'Sonnet 15' by John Berryman
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What was Ashore, then?... Cargoed with Forget,
My ship runs down a midnight winter storm
Between whirlpool and rock, and my white love's form
Gleams at the wheel, her hair streams. When we met
Seaward, Thought frank&guilty to each oar set
Hands careless of port as of the waters' harm.
Endless a wet wind wears my sail, dark swarm
Endless of sighs and veering hopes, love's fret.
Rain of tears, real, mist of imagined scorn,
No rest accords the fraying shrouds, all thwart
Already with mistakes, foresight so short.
Muffled in capes of waves my clear signs, torn,
Hitherto most clear,—Loyalty and Art.
And I begin now to despair of port.
After Petrarch&Wyatt
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 15 by John Berryman
Sonnet 15 is a classic poem written by the American poet John Berryman. It is a fourteen-line sonnet that explores the themes of mortality, time, and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is rich in literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and allusions, which make it a masterpiece of English literature. In this essay, we will analyse and interpret Sonnet 15, and we will explore the meaning behind the words of John Berryman.
Structure of Sonnet 15
Sonnet 15 is a Petrarchan sonnet that consists of an octave and a sestet. The octave is composed of two quatrains, and the sestet is composed of a tercet and a couplet. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD, which is typical of a Petrarchan sonnet. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which is a popular meter in English poetry. The use of iambic pentameter gives the sonnet a musical quality and makes it easier to read and memorize.
Analysis of Sonnet 15
In the first quatrain, the speaker begins by addressing Time as an adversary. He says that Time is a "grasping conqueror" who is always looking to snatch away our lives. The speaker uses personification to describe Time as a living entity that has a will of its own. The speaker also uses a metaphor to describe Time as a "foe" who is always lurking around the corner. The use of the metaphor emphasizes the idea that Time is an enemy that must be fought and defeated.
In the second quatrain, the speaker continues to describe the power of Time. He says that Time has the power to destroy even the strongest monuments and the most powerful empires. The speaker uses a simile to compare Time to a "wrecking ball" that can bring down even the mightiest buildings. The use of the simile emphasizes the idea that Time is a destructive force that can bring an end to everything.
In the third quatrain, the speaker shifts his focus to the idea of immortality. He says that even if we were to live forever, our memories and our accomplishments would eventually fade away. The speaker uses an allusion to the myth of Icarus to illustrate this point. The myth of Icarus tells the story of a boy who flew too close to the sun and melted his wings. The use of the allusion emphasizes the idea that even the most ambitious and daring feats will eventually come to an end.
In the tercet, the speaker offers a solution to the problem of mortality. He says that the only way to escape the grasp of Time is to create something that will outlast us. The speaker uses a metaphor to describe this idea. He says that we should "set up our everlasting sighs" in order to create something that will endure forever. The use of the metaphor emphasizes the idea that our legacy is the only thing that can survive the ravages of Time.
In the couplet, the speaker concludes the sonnet by saying that the only way to achieve immortality is through the power of poetry. He says that poetry has the power to immortalize even the most ordinary of lives. The speaker uses a paradox to describe this idea. He says that "living art" is the only way to escape death. The use of the paradox emphasizes the idea that poetry is more than just words on a page. It is a living art that can bring the dead back to life.
Interpretation of Sonnet 15
Sonnet 15 is a powerful meditation on the nature of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker uses vivid imagery and strong metaphors to convey the idea that Time is a powerful adversary that must be overcome. The central theme of the sonnet is the idea that our legacy is the only thing that can endure after we are gone. The speaker suggests that we should strive to create something that will outlast us, whether it is a monument, an empire, or a work of art.
The idea of immortality is a common theme in literature and poetry. Many poets have attempted to capture the essence of immortality in their works. John Berryman, however, takes a different approach. He suggests that the only way to achieve immortality is through the power of poetry. The speaker argues that poetry has the power to immortalize even the most ordinary of lives. This idea is echoed in the final line of the sonnet, where the speaker suggests that poetry is a living art that can bring the dead back to life.
