Can anyone shed some light on this poem? It's getting late, and I have a rather critical essay to write, with not much inspirationto help me through. Just a paraphrase - I'm not looking for in depth analysis - I just want to know what's going on!
Let's take a look of the poem:
Song
by Emily Jane Brontė
The linnet in the rocky dells,
The moor - lark in the air,
The bee among the heather - bells
That hide my lady fair:
The wild deer browse above her breast;
The wild birds raise their brood;
And they, her smiles of love caressed,
Have left their solitude!
I ween, that when the grave's dark wall
Did first her form retain,
They thought their hearts could ne'er recall
The light of joy again.
They thought the tide of grief would flow
Unchecked through future years,
But where is all their anguish now,
And where are all their tears?
Well, let them fight for Honour's breath,
Or Pleasure's shade pursue -
The Dweller in the land of Death
Is changed and careless too.
And if their eyes should watch and weep
Till sorrow's source were dry
She would not, in her tranquil sleep,
Return a single sigh!
Blow, west wind, by the lonely mound,
And murmur, summer streams -
There is no need of other sound
To soothe my Lady's dreams
Sounds to me like the Lady she speaks of is some lost love, or perhaps a vision of herself at an innocent age.
Les
I ween, that when the grave's dark wall
Did first her form retain,
Well, the lady is dead, that's for sure. Sounds like many mourned her when she died, but time has soothed their pains now, a long time later. Ween meant imagine, or think.
They thought the tide of grief would flow
Unchecked through future years,
But where is all their anguish now,
And where are all their tears?
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? Does the parted soul of the lady experience the same emotions toward those left behind?
She would not, in her tranquil sleep,
Return a single sigh!
Here is a bit of trivia that should get you the A grade. As teenagers, Emily and her younger sister Anne made up an imaginary land somewhere in the North Pacific, which they called Gondal. They wrote lots of adventures involving the people, history, wars, politics and geography of Gondal. In this particular poem, the captain of the Queen's Guards is writing his regrets about the death of the lady he served.
There is a good biography of the three Bronte sisters here:
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Hugh, if Ariadne's instructor is not aware of Gondal, they may not buy your "A" tip, although it seems extremely likely that it is the best possible explanation of the poem.
Les
Post Edited (04-28-04 15:15)