Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Geoffrey Hill's poem "Sorrel" intertwines themes of memory, nature, and the passage of time, using the image of the sorrel plant—a symbol of commonality and sorrow—as a central motif. The poem’s dense, evocative language draws connections between the natural world and the human experience of memory and loss.

The opening lines establish the sorrel as a "very common and widely distributed" plant, noting its local name, "Sorrow," in parts of Worcestershire. This association with sorrow immediately sets a melancholic tone, suggesting that the sorrel, despite its ubiquity, carries an emotional weight. The phrase "Memory worsening - let it go" introduces the theme of fading memory, implying a struggle to retain or release the past.

Hill then shifts to a vivid depiction of rain, using it as a metaphor for the fluid, often uncontrollable nature of memory. The rain "streams on half-visible clatter of the wind," creating a dynamic, almost chaotic atmosphere. This imagery suggests the fleeting and fragmented nature of recollection, as the wind rises and falls, clouding the "pond's green mistletoe of spawn." The pond, with its mistletoe-like spawn, evokes a sense of life and renewal amid the confusion, while also symbolizing obscured clarity.

The rain continues to seep "among nettlebeds and rust-brown sorrel," highlighting the intermingling of pain (nettles) and sorrow (sorrel) in the landscape of memory. The sorrel, with its rust-brown color, signifies decay and the passage of time, further emphasizing the theme of deterioration. The "perpetual ivy burrowed by weak light" suggests the persistence of memory and sorrow, even in the face of fading clarity and understanding. Ivy, often associated with immortality and fidelity, grows weakly, indicating the struggle to hold onto what remains of the past.

Hill’s description of the "ill-weathering stone" that represents "salvation's troth-plight, plumed, of the elect" ties the natural imagery back to themes of faith and redemption. The stone, weathered by the elements, symbolizes the enduring yet fragile nature of human commitments and beliefs. The term "troth-plight" refers to a pledged faith or promise, often associated with marriage or a solemn vow, suggesting a deep, almost sacred connection to the past. The stone's poor weathering signifies the challenges and wear of time on these promises and memories.

In "Sorrel," Hill masterfully uses natural imagery to explore the complexities of memory, sorrow, and the passage of time. The poem's rich, allusive language invites readers to reflect on how the natural world mirrors the human experience of fading memories and enduring sorrow. The interplay between the common sorrel plant and the themes of loss and redemption underscores the poem's meditation on the inevitability of decay and the persistent, albeit fragile, nature of human remembrance and faith.

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