Am now reading A Little Book of Form by Robert Hass. Hass used to be Poet Laureate of the United States, a prestigious office albeit one whose term only lasts for a year. Based on class lectures he gave, it's idiosyncratic but illuminating, highlighting things that poets used to be expected to know but have grown out of fashion in the past few decades.
Sonnets, for one. There was a time not too long ago when anyone starting on a career as a poet could be expected to struggle with and master the sonnet form, even if they never pursued it again in their life. Now sonneteering is like making wooden barrels by hand. That may be a loss on our part.
Anyway, here's one collected in the book, written by Charlotte Smith. She was an influence on many Romantic poets, coming even a little before William Blake.
"Written Near a Port on a Darkening Evening" (1797)
Huge vapors brood above the clifted shire,
Night on the Ocean settles, dark and mute,
Save where is heard the repercussive roar
Of drowsy billows, on the rugged foot
Of rocks remote; or still more distant tone
Of seamen in the anchored bark that tell
The watch relieved; or one deep voice alone
Singing the hour and bidding "Strike the bell."
All is black shadow, but the lucid line
Marked by the light surf on the level sand,
Or where afar the ship-lights faintly shine
Like wandering fairy fires, that oft on land
Mislead the Pilgrim―such the dubious ray
That wavering reason lends, in life's long darkling way
2 comments:
As you know I don't often think of poetry until I'm actually faced with it. This sounds to be a fascinating overview of poetic forms along with examples. That's only fitting for a master poet of such distinction as Robert Hass.
I liked the sonnet you chose - definitely Shakespearean in style but not like any of the Bard's numerous sonnets - ie, The quality of mercy is not strained, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and.. You know the rest. It was the one of those I had to memorize in high school that I've never quite forgotten.
"Written Near a Port on a Darkening Evening" describes the temporary relief and peace that comes in contemplation of the vast ocean at night. It appears she's describing herself stranded on a lonely beach with no sure path to follow.
Charlotte Smith had such a fascinating career that makes me wonder how much more successful she would have been if not for being subjected to the whims of a spendthrift father and husband. I'm happy to know her work was so well recieved.
btw: Nice subtle title there.
Poetry is something that can enrich your life, mind, and soul. And I too generally forget to enrich myself with it. Hass I don't know too well, although I think one of my textbooks from college had a section on his poetry. He does show that he knows what he's talking about.
Shakespeare's sonnets are widely studied, and for good reason. He had a confident way around them, even though this kind of verse was outside the theatrical realm where he was most at home. He wasn't the first to write them in English, but I do wonder if his apparent interest in Italian topics (Romeo & Juliet, Two Gentlemen, etc.) drew him to the form.
I think you have a good grasp on Smith's theme, what she was going for. You can't tell directly what else she's been thinking about, but this scene on the ocean gives her respite from something.
In childhood she took drawing lessons with the great landscape painter George Smith (no relation as far as I can tell.) It does seem she showed talent from an early age. Of course things went wrong for her in everyday life. At least she'd be somewhat well remembered by posterity.
Thank you. Sometimes desperation works as well as inspiration.
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