'Sorrowing Love' by Katherine Mansfield


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And again the flowers are come,
And the light shakes,
And no tiny voice is dumb,
And a bud breaks
On the humble bush and the proud restless tree.
Come with me!

Look, this little flower is pink,
And this one white.
Here's a pearl cup for your drink,
Here's for your delight
A yellow one, sweetwith honey.
Here's fairy money
Silver bright
Scattered over the grass
As we pass.

Here's moss.How the smell of it lingers
On my cold fingers!
You shall have no moss.Here's a frail
Hyacinth, deathyly pale.
Not for you, not for you!
And the place where they grew
You must promise me not to discover,
My sorrowful lover!
Shall we never be happy again?
Never again play?
In vain--in vain!
Come away!


Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Sorrowing Love: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Melancholy

Katherine Mansfield's "Poetry, Sorrowing Love" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that speaks of love, loss, and the pain of separation. With its vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of love. This literary criticism and interpretation aims to explore the themes and techniques used in the poem, and to provide a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

The Poem

Before we delve into the analysis, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the poem itself:

When you came, you were like red wine and honey,
And the taste of you burnt my mouth with its sweetness.
Now you are like morning bread,
Smooth and pleasant.
But I am completely nourished.

- Katherine Mansfield, "Poetry, Sorrowing Love"

The poem consists of four short stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. The language is poetic and evocative, with vivid imagery that appeals to the senses. The poem begins with a simile that compares the beloved to "red wine and honey," two things that are both sweet and intoxicating. The imagery is sensual and suggests a strong physical attraction between the speaker and the beloved.

The second stanza shifts to a metaphor that compares the beloved to "morning bread," which is comforting and nourishing. The shift in imagery from something exotic and intoxicating to something mundane and familiar suggests a change in the relationship between the speaker and the beloved. The final two stanzas offer a reflection on this change, with the speaker acknowledging that while the beloved may no longer be as exciting as they once were, they are still deeply satisfied and fulfilled by their presence.

Themes

The central theme of "Poetry, Sorrowing Love" is love, but Mansfield explores this theme in a nuanced and complex way. The poem is not simply a celebration of love, but an exploration of its many facets and complexities. One of the key themes that emerges from the poem is the idea of transformation. The beloved is compared to both red wine and honey, as well as morning bread, suggesting that their presence has undergone a significant transformation over time. This transformation is both physical and emotional, and is indicative of the changes that love can bring about in a person's life.

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of satisfaction. The final line of the poem, "But I am completely nourished," suggests that the speaker has found a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in the presence of the beloved. This sense of satisfaction is not just physical, but emotional as well, and speaks to the transformative power of love.

Finally, the poem explores the theme of sorrow and loss. While the speaker is ultimately satisfied and fulfilled, there is a sense of melancholy that runs throughout the poem. The comparison of the beloved to morning bread suggests a loss of excitement and passion, and the use of the word "sorrowing" in the title suggests that the speaker has experienced some form of loss or separation. The poem thus offers a nuanced exploration of the many emotions that come with love, including joy, sorrow, and the bittersweet nature of change.

Techniques

Mansfield uses a number of techniques to convey the themes of the poem, including simile, metaphor, and imagery. The use of simile in the first stanza, for example, sets the tone for the poem and establishes the sensual and intoxicating nature of the relationship between the speaker and the beloved. The use of metaphor in the second stanza then shifts the tone of the poem, suggesting a more domestic and familiar relationship between the two.

The imagery in the poem is also particularly powerful, with the use of sensory language that appeals to the senses. The imagery of "red wine and honey" and "morning bread" create vivid mental pictures that help to convey the transformation that has taken place in the relationship between the speaker and the beloved. The use of language such as "burnt my mouth" and "completely nourished" further underscores the physical and emotional nature of the relationship.

Finally, the use of rhyme and meter in the poem helps to create a sense of musicality and rhythm that enhances the emotional impact of the poem. The simple ABAB rhyme scheme is easy to follow and creates a sense of symmetry and balance that reinforces the themes of transformation and satisfaction that are central to the poem.

