Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Sonnet to George Sand: 2. A Desire is a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, written in the form of a sonnet, and addressed to George Sand, a French novelist and feminist. The poem was written in 1844, during the time when Barrett Browning was living in Italy with her husband Robert Browning.

In this sonnet, Barrett Browning expresses her admiration for Sand and her desire to have the same freedom and courage as Sand had in pursuing her own ambitions and dreams. The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging Sand's accomplishments and her "mighty mind" that has "striven/ Against the stream of this world's baseness." The speaker then expresses her own desire to possess the same strength and freedom that Sand has, saying "O to have such a soul within my side."

The second half of the sonnet shifts to a more personal tone, as the speaker expresses her desire to be able to love as freely and fiercely as Sand. The speaker declares, "O to love as loved thou, Brave and true,/ As she loved thee! Shall I never, never,/ Be as true to my own heart too?"

Overall, the poem expresses a sense of admiration and longing for the strength, courage, and freedom exhibited by George Sand, and a desire to possess those qualities within oneself.

Poetic Essential Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDC DCD.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is one of admiration, longing, and a sense of personal reflection.
• Imagery: There is very little concrete imagery in the poem, but there is a sense of the vastness of the world and the potential for greatness that lies within each individual.
• Language: The language of the poem is simple and straightforward, with a focus on the emotions and desires of the speaker.

In summary, Sonnet to George Sand: 2. A Desire is a poem that expresses admiration for the strength, courage, and freedom exhibited by George Sand, and a desire to possess those qualities within oneself. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet and has a tone of longing and personal reflection. While there is very little concrete imagery in the poem, the language is simple and straightforward, with a focus on the emotions and desires of the speaker.