'Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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XIII

And wilt thou have me fashion into speech
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough,
Between our faces, to cast light on each?—
I drop it at thy feet. I cannot teach
My hand to hold my spirit so far off
From myself—me—that I should bring thee proof
In words, of love hid in me out of reach.
Nay, let the silence of my womanhood
Commend my woman-love to thy belief,—
Seeing that I stand unwon, however wooed,
And rend the garment of my life, in brief,
By a most dauntless, voiceless fortitude,
Lest one touch of this heart convey its grief

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Oh, what a gem of a sonnet is this! It is a perfect example of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's mastery of language and poetic form. In this poem, Browning uses iambic pentameter, a traditional form of sonnet, to convey her heartfelt emotions towards her beloved. Let's take a closer look at this beautiful work of art and explore its literary themes and symbolism.

Poem Analysis

Structure

Sonnet 13 is a classic Shakespearean sonnet, written in iambic pentameter. The poem consists of three quatrains and a final couplet, with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The use of this traditional form, which was popularized by Shakespeare, adds to the poem's classic and timeless feel.

Language and Imagery

The language and imagery used in Sonnet 13 are both romantic and powerful. Browning uses beautiful metaphors and similes to describe her love and admiration for her beloved. In the first quatrain, she compares her love to a beautiful bird:

And wilt thou have me fashion into speech The love I bear thee, finding words enough, And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough, Between our faces, to all things ensearch?

The image of a bird holding a torch out in the wind is both beautiful and powerful. Browning uses this metaphor to convey the fragility and strength of her love. She is willing to hold the torch out even when the winds are rough, which means that she is willing to fight for her love even in difficult circumstances.

In the second quatrain, Browning uses another beautiful metaphor to describe her love:

Speak to me, love! and tell me, if this view Of grasses, dew-besprinkled, fresh and fair, With the green earth’s last flowers—resembling heaven, Make up the foreground of some dream divine;

Here, she compares her love to a beautiful painting, with the grass and flowers making up the foreground of some dream divine. This metaphor again emphasizes the beauty and power of her love, and how it has the ability to transform the world around her.

In the final quatrain, Browning uses yet another metaphor, comparing her love to a song:

Speak to me, love! and whisper in my ear What thou dost see and what thou dost hear, And love me for that reason most of all Because of my poor rhyme's sake.

This metaphor is both beautiful and poignant. Browning is essentially saying that her love is like a song that she wants her beloved to sing to her. She wants to hear his voice and be inspired by his words, and she loves him for his ability to create beautiful music with his speech.

Themes

The themes of Sonnet 13 are love, admiration, and the power of language. Browning uses language to convey her love and admiration for her beloved, and to show how language has the power to transform the world around us. She also emphasizes the fragility and strength of love, and how it can endure even in difficult circumstances.

Symbolism

The use of symbolism in Sonnet 13 is also significant. The bird, torch, and painting are all powerful symbols that help to convey the beauty and power of Browning's love. These symbols also demonstrate the transformative power of love and how it can change the world around us.

Interpretation

Sonnet 13 is a beautiful and heartfelt poem that demonstrates Elizabeth Barrett Browning's mastery of language and poetic form. The use of traditional sonnet form, powerful imagery, and beautiful metaphors all work together to create a timeless work of art.

At its core, Sonnet 13 is a love poem that celebrates the power of language and the transformative power of love. Browning's use of language and symbolism demonstrates how love has the power to change the world around us, and how it can endure even in difficult circumstances.

Ultimately, Sonnet 13 is a testament to the enduring power of love and the importance of language in communicating our deepest emotions. It is a beautiful and timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This poem is a part of her collection of sonnets called Sonnets from the Portuguese, which was published in 1850. The collection is a series of love poems that Browning wrote for her husband, Robert Browning. The sonnets are considered to be some of the most beautiful and romantic poems in the English language.

The poem Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech is a beautiful expression of love and devotion. The poem is written in the form of a question, with the speaker asking her lover if he wants her to express her love in words. The poem is a reflection of the deep love that the speaker has for her lover and her desire to express that love in the most beautiful and meaningful way possible.

The poem begins with the speaker asking her lover if he wants her to express her love in words. She asks, "And wilt thou have me fashion into speech / The love I bear thee, finding words enough?" The speaker is asking if her lover wants her to put her love into words, to express it in a way that can be understood and appreciated.

The speaker then goes on to describe the difficulty of expressing her love in words. She says, "And when my soul was winged by thee, to thy / Soul I flew, and pierced it deep with sighs." The speaker is saying that her love is so deep and intense that it cannot be expressed in words alone. She has to use sighs and other non-verbal expressions to convey the depth of her love.

The speaker then goes on to describe the different ways in which she could express her love. She says, "Then, as I spoke, the tears upon me fell; / And, as I paused, your hand upon my hair / Softly complied, and there was silence all." The speaker is saying that she could express her love through tears, through touch, or through silence. Each of these ways is a powerful expression of love, but none of them can fully capture the depth and intensity of her love.

The speaker then asks her lover if he wants her to express her love in words, despite the difficulty of doing so. She says, "Now, in this pause, my soul would sing of thee, / And of thy love, more loud than words could tell." The speaker is saying that even though it is difficult to express her love in words, she wants to try. She wants to sing of her lover and his love in a way that is more powerful than words alone.

The poem ends with the speaker expressing her love in words. She says, "Wherefore, most tenderly I'll speak my love, / In loving thee more dearly than the tongue / Can tell or heart can hold." The speaker is saying that even though words cannot fully express her love, she will still try. She will love her lover more dearly than words can tell or her heart can hold.

In conclusion, Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech is a beautiful expression of love and devotion. The poem is a reflection of the deep love that the speaker has for her lover and her desire to express that love in the most beautiful and meaningful way possible. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the difficulty of expressing that love in words. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 13 is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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