Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Child My Choice" is a poem written by Robert Southwell, an English Jesuit priest and poet who lived from 1561 to 1595. Southwell was a Catholic in Protestant England and was arrested and executed for his religious beliefs. He is best known for his religious poems and prose works.

Context:

"A Child My Choice" was written during the Elizabethan era, a time of religious and political conflict in England. Southwell wrote the poem while imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was awaiting trial and execution for his Catholic faith. The poem reflects Southwell's deep religious devotion and his acceptance of his fate.

Content:

"A Child My Choice" is a poem that expresses Southwell's desire for a simple and humble life in service to God. The poem uses the metaphor of a child to represent the speaker's desire to live a life free from the distractions and temptations of the world. The speaker expresses a longing to be close to God and to live a life of piety and devotion.

Form:

"A Child My Choice" is written in a series of nine stanzas, each with four lines. The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme and is written in iambic pentameter. The simple and regular structure of the poem emphasizes the speaker's desire for a simple and humble life.

Poetic Elements:

Southwell uses a range of poetic techniques and devices in "A Child My Choice," including metaphor, repetition, and alliteration. For example, he uses metaphor to describe the speaker's desire to be close to God: "Let folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child." He also uses repetition to emphasize the speaker's longing for a simple life: "My choice, my lot, is best: / My choice, not His that sends."

Summary:

"A Child My Choice" is a powerful and moving poem that expresses Southwell's deep religious devotion and his acceptance of his fate. The poem's use of metaphor and repetition creates a powerful and evocative image of the speaker's desire for a simple and humble life in service to God. Overall, "A Child My Choice" is a testament to Southwell's skill as a poet and his deep faith in God, and a powerful reflection on the nature of faith and devotion.

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