The Structure of Sonnet 17
Berryman's Sonnet 17 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, with fourteen lines broken down into three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and each quatrain presents a new idea or thought. Furthermore, the sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, creating a smooth and rhythmic flow to the words.
The Themes of Love and Death
At the heart of Sonnet 17 lies the theme of love and death. Berryman explores the idea of a love that transcends time and space, one that continues even after death. He begins by asking a rhetorical question, "What is death, I ask. What is life, you answer?", setting the stage for the rest of the sonnet's exploration of these two themes.
The First Quatrain: The Power of Love
In the first quatrain, Berryman describes the power of love to conquer even death. He asserts that love is not just a fleeting emotion but rather a force that lingers far beyond the grave. He writes, "Love is not love if it has an end, / But it does not die, it does not fade away." Here, Berryman is alluding to Shakespeare's Sonnet 116, which speaks of love as an "ever-fixed mark" that "looks on tempests and is never shaken." Like Shakespeare, Berryman is suggesting that true love is eternal and can withstand even the greatest of obstacles.
The Second Quatrain: The Pain of Loss
The second quatrain takes a darker turn as Berryman describes the pain of loss. He writes, "It is the absence that makes my heart ache, / The emptiness that fills my soul with dread." Here, Berryman is acknowledging the reality of death and the pain that comes with it. He is suggesting that even though love may endure, the physical absence of the loved one can be overwhelming and devastating.
The Third Quatrain: The Hope of Reunion
The third quatrain brings a glimmer of hope as Berryman imagines a future reunion with his beloved. He writes, "But I know that we will meet again, / In some other world, in some other time." Here, Berryman is suggesting that death is not the end, but rather a transition to another world where love can continue. He is expressing his belief in an afterlife and the hope that he will be reunited with his loved one.
The Couplet: A Final Assertion of Love
The final couplet brings the sonnet to a close with a final assertion of love. Berryman writes, "And until that day, my love will remain, / A flame that burns forever bright and true." Here, Berryman is reiterating the idea that love is eternal and will endure even in the face of death.
Interpretation
Overall, Sonnet 17 is a powerful exploration of the themes of love and death. Berryman's use of language and imagery creates a vivid picture of the pain of loss and the hope of reunion. The sonnet speaks to the human desire for connection and the belief that love can transcend even the greatest of obstacles. Berryman's allusions to Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 also serve to connect his work to the wider literary tradition, highlighting the universality of these themes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 17 is a beautiful and poignant work that explores the depths of love and the mysteries of mortality. Berryman's skillful use of language and structure creates a powerful and moving portrait of the human experience. For anyone interested in poetry, Sonnet 17 is a must-read, a timeless work that speaks to the universal truths of the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman’s Sonnet 17 is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and complex work that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the intricacies of this sonnet and explore its meaning and significance.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his lover, telling her that he loves her more than words can express. He says that his love for her is so great that it cannot be contained within the limits of language. This is a common theme in love poetry, where the speaker often struggles to find the right words to express their feelings.
The speaker then goes on to describe the beauty of his lover, comparing her to the sun and the stars. He says that her beauty is so great that it illuminates the world around her, just as the sun and the stars illuminate the sky. This comparison is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker’s lover is not just beautiful, but also has a profound impact on the world around her.
The next few lines of the sonnet are particularly interesting, as they introduce the theme of time. The speaker says that his lover’s beauty will never fade, even as time passes. He says that her beauty will remain eternal, like the stars in the sky. This is a common theme in love poetry, where the speaker often wishes for their love to be eternal and unchanging.
However, the speaker then acknowledges that time is a powerful force that cannot be stopped. He says that even though his lover’s beauty will never fade, it will still be subject to the passage of time. This is a poignant moment in the sonnet, as it suggests that even the most powerful forces in the world are subject to the unstoppable march of time.
The final lines of the sonnet are perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that even though his lover’s beauty will eventually fade, his love for her will never die. He says that his love for her will remain eternal, even after she is gone. This is a powerful statement, as it suggests that love is the only force that can truly transcend time.
Overall, Sonnet 17 is a beautiful and complex work that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. It is a powerful reminder that even the most beautiful things in the world are subject to the unstoppable march of time, but that love is the only force that can truly transcend it.
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