Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Samuel Daniel (1562-1619) was an English poet and playwright of the Elizabethan era. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Daniel was known for his sonnets, which were influenced by the Italian poet Petrarch. "If this be love, to draw a weary breath" is one of his most famous sonnets, and is often anthologized in collections of English poetry.

Content:

"If this be love, to draw a weary breath" is a sonnet that explores the speaker's feelings of exhaustion and despair in the face of unrequited love. The poem is divided into two quatrains and a sestet, with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efefgg.

In the first quatrain, the speaker describes the physical and emotional toll that unrequited love has taken on him. He says that love is supposed to bring joy and happiness, but instead it has left him feeling tired and sad. He compares his experience to being in a dark and lonely place.

In the second quatrain, the speaker wonders if this is what love is supposed to feel like, or if he is simply misunderstanding the nature of love. He suggests that perhaps love is meant to be a painful and difficult experience.

The sestet offers a resolution to the speaker's doubts and fears. He concludes that if this is indeed what love is, then he will accept it and endure it. He says that he would rather suffer the pain of love than live without it.

Form:

The poem follows the traditional structure of an English sonnet, with fourteen lines divided into two quatrains and a sestet. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efefgg, and the meter is iambic pentameter.

Poetic Elements:

The poem makes use of several poetic techniques, including imagery and metaphor. The speaker compares his experience of love to being lost in a dark and lonely place, which creates a vivid image in the reader's mind. He also uses the metaphor of love as a "sickness" that drains his energy and leaves him feeling weak.

Summary:

"If this be love, to draw a weary breath" is a poignant and powerful sonnet that captures the pain and despair of unrequited love. The poem is well-crafted, with a strong and consistent rhyme scheme and meter. Daniel's use of imagery and metaphor adds depth and richness to the poem, and his exploration of the nature of love is thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. Overall, the poem is a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of hardship and pain.

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