Love’s Farewell - Michael Drayton
Background
Michael Drayton (1563 - 1631):
- Contemporary of William Shakespeare
- Humble background
- Prolific writer who worked hard at his craft. He
wrote constantly, including a poetic version of
the New Testament, historical romances and
heroic poems
- First poet to write odes in English
- He work was so recognised that he was
accorded the honour of being buried in Poets’
Corner in Westminster Abbey, London
- Renowned for his Pastoral poetry which
idealises rural life
- 1619: He published a series of 63 sonnets (Idea in 63 Sonnets) which are
meant to be read in sequence and are structured as a series of
conversations with his lover. They are about unrequited love.
, Love’s Farewell: Analysis
- Sonnet #61 of the 63 sonnets published in Idea in 63 Sonnets
- The poet writes about the end of the relationship
A Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part,—
B Nay I have done, you get no more of me;
A And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart,
B That thus so cleanly I myself can free;
C Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,
D And when we meet at any time again,
C Be it not seen in either of our brows
D That we one jot of former love retain.
E Now at the last gasp of love's latest breath,
F When his pulse failing, passion speechless lies,
E When faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
F And innocence is closing up his eyes,
G —Now if thou would'st, when all have given him over,
G From death to life thou might'st him yet recover!
Structure:
- Shakespearean Sonnet
- 14 lines in Iambic Pentameter
- 10 syllables per line
- 3 quatrains (unravels poem’s message)
- Rhyming couplet at the end (true purpose of poem revealed)
- Rhyme Scheme: abab cdcd efef gg
Main theme:
- Love
Background
Michael Drayton (1563 - 1631):
- Contemporary of William Shakespeare
- Humble background
- Prolific writer who worked hard at his craft. He
wrote constantly, including a poetic version of
the New Testament, historical romances and
heroic poems
- First poet to write odes in English
- He work was so recognised that he was
accorded the honour of being buried in Poets’
Corner in Westminster Abbey, London
- Renowned for his Pastoral poetry which
idealises rural life
- 1619: He published a series of 63 sonnets (Idea in 63 Sonnets) which are
meant to be read in sequence and are structured as a series of
conversations with his lover. They are about unrequited love.
, Love’s Farewell: Analysis
- Sonnet #61 of the 63 sonnets published in Idea in 63 Sonnets
- The poet writes about the end of the relationship
A Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part,—
B Nay I have done, you get no more of me;
A And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart,
B That thus so cleanly I myself can free;
C Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,
D And when we meet at any time again,
C Be it not seen in either of our brows
D That we one jot of former love retain.
E Now at the last gasp of love's latest breath,
F When his pulse failing, passion speechless lies,
E When faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
F And innocence is closing up his eyes,
G —Now if thou would'st, when all have given him over,
G From death to life thou might'st him yet recover!
Structure:
- Shakespearean Sonnet
- 14 lines in Iambic Pentameter
- 10 syllables per line
- 3 quatrains (unravels poem’s message)
- Rhyming couplet at the end (true purpose of poem revealed)
- Rhyme Scheme: abab cdcd efef gg
Main theme:
- Love