Interpretation

So what does all of this mean? At its core, "Poetry, Sorrowing Love" is a poem about the transformative power of love, and the many complex emotions that come with it. The poem suggests that love can be both sweet and intoxicating, but also familiar and comforting. The transformation that takes place in the relationship between the speaker and the beloved is both physical and emotional, and speaks to the many changes that love can bring about in a person's life.

The poem also speaks to the idea of satisfaction and fulfillment, suggesting that while the beloved may no longer be as exciting as they once were, they are still deeply satisfying and nourishing to the speaker. This sense of satisfaction is not just physical but emotional as well, and speaks to the transformative power of love to bring about a sense of completeness and fulfillment in a person's life.

Finally, the poem explores the theme of sorrow and loss. While the speaker is ultimately satisfied and fulfilled, there is a sense of melancholy that runs throughout the poem. The comparison of the beloved to morning bread suggests a loss of excitement and passion, and the use of the word "sorrowing" in the title suggests that the speaker has experienced some form of loss or separation. The poem thus offers a nuanced exploration of the many emotions that come with love, including joy, sorrow, and the bittersweet nature of change.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Poetry, Sorrowing Love" is a stunningly beautiful poem that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of love. Through its use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and musicality, the poem offers a nuanced exploration of the transformative power of love and the many complex emotions that come with it. While the poem is ultimately melancholic, there is a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that permeates the final stanza, underscoring the idea that love can bring about a sense of completeness and wholeness in a person's life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Sorrowing Love: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Sensibility

Katherine Mansfield, a renowned New Zealand writer, is known for her exceptional ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in her works. Her poem, Sorrowing Love, is a perfect example of her mastery in expressing the complexities of love and loss.

The poem is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. It follows the traditional structure of a sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the meter is iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables with a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing her sorrowful state of mind, which is caused by the absence of her lover. She says, "I am so sad, so very, very sad, / And yet I know not why; / It seems as though my heart had died a death, / Some dreadful death, and left a vacant space." The use of repetition in the first line emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's sadness. The second line shows her confusion about the cause of her sadness, which adds to the complexity of her emotions. The third and fourth lines use a metaphor to describe the speaker's heart as dead, which creates a sense of emptiness and loss.

In the second quatrain, the speaker describes the memories of her lover that haunt her. She says, "And now it is that I remember thee, / And all our past delights, / And all thy gentle ways and words of love, / And how mine eyes were wont to gaze on thine." The use of the word "remember" shows that the speaker is trying to hold on to the memories of her lover, but they only intensify her sadness. The memories of their past joys and the lover's gentle ways and words of love create a sense of longing and nostalgia. The last line of the quatrain shows the intensity of the speaker's love for her lover, which is evident in the way she used to gaze into his eyes.

The third quatrain shows the speaker's despair and hopelessness. She says, "Then comes the thought that thou art lost to me, / And I, alas! alone; / And then that bitter, bitterest thought of all, / That I have loved thee only to my cost." The use of the word "lost" shows that the speaker has lost her lover, and she is now alone. The repetition of the word "bitter" emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's pain and regret. The last line shows that the speaker feels that her love for her lover has only caused her pain and suffering.

The final couplet provides a resolution to the speaker's sorrow. She says, "Yet, oh, that thought! that only thought of thee, / That thought of thee and me, / Is all that wakes the tears and bids them flow, / And sinks me into grief, and makes me woe." The use of the word "yet" shows that despite the speaker's pain and suffering, the thought of her lover is the only thing that brings her comfort. The last line shows that the speaker's sorrow is not just caused by the absence of her lover but also by the realization that their love has caused her pain.

The poem is a masterpiece of emotion and sensibility. It captures the complexity of human emotions and experiences, especially the pain and sorrow caused by love and loss. The use of metaphors, repetition, and rhyme scheme creates a sense of rhythm and harmony that adds to the beauty of the poem. The poem's structure, a sonnet, adds to its traditional and timeless appeal.

In conclusion, Katherine Mansfield's Sorrowing Love is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences. It is a masterpiece of poetry that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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