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LIFE, believe, is not a dream
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day.
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament its fall ?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly !
What though Death at times steps in
And calls our Best away ?
What though sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope, a heavy sway ?
Yet hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfully, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair !
Charlotte Bronte
Read poems about / on: courage, despair, hope, sometimes, believe, sorrow, rain, dream, dark, death, life, spring, rose
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7.9
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(43 votes) |
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Click here to write your comments about this poem (Life by Charlotte Bronte)
Ron Flowers (5/20/2008 9:04:00 PM)
Charlotte, I really like this poem. I like the positive message. It is a poem of hope. |
Michael Pruchnicki (5/20/2008 1:16:00 PM)
Charlotte Bronte could expect no better were she alive today
than the vulgar comment by Shorty and the lazy readers who
can't take the time to read poetry and put their knowledge of
grammar and versification to work!
The poem 'Life' requires three stanzas if the poem is to make sense
In the second stanza beginning 'rapidly' ends with 'they fly'! .
The repetition of adverbs ending in -ly and the verbs 'flit by' and 'fly'
increase the tempo. Read the brief quatrain aloud and you'll note
how quickly it seems to move, just as the days of our life rush by.
The third stanza introduces personification in Death and hope with
her golden wings which are buoyant enough to carry (bear) us up
out of our depression. Two more adverbs 'manfully' and 'fearlessly'
emphasize that we must bear up on the inevitable day of testing
(trial as in a court!) as courage (another personification) can defeat
(quell) despair as brave soldiers overcome an enemy on the battlefield!
Look back to the first stanza where the poet tells us that life is real,
that it is not a dream, an insubstantial thing. She uses the metaphor
of a rainy morning that soon passes, leaving flowers blooming in its
wake, so why shed tears over a little rain? Do not believe those who
see the dark side of life only-those wise people (sages) who are
really blind to the true beauty of life.
All in all, Bronte's 'Life' is a poem well worth reading and making
an effort to understand how a poem is made! |
Read all 7 comments >>
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Charlotte Bronte
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