Poetry Analysis - "Shall I Compare Thee" by William Shakespeare

Poem:

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.
     So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
     So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

I came across this poem several years ago during an English class in the seventh grade. We were required to complete a worksheet on it and determine its deeper meanings. Looking back on that class, I've realized that the 'deep thinking' we had completed that day had barely scratched the surface of what this poem's meaning is. On that day, the class had come to the conclusion that it was simply a show of love from one person to another, and had left it at that. I can't tell for sure whether my maturing or my new learning environment has contributed to my deeper understanding of poems, books, and writing in general, but I see a much deeper meaning than I did 2 years ago.

This poem is, obviously, focussed on love, particularly centring around a man's dedication to his romantic partner and his admiration of her aspects, from her beauty to her even temperament. This poem is written in Iambic Pentameter, making for a very even and stately-sounding poem. It's rhyming scheme is also quite pleasant to read, using an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG method to provide a dignified tone to this work. The poem can be interpreted as comparing a woman to a warm, sunny summer day, and is expressing admiration for the woman's seemingly perfect features.

I see this poem as a sort of starting point for any poem wishing to follow a sort of formal poetic approach. It's message and the emotions it attempts to convey is clear, its flow is graceful, and it's wording is expressive and expresses a sense of majesty. It is a classic example of any love poem, and can definitely find the same use it did when it was first intended to be used. 

poetry Analysis - "Ars Poetica" by Archibald MacLeish

Poem:

A poem should be palpable and mute   

As a globed fruit, 

Dumb 

As old medallions to the thumb, 

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone 

Of casement ledges where the moss has grown— 

A poem should be wordless   

As the flight of birds. 

                         *               

A poem should be motionless in time   

As the moon climbs, 

Leaving, as the moon releases 

Twig by twig the night-entangled trees, 

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,   

Memory by memory the mind— 

A poem should be motionless in time   

As the moon climbs. 

                         *               

A poem should be equal to: 

Not true. 

For all the history of grief 

An empty doorway and a maple leaf. 

For love 

The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea— 

A poem should not mean   

But be. 

I found this poem while browsing the lost of "recommended/required poems" list found on Mr. Tso's Poetry Unit document. I chose to analyze this poem mainly because of its title along with the presented idea that's being conveyed in this work. Thanks to my musical history studies, I know that "Ars" is Latin for art, since this term is used to name numerous musical collections, and correctly assumed that "Poetica" signified poem, meaning this work is titled something along the lines of, when translated, "The Art of Poetry". Knowing that poetry is essentially abstract, coming in many different forms, I was interested to see how Archibald MacLeish interpreted the art of writing poetry within a single poem.

The poem's main message is to be best understood in the final line of the poem which states "A poem should not mean But be.", meaning that poetry should not try to display the statement it is trying to make, but to instead embody it. After reading this poem a couple times, I wholeheartedly agree with the final message. Poems aren't meant to just send a message to the reader, but to also embody and do their best to represent the subject it is presenting. The rest of the poem also features indirect references to what Archibald MacLeish believed a poem should feature. In stanza 1, the line that reads "Silent as the sleeve-worn stone Of casement ledges where the moss has grown— "can be interpreted as saying that poems should not need any specific voice to successfully convey their message, and that a single glance at it should be enough to draw a reader in, completely win over that reader's heart and soul, and survive and succeed this process time and time again. 

I found this poem to be a graceful, enjoyable addition to the large amount of poetry I have had the pleasure to read. I have come to admire the simplicity of the words used that succeed at providing deeper meanings behind the veil of straightforward writing.

 

Poetry Analysis - "Easter Wings" by George Herbert

Poem:

Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, 

      Though foolishly he lost the same, 

            Decaying more and more, 

                  Till he became 

                        Most poore: 

                        With thee 

                  O let me rise 

            As larks, harmoniously, 

      And sing this day thy victories: 

Then shall the fall further the flight in me. 

My tender age in sorrow did beginne 

      And still with sicknesses and shame. 

            Thou didst so punish sinne, 

                  That I became 

                        Most thinne. 

                        With thee 

                  Let me combine, 

            And feel thy victorie: 

         For, if I imp my wing on thine, 

Affliction shall advance the flight in me. 

I uncovered this poem on the "recommended/required poem" list on Mr. Tso's Poetry Unit document. The name of this work called up images of angels and Easter bunnies, which compelled me to dive deeper into this work to see if it really did contain my first impressions. To nobody's surprise, it did not contain angels or Easter bunnies, but it did contain a deep message that drew me in as I read it, compelling me to feature this piece of writing on my poetry blog.

