![]() It has inspired generations of astronomers, scientists and engineers to push the limits of human achievement, such that humanity now has a tiny toehold of experience and knowledge beyond our own planet. Reaching out to the stars symbolises hope and aspiration and human optimism. Even the moon, which is close and therefore less interesting is out of reach to the earthbound human. At night, when you can think deep thoughts, De Profundis, about your place in the universe. ![]() This poem, by Christina Rossetti, is for anyone who looks up at the stars and feels insignificant, overwhelmed, but fascinated by the enormity of the night sky. I think she must have been really in love… Such a place would be a worthy platform from which to proclaim to the world that she is in love. She wishes for a dais hung with silk and precious down ,magnificently carved with images if luxury, with gold and silver everywhere. The second half of the poem expresses the poet’s feelings in a different way. A singing bird, an apple tree laden with fruit, a rainbow -these are all beautiful and gladdening things, but the poet’s heart is even gladder because her love has appeared. In fact, this is reinforced by the first four couplets, each of which begins “My heart is like…”, accumulating the images of beauty, abundance and contentment. The first wo words give a clue as to what is to come, “My heart” might be uplifted by a normal birthday or by the beauty of the world, but it is more likely to be the destination of the emotions of love. Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit But no, we find that being in love is a re-birth, a new birthday for her, hence the outpouring of excitement and wonder. When we see the title, ” A Birthday” we might imagine that it is actually about the poet’s birthday, or the birthday of someone close to her. It is a poem dealing with the exhilaration of being in love (rather than the suffering which we saw in the poem by Garcia Lorca posted here). So perhaps there is n love at the end of the story, but there is a fine poem.Ĭhristina Rossetti’s poetry is often a little melancholy, a little sad, a little wistful perhaps, so it is great to be able to feature one of her poems which bursts with joy and exuberance. Of course, both far and near locations are impossibly inaccessible to the poet as she sits and muses. In the second stanza the poet wonders where her lover might be found, near or far, but emphasizing the far, while in the third stanza, she explores the same question, but here wondering about the near. ![]() ![]() The first stanza focuses on the potential lover and the enigma of their existence or non-existence, ” the face not seen, the voice not heard” etc. There is a pleasing symmetry and progression in this poem. With just the last leaves of the dying year The nightingale sings at night and the beauty of its song makes the short night seem to pass by even faster.Ī simple, but effective poem, to celebrate the beauty of our surroundings and the differences between the seasons.Ī wistful poem of longing for love by Christina Rossetti, expressing the feeling or hope that someone to love must exist somewhere in the world if only he or she could be found.īeyond the wandering moon, beyond the star The lark will sing all day, and we can notice it if we will but be aware. Here is a nice short summer poem, by Christina Rossetti, making us conscious of the length of the days and the nights and the beauty of birdsong, when we open out ears to hear it.Īs we all know, nights are short and days are long in the summer, and this poem celebrates the season, implying we should be outside In the countryside, listening to the birds sing.
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