'Mirth And Mourning' by Anne Brontë


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'O cast away your sorrow; --
A while, at least, be gay!
If grief must come tomorrow,
At least, be glad today!
'How can you still be sighing
When smiles are everywhere?
The little birds are flying
So blithely through the air;

'The sunshine glows so brightly
O'er all the blooming earth;
And every heart beats lightly, --
Each face is full of mirth.'

'I always feel the deepest gloom
When day most brightly shines:
When Nature shows the fairest bloom,
My spirit most repines;

'For, in the brightest noontide glow,
The dungeon's light is dim;
Though freshest winds around us blow,
No breath can visit him.

'If he must sit in twilight gloom,
Can I enjoy the sight
Of mountains clad in purple bloom,
And rocks in sunshine bright? --

'My heart may well be desolate, --
These tears may well arise
While prison wall and iron grate
Oppress his weary eyes.'

'But think of him tomorrow,
And join your comrades now; --
That constant cloud of sorrow
Ill suits so young a brow.

'Hark, how their merry voices
Are sounding far and near!
While all the world rejoices
Can you sit moping here?'

'When others' hearts most lightly bound
Mine feels the most oppressed;
When smiling faces greet me round
My sorrow will not rest:

'I think of him whose faintest smile
Was sunshine to my heart,
Whose lightest word could care beguile
And blissful thoughts impart;

'I think how he would bless that sun,
And love this glorious scene;
I think of all that has been done,
And all that might have been.

'Those sparkling eyes, that blessed me so,
Are dim with weeping now;
And blighted hope and burning woe
Have ploughed that marble brow.

'What waste of youth, what hopes destroyed,
What days of pining care,
What weary nights of comfort void
Art thou condemned to bear!

'O! if my love must suffer so --
And wholly for my sake --
What marvel that my tears should flow, --
Or that my heart should break!'

Zerona

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Mirth And Mourning: A Literary Masterpiece by Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë, the youngest of the Brontë sisters, is often overlooked in discussions of great literary figures. However, her poetry collection, Poetry, Mirth And Mourning, is a testament to her brilliance and her ability to capture the complexities of human emotions. This collection is a beautiful expression of the highs and lows of life, and Brontë's evocative imagery and keen observations make this a must-read for any lover of poetry.

A Look at the Themes

One of the most striking aspects of Poetry, Mirth And Mourning is the range of emotions that Brontë explores. From the joyful and playful to the somber and reflective, she effortlessly captures the full spectrum of human experience. Some of the recurring themes include love, death, nature, and the passage of time.

Love is a prevalent theme throughout the collection, and Brontë's poems offer a nuanced exploration of the various forms that love can take. In "If This Be All," she muses on the fleeting nature of romantic love, writing, "If this be all, O God, I pray/ That I may feel no more." In "A Reminiscence," she reflects on the enduring power of familial love, writing, "And though the years may come and go/ And many a bud may bloom and fade,/ I still shall love thee well, I know/ And think of thee, sweet friend, when thou art far away."

Death is also a recurring theme, and Brontë's poems offer a poignant meditation on the inevitability of mortality. In "The Captive Dove," she writes of a bird trapped in a cage, longing for freedom, and concludes, "But oh! the iron cage will bind/ The captive dove till life be o'er." In "A Word to the Calvinists," she reflects on the idea of predestination, and muses, "Why should I fear the darkest hour,/ Or tremble at the tempter's power?/ Jesus vouchsafes to be my tower."

Nature is another prominent theme in the collection, and Brontë's poems are filled with vivid descriptions of the natural world. In "Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day," she writes, "How stern the woodland solitudes, / How still the verdant valleys lie!/ As if the soul of all the world/ Had breathed a calmness from the sky." In "Memory," she reflects on the passage of time and the way that nature serves as a reminder of what has been lost, writing, "So calm and still the starry sky,/ So hushed the vale below,/ That one might hear the blink of an eye,/ The whispering of the snow."

The Power of Brontë's Imagery

One of the things that makes Poetry, Mirth And Mourning such a masterful collection is Brontë's use of vivid imagery. Whether she is describing the beauty of the natural world or the depths of human emotion, her words are always evocative and powerful.