The poem tells of God, who is said to have created humans, and how his intentions for creating humans have all been quashed thanks to the man's greed. But this poem also speaks of redemption and humanity rising up to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of God himself. These two ideas are presented in a very eye-catching, significant manner, found in the form of the shape the poem is presented in. Both stanzas are displayed in a hourglass sort of shape, and this is symbolic to how the poet sees that humans have fallen from grace and wishes to redeem the human race and restore them to honour in God's eyes. The top half can be interpreted as a descending sort of triangle pointed downwards, or any other image with the same kind of idea. The top half of the stanzas speaks of humans and how they have fallen from their noble creator's wishes, justifying the "falling" idea featured there. The bottom half of the stanzas seem to be directed at God himself, stating the poet's wishes to restore humans to their rightful place under God's gaze.

I was attracted to this poem mainly for its unique presentation of its concepts, and also for the ideas that powered this poet to compose this work. I felt that the downwards and upwards motion found in the writing was very enjoyable and interesting to see, and I can also understand this poet's desires to bring harmony and peace to humans in order to restore the connection he believed people shared with God.

Poetry Analysis - "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W. B. Yeats

Poem:

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping
     slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket
     sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

I found this poem while browsing around the poets.org website, and was drawn in by the generally unique name. I was happy to find that the work was coincidentally on the "recommended/required poems" list found on Mr. Tso's Poetry Unit document, and proceeded to choose this poem to feature on my poetry blog. When I first glanced the name of this work, I already knew that this poem would either be very straightforward or distastefully vague, and to by delight, the wording of this poem is anything but vague.

This poem speaks of a sort of getaway for the speaker, a place where they can relax and collect their thoughts. The way the images of this recluse are painted through solely words is, in my opinion, a very admirable and enjoyable detail of this work. Mentions in this poem include honey-bees, crickets, and the midnight view, all painted in clear pictures through only a few, simple words.

I found this poem likeable because it painted a picture of something I've always yearned for, that being a natural escape from a busy life bustling with activities, deadlines, and stress. Hailing from a household that has never struggled in the monetary department, I've always had hopes and dreams for elements of great splendour to be added to my life, despite the fact that those in charge of the family's funds deny my suggestions for enjoyment. Of course, I respect their decisions and can understand their viewpoint on my proposals, but I can never shake that urge to try and chase after my dreams. One of these dreams happens to be to find a place to visit in our free time, far from any bustling metropolis or loud, bright city, where nature can envelop me and welcome me with only the melodies of the natural world to entertain my ears.

Poetry Analysis - "The Tyger" by William Blake

Poem:

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 

In the forests of the night; 

What immortal hand or eye, 

Could frame thy fearful symmetry? 

In what distant deeps or skies. 

Burnt the fire of thine eyes? 

On what wings dare he aspire? 

What the hand, dare seize the fire? 

And what shoulder, & what art, 

Could twist the sinews of thy heart? 

And when thy heart began to beat, 

What dread hand? & what dread feet? 

What the hammer? what the chain, 

In what furnace was thy brain? 

What the anvil? what dread grasp, 

Dare its deadly terrors clasp! 

When the stars threw down their spears 

And water'd heaven with their tears: 

Did he smile his work to see? 

Did he who made the Lamb make thee? 

Tyger Tyger burning bright, 

In the forests of the night: 

What immortal hand or eye, 

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

I found the name of this poem on the lost of "recommended/required poems/ list on Mr. Tso's Poetry Unit document and was intrigued by the interesting name of the poem. I wondered whether or not the subject of this poem was actually a tiger, or if it were something completely unrelated to the aforementioned beast. By first guess turned out to be correct, as the poem focusses around a tiger, particularly the features strengths of this animal that the poet found admirable and worthy of their mention.

The poem seems to revolve around the many aspects of the tiger, from their powerful gaze to their hypnotizing patterns on their pelts. The work also often questions what divine being up above would create such a fearsome, terrifying creature, and whether they look down at their work in awe or fear. The reoccurring subject often hovers somewhere nearby the general idea of "Who would make such a thing?", while at the same time conveys a sense of awe as they ask for the answers to their questions.

After reading this poem several times, I can say that one of my favourite characteristics of this poem has to be the way both respect and terror are combined effortlessly in the questions. Each of the questions comes with a sense of wonder and amazement for the tiger and whoever the architect of the tiger was, while at the same time displays horror, questioning how some being could possibly fathom designing an animal that shows off such savagery.

