Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Night is Near Gone" is a Scottish poem by Alexander Montgomerie, a prominent figure in Renaissance Scottish literature. The poem was likely written in the late 16th century, and has been celebrated as one of the finest examples of Scottish literature from that time period.

The poem is a meditation on the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. The first line, "The night is near gone," sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting that the speaker is aware that his time is short. Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, using a series of metaphors drawn from the natural world to convey his thoughts and feelings.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of vivid imagery. Montgomerie employs a range of metaphors and similes drawn from the natural world to convey the fleeting nature of life. For example, in one stanza, he compares human life to a "drooping flower" that is cut down by the scythe of time. In another stanza, he uses the image of a river flowing towards the sea to suggest the relentless progress of time towards death.

In terms of structure, "The Night is Near Gone" is a sonnet, with fourteen lines of iambic pentameter. The poem is organized into two quatrains and a sestet, with the first eight lines exploring the theme of transience and mortality, and the final six lines offering a more hopeful perspective on the passage of time.

The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, with each quatrain following a consistent rhyme pattern. This gives the poem a sense of structure and coherence, and helps to reinforce the themes of transience and mortality that are central to the poem.

In conclusion, "The Night is Near Gone" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of the human experience. Through its vivid imagery and elegant language, the poem conveys a powerful message about the transience of life and the inevitability of death. While the poem is undeniably melancholic, it also contains a sense of hopefulness and acceptance that makes it a timeless meditation on the nature of existence.

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