Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem begins with a description of Apollo's love for Daphne, whom he sees while hunting in the woods. Despite his best efforts to win her over with his music and poetry, Daphne remains indifferent to his advances. She is more interested in the freedom and independence that she enjoys as a nymph of the woods.

Waller then turns to the narrator's own experience of unrequited love. He compares himself to Apollo, who is unable to win the heart of Daphne, just as he is unable to win the heart of his beloved. The narrator reflects on the pain and frustration of being in love with someone who does not return his affections.

However, in the final lines of the poem, Waller offers a glimmer of hope. He suggests that, like Daphne, the narrator's beloved may one day come to appreciate his virtues and return his love. He encourages the narrator to continue to pursue her, even if she is currently unresponsive.

The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABBCCDD, with each stanza consisting of four rhyming couplets. This gives the poem a musical and rhythmic quality that mirrors the subject matter of the poem, which is centered on music and love.

In conclusion, "The Story of Phoebus and Daphne Applied" is a poem that uses the ancient Greek myth of Apollo and Daphne to explore the theme of unrequited love. Waller's use of the myth allows him to explore the universal experience of loving someone who does not return that love. Through his exploration of this theme, Waller offers hope and encouragement to those who find themselves in similar situations, reminding them that even the gods and goddesses of mythology experienced the pain of unrequited love.

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