Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"MADRIGAL" by Richard Aldington is a lyrical and emotive poem that expresses the speaker's intense and unrequited longing for a person of captivating beauty. The poem follows the tradition of a madrigal, typically a short lyrical piece, often about love. Aldington's use of rich imagery and the exploration of unfulfilled desire are characteristic of his poetic style, which often delves into themes of love, beauty, and the pain of longing.

The poem begins with a rhetorical question, "OH, by what rite shall I upbraid / Beauty that will not let me rest?" This opening sets the tone for the poem, revealing the speaker's deep unrest caused by an unattainable beauty. The speaker is searching for a way to confront or challenge this beauty that haunts him, suggesting a mix of admiration and frustration.

Aldington uses vivid and sensuous imagery to describe the object of the speaker's desire: "Those cheeks as fragrantly demure as morn, / And quench the perfume of her flowering breast." The comparison of the beloved's cheeks to the freshness of morning and the description of her as a flower in bloom evoke a sense of delicate, natural beauty, heightening the speaker's sense of longing.

The repetition of "I waked forlorn" emphasizes the speaker's sleepless torment, underscored by the melancholic "lamentation of the rain." The rain serves as a metaphor for the speaker's sorrow, mirroring his internal state of despair and longing.

The poem concludes with the line "But daylight brought no slumber to my pain, / no slumber to my pain." This repetition emphasizes the unrelenting nature of the speaker's suffering. The transition from night to day does not bring relief; instead, the speaker's longing and pain persist, suggesting that the beauty that captivates him is an inescapable force in his life.

In summary, "MADRIGAL" by Richard Aldington is a deeply expressive poem that captures the intensity of unrequited love and longing. Through rich imagery and a lyrical structure, Aldington conveys the speaker's emotional turmoil and his profound admiration for the beauty that both captivates and torments him. The poem reflects on the powerful impact of beauty and the enduring nature of desire.

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