'Baby Charley.' by Sidney Lanier
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He's fast asleep.See how, O Wife,
Night's finger on the lip of life
Bids whist the tongue, so prattle-rife,
Of busy Baby Charley.
One arm stretched backward round his head,
Five little toes from out the bed
Just showing, like five rosebuds red,
-- So slumbers Baby Charley.
Heaven-lights, I know, are beaming through
Those lucent eyelids, veined with blue,
That shut away from mortal view
Large eyes of Baby Charley.
O sweet Sleep-Angel, throned now
On the round glory of his brow,
Wave thy wing and waft my vow
Breathed over Baby Charley.
I vow that my heart, when death is nigh,
Shall never shiver with a sigh
For act of hand or tongue or eye
That wronged my Baby Charley!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Baby Charley" by Sidney Lanier: A Poetic Masterpiece
"Baby Charley" is a classic poem written by Sidney Lanier, an American poet and musician of the late 19th century. The poem, which was published in 1876, is a tribute to a young child who died prematurely. The poem is deeply personal and emotional, and it showcases Lanier's mastery of the English language and poetic form.
The Emotional Impact of "Baby Charley"
One of the most striking aspects of "Baby Charley" is the emotional impact that the poem has on the reader. From the very first line, Lanier draws the reader in with his vivid imagery and powerful language. The opening stanza reads:
Baby Charley sleeps,
Under the blue,
In a white woolen bed
That somebody knew,
When she made it with hands
That were careful and wise,
For the love that she bore
To our little Charley's eyes.
These lines immediately establish the tone and theme of the poem. The reader is transported to the scene of a sleeping baby, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the loving care of a mother. The use of alliteration and rhyme in these lines further enhances the emotional impact of the poem.
As the poem progresses, Lanier delves deeper into the emotional heart of the subject matter. He writes:
Baby Charley is dead;
Oh, what shall we do?
The door of the sweet
Little life is swung to;
And though we may peer
With our best of sight,
We shall not see Charley
Sleeping to-night.
These lines are heartbreaking in their simplicity and honesty. Lanier captures the grief and loss of a parent who has lost a child, and he does so with a rawness and authenticity that is rare in literature.
The Use of Imagery in "Baby Charley"
Another notable aspect of "Baby Charley" is the use of imagery throughout the poem. Lanier is a gifted poet who is able to paint vivid pictures with his words. For example, he writes:
Baby Charley lies
Under the trees,
And the flowers nod to him
In the summer breeze;
And the birds sing sweet
To our Charley's ear,
Though he cannot wake
To their music clear.
In these lines, Lanier creates a beautiful scene of a sleeping baby surrounded by the beauty of nature. The images of trees, flowers, and birds create a sense of peace and tranquility, which contrasts sharply with the sadness and loss of the poem.
The Structure of "Baby Charley"
Lanier's skill as a poet is also evident in the structure of "Baby Charley." The poem is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The use of this poetic form creates a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem, which is appropriate given the subject matter.
Moreover, Lanier's use of rhyme and meter in "Baby Charley" is masterful. The poem has a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB), which creates a musical quality to the words. Additionally, the meter of the poem is iambic tetrameter, which means that there are four iambs (a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) in each line. This creates a rhythmic structure to the poem that is pleasing to the ear.
The Theme of "Baby Charley"
At its core, "Baby Charley" is a poem about grief and loss. Lanier captures the pain and sorrow of a parent who has lost a child, and he does so with sensitivity and empathy. However, the poem is also about the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.
For example, in the final stanza of the poem, Lanier writes:
Baby Charley, sleep;
The world is so wide,
And the sky is so deep,
And the ocean's so wide,
And you are so small,
Little Charley, that I
Fain would have you in sight,
Lest you should fall
Into some soft cloud
That might chance to be nigh,
Or into the sea
That is deep and wide.
In these lines, Lanier acknowledges the vastness and uncertainty of the world, but he also expresses a desire to protect and care for the child. The use of repetition in these lines ("so wide," "so small") emphasizes the contrast between the child's vulnerability and the enormity of the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Baby Charley" is a remarkable poem that showcases Sidney Lanier's talent as a poet. Through his use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and poetic form, Lanier captures the grief and loss of a parent who has lost a child. However, he also expresses a sense of hope and resilience, reminding us of the power of love to overcome even the greatest of tragedies. "Baby Charley" is a timeless masterpiece that speaks to the human experience in a profound and meaningful way.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Baby Charley: A Masterpiece by Sidney Lanier
Are you a lover of poetry? Do you enjoy reading and analyzing the works of great poets? If so, then you must have come across the classic poem, "Poetry Baby Charley" by Sidney Lanier. This masterpiece is a true reflection of the beauty and power of poetry. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
Firstly, let's take a look at the structure of the poem. "Poetry Baby Charley" is a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final couplet has a rhyme of its own. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and balance, which is fitting for a poem about the beauty of poetry.
Now, let's delve into the meaning of the poem. "Poetry Baby Charley" is a celebration of the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit. The poem is addressed to a baby named Charley, who is described as a "poetry baby" because he is born into a world where poetry is valued and appreciated. The speaker of the poem tells Charley that he is lucky to be born into a world where poetry is cherished, and that he will grow up to appreciate the beauty of poetry.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing Charley directly, saying, "Charley, my boy, my poetry baby." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with affection and admiration for the baby. The speaker goes on to describe the world that Charley has been born into, a world where "the poets are kings" and where "the people are singing." This world is one where poetry is valued and celebrated, and where it has the power to bring people together.
The second quatrain of the poem focuses on the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit. The speaker tells Charley that poetry has the power to "lift up the heart" and to "make the soul sing." This is a powerful statement about the transformative power of poetry, and it speaks to the idea that poetry can help us to connect with our deepest emotions and to find meaning and purpose in our lives.
The third quatrain of the poem is a celebration of the beauty of poetry itself. The speaker describes poetry as "a rose in the garden of thought" and as "a star in the sky of the mind." These metaphors are powerful images that convey the idea that poetry is something that is both beautiful and valuable. The speaker goes on to say that poetry is something that can "light up the world" and that it is "the voice of the heart."
The final couplet of the poem is a powerful statement about the enduring nature of poetry. The speaker tells Charley that even when he is old and gray, he will still be able to appreciate the beauty of poetry. This is a powerful statement about the enduring nature of poetry, and it speaks to the idea that poetry is something that can transcend time and space.
Now, let's take a look at some of the literary devices that Sidney Lanier uses in "Poetry Baby Charley." One of the most striking literary devices in the poem is the use of metaphors. The speaker uses metaphors to describe poetry as a rose, a star, and a voice. These metaphors are powerful images that help to convey the beauty and value of poetry.
Another literary device that Lanier uses in the poem is repetition. The phrase "my poetry baby" is repeated throughout the poem, and this repetition helps to create a sense of affection and intimacy between the speaker and Charley. The repetition of the phrase "poetry baby" also helps to reinforce the idea that Charley is born into a world where poetry is valued and appreciated.
Finally, the rhyme scheme of the poem is a powerful literary device that helps to create a sense of order and balance. The rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG gives the poem a sense of structure and symmetry, which is fitting for a poem about the beauty of poetry.
In conclusion, "Poetry Baby Charley" is a masterpiece of poetry that celebrates the power and beauty of poetry. Sidney Lanier uses powerful metaphors, repetition, and a structured rhyme scheme to create a poem that is both beautiful and meaningful. This poem is a testament to the enduring nature of poetry and its ability to inspire and uplift the human spirit. If you are a lover of poetry, then "Poetry Baby Charley" is a must-read.
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