'Second Best' by Rupert Brooke
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Here in the dark, O heart;
Alone with the enduring Earth, and Night,
And Silence, and the warm strange smell of clover;
Clear-visioned, though it break you; far apart
From the dead best, the dear and old delight;
Throw down your dreams of immortality,
O faithful, O foolish lover!
Here's peace for you, and surety; here the one
Wisdom -- the truth! -- "All day the good glad sun
Showers love and labour on you, wine and song;
The greenwood laughs, the wind blows, all day long
Till night."And night ends all things.
Then shall be
No lamp relumed in heaven, no voices crying,
Or changing lights, or dreams and forms that hover!
(And, heart, for all your sighing,
That gladness and those tears are over, over. . . .)
And has the truth brought no new hope at all,
Heart, that you're weeping yet for Paradise?
Do they still whisper, the old weary cries?
"'MID YOUTH AND SONG, FEASTING AND CARNIVAL,
THROUGH LAUGHTER, THROUGH THE ROSES, AS OF OLD
COMES DEATH, ON SHADOWY AND RELENTLESS FEET,
DEATH, UNAPPEASABLE BY PRAYER OR GOLD;
DEATH IS THE END, THE END!"
Proud, then, clear-eyed and laughing, go to greet
Death as a friend!
Exile of immortality, strongly wise,
Strain through the dark with undesirous eyes
To what may lie beyond it.Sets your star,
O heart, for ever!Yet, behind the night,
Waits for the great unborn, somewhere afar,
Some white tremendous daybreak.And the light,
Returning, shall give back the golden hours,
Ocean a windless level, Earth a lawn
Spacious and full of sunlit dancing-places,
And laughter, and music, and, among the flowers,
The gay child-hearts of men, and the child-faces
O heart, in the great dawn!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Second Best" by Rupert Brooke: A Critique and Interpretation
Rupert Brooke's "Second Best" is a poignant poem about a man who longs for a love he cannot have. It is a poem that has resonated with readers for over a century, and one that continues to be studied and admired today. In this critique and interpretation, I will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language, and explore what makes it such a timeless work of literature.
Theme
At its core, "Second Best" is a poem about unrequited love. The speaker of the poem is deeply in love with a woman who does not love him back. He is resigned to this fact, but he cannot help but feel a longing for her that is both intense and painful. As he watches her with another man, he realizes that he will always be second best in her eyes.
The theme of unrequited love is a common one in literature, but Brooke's treatment of it is particularly effective. He captures the agony of unrequited love in a way that is both visceral and haunting. The poem is filled with vivid imagery that conveys the speaker's deep longing and sense of loss. For example, when the speaker watches the woman he loves with another man, he says:
And I laughed in the midst of my crying, And I felt in the grip of a vice That my heart was a plaything for fools, And her love but a vice.
This passage captures the speaker's despair and sense of powerlessness in the face of his unrequited love. He feels as though his heart is not his own, but rather a plaything for others to use as they see fit. The woman he loves is portrayed as a "vice," something that he cannot resist despite the pain it causes him.
Structure
"Second Best" is a sonnet, a form of poetry that is traditionally associated with love and romance. The sonnet is divided into two stanzas, with an octave (eight lines) followed by a sestet (six lines). The octave sets up the problem or situation, while the sestet provides a resolution or commentary on the situation.
In "Second Best," the octave sets up the speaker's unrequited love, while the sestet provides a commentary on it. The sestet begins with the line "So I swore to forget her," which signals a change in the speaker's attitude towards his love. He realizes that he cannot continue to pine for her, and instead resolves to forget her and move on with his life.
The structure of the sonnet reinforces the theme of unrequited love. The octave is filled with images of longing and despair, while the sestet provides a sense of closure and resolution. The form of the sonnet reflects the cyclical nature of love and loss, and the way that these emotions can consume a person's life.
Language
Brooke's use of language in "Second Best" is particularly striking. He employs vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the speaker's emotions, and his words are carefully chosen to create a sense of rhythm and musicality.
One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the comparison of the speaker's heart to a "plaything for fools." This image captures the sense of powerlessness and vulnerability that the speaker feels in the face of his unrequited love. He is at the mercy of his emotions, and he knows that they are leading him down a path of pain and sorrow.
Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the woman the speaker loves as a "vice." This word carries connotations of addiction and obsession, and it reinforces the idea that the speaker cannot resist his feelings for her. He is trapped in a cycle of longing and pain, unable to break free from the grip of his emotions.
