Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Book of Airs" is a collection of songs and poems by Thomas Campion, published in 1601. The collection is a fusion of Elizabethan poetry and music, and the songs are written in a variety of forms and meters.

Context:

In the Elizabethan era, music and poetry were closely intertwined, and many poets wrote songs to be sung to popular tunes. Thomas Campion was a poet, musician, and physician, and he used his knowledge of music to create songs that were not only beautiful in their own right but also set to memorable and popular tunes.

Content:

Song 32, titled "Shall I come, if I swim? Wide are the waves, you see," is a dialogue between two lovers. The speaker asks whether he should come to his beloved by swimming across the wide waves. The beloved responds that he need not risk his life in such a way, as she will always love him, no matter how he arrives.

Form:

The poem is structured as a dialogue between two lovers, with the speaker and the beloved alternating lines. The form of the poem is a simple rhyming couplet, with each couplet containing a complete thought. The poem also features repetition, as the phrase "Wide are the waves, you see" is repeated several times, emphasizing the speaker's trepidation at the thought of swimming across the sea.

Poetic Elements:

The poem makes use of several poetic devices, including repetition, alliteration, and metaphor. The repeated phrase "Wide are the waves, you see" creates a sense of unease and anxiety, while the alliteration in "frail flesh" and "silly soul" emphasizes the vulnerability of the speaker. The metaphor of swimming across the sea suggests the perilous nature of the journey, while the final metaphor of arriving on the shore of love creates a sense of hope and optimism.

Summary:

"Shall I come, if I swim? Wide are the waves, you see" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the anxieties and hopes of two lovers. The dialogue format allows the poem to explore the thoughts and emotions of both characters, and the use of poetic devices adds depth and complexity to the work. The poem is a testament to Campion's skill as both a poet and a musician, and it remains a beloved work of Elizabethan literature.

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