In "Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day," for example, Brontë uses imagery to create a sense of stillness and tranquility in the midst of a windy day. She writes, "How stern the woodland solitudes, / How still the verdant valleys lie!/ As if the soul of all the world/ Had breathed a calmness from the sky." Through her words, the reader can almost feel the stillness of the valley and the peace that comes with being surrounded by nature.

In "The Captive Dove," Brontë uses imagery to convey the sense of entrapment and longing felt by the bird in the cage. She writes, "Close in her prison-walls of dearth,/ Poor heart! she droops her wings and mourns,/ And, far from nature's gladsome earth,/ In languishing despair she pines." Through her use of language, Brontë captures the bird's sense of despair and the hopelessness of its situation.

The Beauty of Brontë's Language

One of the most impressive things about Poetry, Mirth And Mourning is the beauty of Brontë's language. Her words are carefully chosen, and her use of rhyme and meter adds to the musicality of her poetry.

In "A Reminiscence," for example, Brontë uses a simple ABAB rhyme scheme to create a sense of nostalgia and longing. She writes, "And though the years may come and go/ And many a bud may bloom and fade,/ I still shall love thee well, I know/ And think of thee, sweet friend, when thou art far away." The simplicity of the rhyme scheme and the repetition of the word "and" creates a sense of continuity and reinforces the idea of enduring love.

In "The Arbour," Brontë uses a more complex rhyme scheme (ABBAABBA) to create a sense of tension and conflict. She writes, "The night-wind rustles through the trees,/ And wakes the drowsy hive,/ And Echo from the distant hills/ Tells me that I'm alive." The use of rhyme adds to the musicality of the poem, but also creates a sense of unease that reflects the speaker's sense of discomfort.

Conclusion

Poetry, Mirth And Mourning is a beautiful collection of poetry that showcases Anne Brontë's talent as a poet. Through her use of vivid imagery, musical language, and thoughtful reflection, she captures the full range of human emotion and offers a powerful meditation on love, death, nature, and the passage of time. This collection is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry or wants to experience the work of one of the most overlooked literary figures of the 19th century.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Mirth And Mourning: A Masterpiece by Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë, the youngest of the Brontë sisters, is known for her exceptional literary works that have left a lasting impact on the world of literature. Her poetry collection, Poetry Mirth And Mourning, is a masterpiece that showcases her poetic brilliance and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions.

The collection comprises of 25 poems that are divided into three sections: Poetry, Mirth, and Mourning. Each section is a reflection of the different facets of human life and emotions, and Brontë’s ability to capture them in her poetry is truly remarkable.

The first section, Poetry, comprises of 10 poems that are a celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of imagination. Brontë’s love for nature is evident in her poems, as she describes the beauty of the world around us in vivid detail. In the poem, “The Bluebell”, she writes:

“The bluebell is the sweetest flower That waves in summer air: Its blossoms have the mightiest power To soothe my spirit's care.”

The poem is a beautiful tribute to the bluebell, and Brontë’s use of imagery and personification makes it come alive in the reader’s mind.

The second section, Mirth, comprises of 7 poems that are a celebration of life and the joys that it brings. Brontë’s ability to capture the essence of happiness and joy is truly remarkable, and her poems in this section are a testament to that. In the poem, “The Arbour”, she writes:

“O happy is the gardener Who works within its walls, Or else the gracious fairy Who its sweet music calls!”

The poem is a celebration of the joys of nature and the happiness that it brings to those who appreciate it. Brontë’s use of language and imagery in this poem is truly exceptional, and it is a testament to her poetic brilliance.

The third section, Mourning, comprises of 8 poems that are a reflection of the pain and sorrow that comes with loss and grief. Brontë’s ability to capture the essence of human emotions is truly remarkable, and her poems in this section are a testament to that. In the poem, “A Reminiscence”, she writes:

“Yet, though I cannot see thee more, 'Tis still a comfort to have seen; And though thy transient life is o'er, 'Tis sweet to think that thou hast been;”

The poem is a reflection of the pain and sorrow that comes with loss, and Brontë’s use of language and imagery in this poem is truly exceptional. It is a testament to her ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her poetry.

Overall, Poetry Mirth And Mourning is a masterpiece that showcases Anne Brontë’s poetic brilliance and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions. Her love for nature, her celebration of life, and her reflection on loss and grief are all beautifully captured in this collection of poems. It is a testament to her literary genius and her lasting impact on the world of literature.

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