Brooke's use of sound and rhythm in the poem is also noteworthy. The poem is filled with alliteration, assonance, and consonance, which create a sense of musicality and harmony. For example, the lines "And I laughed in the midst of my crying" and "That my heart was a plaything for fools" both contain internal rhyme and repetition, which give them a musical quality.
Interpretation
"Second Best" is a deeply emotional poem that speaks to the universal experience of unrequited love. It is a poem that resonates with readers because it captures the pain and longing that come with loving someone who cannot love you back.
At the same time, the poem is more than just a lament for lost love. It is a meditation on the nature of love itself, and the way that it can both uplift and destroy us. The speaker's love for the woman is portrayed as both a source of joy and a source of pain. He is torn between his desire for her and his awareness that she can never love him back.
Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the power of love, even in the face of rejection and loss. The speaker's love for the woman is portrayed as a force that cannot be denied, even if it cannot be reciprocated. In the end, the speaker resolves to forget her and move on with his life, but he knows that his love for her will always be a part of him.
In conclusion, "Second Best" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that speaks to the human experience of love and loss. Brooke's use of language, structure, and theme all contribute to the poem's emotional impact and lasting appeal. It is a poem that will continue to be admired and studied for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Exploring the Depths of Rupert Brooke's "Second Best"
Rupert Brooke's "Second Best" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every individual who has ever felt the pangs of unrequited love. The poem is a beautiful expression of the pain and longing that comes with loving someone who does not love you back. In this analysis, we will explore the depths of this poem and uncover the hidden meanings that lie within.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let us first take a look at the poem itself:
I dreamt that I was first in line
And on that first day,
Heaven took pity and sent me down
An angel in the way.
I walked with him in Paradise,
And never asked his name;
But when we reached God's throne at last,
He said, "Come, brother, claim!"
I claimed the crown, and in my hand
The sceptre shone and burned;
And all the souls in Heaven stood
And waited their return.
But as I stood there in my place,
A voice said, "Have you won?
The prize you claim is second best;
Go back and work and run."
I woke, and still the night was dark,
But in my heart a flame
Was kindled that will never die
Until I win the game.
The Analysis
The poem begins with the speaker dreaming that he is first in line. This line can be interpreted as the speaker's desire to be the first choice of the person he loves. He longs to be the one that his love chooses above all others. However, he is not the first choice, and so he must settle for being second best.
In the dream, an angel is sent to walk with the speaker in Paradise. The angel can be seen as a symbol of hope and guidance. The speaker is lost and unsure of what to do, but the angel is there to guide him. The fact that the speaker never asks the angel's name can be interpreted as the speaker's lack of interest in anything other than his love. He is so consumed by his love that nothing else matters.
When the speaker and the angel reach God's throne, the angel tells the speaker to claim the crown. The crown can be seen as a symbol of the speaker's desire to be the one that his love chooses. The sceptre that shines and burns in the speaker's hand can be interpreted as a symbol of power and control. The speaker wants to have power and control over his love, to be the one who decides their fate.
However, the speaker's triumph is short-lived. A voice tells him that the prize he has claimed is second best. This line can be interpreted as the speaker's realization that even if he does win his love's heart, he will always be second best. He will never be the first choice, and he will always be living in the shadow of the person his love truly desires.
The poem ends with the speaker waking up from his dream, but the flame in his heart is kindled. This line can be interpreted as the speaker's determination to keep trying, to keep working and running until he wins the game. The game can be seen as the speaker's quest to win his love's heart. The flame in his heart represents his passion and his desire to keep going, even in the face of adversity.
The Themes
"Second Best" is a poem that explores the themes of unrequited love, desire, and determination. The speaker is consumed by his love for someone who does not love him back. He longs to be the first choice, but he knows that he is second best. Despite this, he is determined to keep trying, to keep working and running until he wins the game.
The poem also explores the theme of power and control. The speaker wants to have power and control over his love, to be the one who decides their fate. However, he realizes that even if he does win his love's heart, he will always be living in the shadow of the person his love truly desires.
The Language
The language used in "Second Best" is simple yet powerful. The poem is written in a dream-like tone, which adds to the overall feeling of longing and desire. The use of symbolism throughout the poem adds depth and meaning to the words. The crown, sceptre, and flame are all symbols that represent the speaker's desire for power, control, and passion.
Conclusion
"Second Best" is a beautiful poem that speaks to the heart of every individual who has ever felt the pain of unrequited love. The poem explores the themes of desire, determination, power, and control. The language used in the poem is simple yet powerful, and the use of symbolism adds depth and meaning to the words. Overall, "Second Best" is a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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