Poetry Analysis - "How Do I Love Thee" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Poem:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

I found this poem while reading through the 'recommended/required poems' list on Mr. Tso's Poetry Unit document. I found the title of the work interesting, and when I went to look at the poem, I came to appreciate the attractive layout of the words, and how the rhythms and ideas of those words come together to weave a flowing, graceful picture depicting the speaker's affection towards his love interest.

The poem is written with ease for the mouth, rhythm, expression meant to play large roles in its reading. As I read it in my head, I can't help but slip into a very even, stately beat while reading the lines of this work. The ends of the lines are made to rhyme, and this short but sweet poem follows a variation of the common AABB rhyming format, utilizing an ABBC ABBC DEDEDE pattern to convey its message. As a fairly experienced musician, I admire the thought that would have went into creating this method of rhyming and the ease it brings the reader when they lay their eyes on this piece.

This poem, as are other such romantic poems, is very endearing and meant to reach your emotions and express itself to them. Its message is that the speaker admires and adores everything about the subject, who we can assume to be his romantic interest, and I can appreciate the delicacy used to compose this flowing words.

Poetry Analysis - "The Shark" by Lord Alfred Douglas

Poem:


He watches you take off your clothes,

And not the least excitement shows.

His eyes do not grow bright or roll, 
He has astonishing self-control.

He waits till you are quite undressed, 
And seems to take no interest.

And when towards the sea you leap, 
He looks as if he were asleep.

But when you once get in his range, 
His whole demeanour seems to change.

He throws his body right about, 
And his true character comes out.

It’s no use crying or appealing, 
He seems to lose all decent feeling.

After this warning you will wish 
To keep clear of this treacherous fish.

His back is black, his stomach white, 
He has a very dangerous bite.

I discovered this poem last year, when I was studying poetry and was required to complete a poet study on one. While looking around on the internet for a poet who's poetry interested me, I came across this intriguing work by Lord Alfred Douglas. Even though I ended up not doing my poet study on this particular poet, I still remembered this poem, and chose to do one of my poetry blog post on it.

This poem is a unique example of litotes, or stating something by stating it indirectly. Throughout the entire poem, there isn't any mention of what a shark can do until the very last line, which reads 'He has a very dangerous bite.' and even though this poem chooses to remain generally indirect and vague about the message of its words, the meaning can be gleaned easily enough: sharks are dangerous animals, and should be avoided at all costs lest your life be risked.  

I find this poem to be a charming yet solemn description of the dangers of a shark. The fact that nothing terrible or severely frightening is explicitly told of in this poem makes it a poem that one could consider sharing with those of the younger demographic. I'm amused by how the poet took an indirect approach when they wrote this poem, making it both simple and fun to read on the surface, but holds a great deal of weight as you delve into the deeper meanings of the poem and its wording.

Poetry Analysis - "To Mary" by William Wordsworth

Poem:

Let the timeless trove of angels sing,

Let the speckless sun keep shining;

But there isn’t anything perfect in the world

So rejoice that there are not.

Don’t fear that none will state your beauty;

So Mary, please listen

I cannot compare loveliness

To what you mean to me.

True beauty doesn’t have to be in appearances

It can be hidden away, only to be revealed

When the hearts of the lovers beat in unison,

And until love is exchanged.


I discovered this particular poem and poet from a poetry study last year in Studio English 8. For an assignment, I was asked to create a sort of timeline concerning a chosen poet and their works, so I decided to study the life and works of William Wordsworth. While completing the work, I found that I had developed a great interest for this poet and his works in particular, so I chose this poem as a starting point for this blog, to in a way pay homage to this poem, one that I've grown fond of.

The speaker, most likely Wordsworth, is clearly speaking in an endearing, loving way towards the person named Mary, who we can assume to be his wife. The short yet powerful phrases are clearly stated in an affectionate way. the most powerful line that I can see is ‘If nought in loveliness compare With what thou art to me.’ , which can be interpreted as him saying that anything the speaker finds lovely pales in comparison to Mary. The theme of this poem is most definitely love. This whole poem is endearing, sweet, and overall made to convey the love felt by Wordsworth to Mary in a beautiful harmony of words.

I can relate to the emotions evoked in this poem. It conveys a simple yet heart-wrenchingly powerful emotion through the flow created by the words that Wordsworth has weaved. Even though I haven't fully experienced love in the sense of finding a partner one would stay with for life, I have experienced love towards my loving family, and I have expressed the emotions that are being shown in this poem.