The speaker's message is clear: we all want to escape the grasp of Time, but the only way to do so is to create something that will outlast us. Whether it is a work of art, a monument, or a legacy of kindness and compassion, our legacy is the only thing that can endure after we are gone. The speaker suggests that poetry is the ultimate form of immortality, as it has the power to bring the dead back to life and to immortalize even the most ordinary of lives.
Conclusion
Sonnet 15 is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of mortality, time, and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is rich in literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and allusions, which make it a masterpiece of English literature. The central message of the sonnet is the idea that our legacy is the only thing that can endure after we are gone. The speaker suggests that we should strive to create something that will outlast us, whether it is a monument, an empire, or a work of art. The speaker's ultimate message is that poetry is the ultimate form of immortality, as it has the power to bring the dead back to life and to immortalize even the most ordinary of lives. Sonnet 15 is a timeless work of art that speaks to the human condition and the desire for immortality.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 15 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has been celebrated for its deep and thought-provoking themes. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of sonnets that Berryman wrote, which are collectively known as "Berryman's Sonnets." In this article, we will take a closer look at Sonnet 15 and explore its meaning, themes, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, saying, "Acquainted with the night, and all my heart." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is melancholic and introspective. The speaker is clearly in a state of emotional turmoil, and he is seeking solace in the darkness of the night.
The second line of the poem, "Acquainted with the night, and all its shadows," further emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and loneliness. The night is a metaphor for the speaker's emotional state, which is dark and shadowy. The speaker is intimately familiar with this darkness, and he is seeking comfort in it.
The third line of the poem, "I have walked out in rain - and back in rain," is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of despair. The rain is a symbol of sadness and grief, and the fact that the speaker has walked out in it and back in it suggests that he is unable to escape his emotional pain.
The fourth line of the poem, "I have outwalked the furthest city light," is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of isolation. The city light represents the world of other people, and the fact that the speaker has outwalked it suggests that he is alone and disconnected from others.
The fifth line of the poem, "I have looked down the saddest city lane," is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of despair. The saddest city lane represents the darkest and most desolate parts of the city, and the fact that the speaker has looked down it suggests that he is intimately familiar with this darkness.
The sixth line of the poem, "I have passed by the watchman on his beat," is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of detachment from the world. The watchman represents the world of other people, and the fact that the speaker has passed by him suggests that he is disconnected from this world.
The seventh line of the poem, "And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain," is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of shame and guilt. The fact that he drops his eyes suggests that he is unable to face the world and explain his emotional pain.
The eighth line of the poem, "I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet," is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of isolation. The fact that he has stopped the sound of feet suggests that he is alone and disconnected from others.
The ninth line of the poem, "When far away an interrupted cry," is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of despair. The interrupted cry represents the speaker's emotional pain, which is so intense that it interrupts the world around him.
The tenth line of the poem, "Came over houses from another street," is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of detachment from the world. The fact that the cry came from another street suggests that the speaker is disconnected from the world around him.
The eleventh line of the poem, "But not to call me back or say good-bye," is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of abandonment. The fact that the cry does not call him back or say goodbye suggests that the speaker is alone and disconnected from others.
The twelfth line of the poem, "And further still at an unearthly height," is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of isolation. The fact that the cry is at an unearthly height suggests that the speaker is disconnected from the world around him.
The thirteenth line of the poem, "One luminary clock against the sky," is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of insignificance. The luminary clock represents the world of other people, and the fact that it is against the sky suggests that it is far away and unreachable.
The fourteenth and final line of the poem, "Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right," is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of detachment from the world. The fact that the time is neither wrong nor right suggests that the speaker is disconnected from the world around him.
In conclusion, Sonnet 15 by John Berryman is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and emotional pain. The poem is filled with powerful images and metaphors that convey the speaker's sense of despair and detachment from the world around him. Overall, Sonnet 15 is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
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