Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "Confession" by Charles d'Orléans is a vivid portrayal of the internal emotional landscape associated with a small but poignant act: stealing a kiss "of grete sweteness." The poem captures a moment of internal moral struggle, operating in a space that is both intimate and universally human. Written in a confessional tone, the speaker turns to his "gostly fader," or spiritual father, revealing his act first to God and then to the confessor. The structure of the poem reflects the Catholic sacrament of confession, emphasizing the speaker's religious and moral dilemma.

The poem operates on multiple levels of tension. First, there's the tension between the act itself-stealing a kiss-and the regret that follows. This is complicated by the speaker's acknowledgment that the act "don was out aviseness," or without forethought, yet is now irrevocable: "hit is doon not undoon now." Here, d'Orléans confronts the permanence of human actions, even those committed in moments of spontaneity.

The poem is also characterized by a tension between earthly and divine love. The stolen kiss is an act of earthly passion, yet its confession turns it into a spiritual matter. The speaker's guilt and regret elevate the act from a simple emotional or physical response to a moral or even theological concern, demanding spiritual counsel and absolution.

One might see in this confession an undertone of the era's chivalric codes, which set rigid rules for interactions between men and women. The act of stealing a kiss without permission would have been a violation of these norms. The speaker's subsequent guilt and the decision to confess reflect the prevailing social mores of the time, particularly the sanctity and formality with which relationships and personal interactions were regarded.

The poem's language, full of archaisms, situates it in its historical context, echoing the mores and religious atmosphere of the 15th century. Yet its themes are timeless. Who has not felt regret for an act committed in the heat of the moment? Who has not grappled with the moral implications of their actions, however small they may be?

In terms of structure, the poem is a rondel, a form often employed by d'Orléans. The repetition of the refrain "My gostly fader, I me confesse, / First to God and then to you" underscores the speaker's internal turmoil, highlighting the cyclical nature of guilt and the ongoing need for absolution and forgiveness.

Overall, "Confession" serves as a window into the complexities of human emotion, moral integrity, and the ever-present tension between earthly desires and spiritual obligations. It's a testament to the universal human experience of guilt and the quest for forgiveness, themes that resonate across centuries and cultures.

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