I have to analyze two poems by Tennyson-- "Now sleeps the crimson petal" and "ask me no more". I don't really understand the theme, imagry, etc. of either poem, so if anyone knows that would be great.
Thanks!

There is some information here:

[www.cs.rice.edu] />
and here:

[www.poetrymagic.co.uk] />

Les

It's got 14 lines, but is it a sonnet? Both works are apparently from The Princess, which I have not read.

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;
Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font:
The fire-fly wakens: waken thou with me.

(All the rest of nature is asleep. Let us waken together.)

Now droops the milkwhite peacock like a ghost,
And like a ghost she glimmers on to me.

Now lies the Earth all Danaë to the stars,

(Huh? How is Danae an adjective? We know that Zeus, appearing as a shower of gold, fathered Perseus with Danae, but does that mean the earth fathered/mothered the stars?)

And all thy heart lies open unto me.

Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves
A shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me.

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,
And slips into the bosom of the lake:
So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip
Into my bosom and be lost in me.

-----------------------------

Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea;
The cloud may stoop from heaven and take the shape,
With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape;
But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee?
Ask me no more.

Ask me no more: what answer should I give?
I love not hollow cheek or faded eye:
Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die!
Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live;
Ask me no more.

Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd:
I strove against the stream and all in vain:
Let the great river take me to the main:
No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield;
Ask me no more.

(Apparently a lady refusing a man's advances.)