Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Rita Dove's "Sonnet," the poet explores themes of grief, loss, and the arduous journey toward healing. The form—a sonnet—lends a structural containment to the emotional breadth of the poem, juxtaposing the form's traditional associations with love and harmony against the speaker's deep-seated sorrow and yearning.

The opening line, "Nothing can console me," sets a tone of absolute despair, which is immediately emphasized by the subsequent images. Dove employs luxurious symbols, such as silk and yellow roses, which traditionally symbolize comfort, beauty, and respect. However, these items are rendered ineffective against the speaker's grief, underlined by the phrase "make skin sigh," suggesting a deep weariness that physical comforts cannot alleviate.

The speaker's sense of self-awareness and introspection is captured in the acknowledgment of others' perceptions: "You can tell me repeatedly / I am unbearable (and I know this)." This realization does not bring solace but instead highlights the isolation felt by the speaker—no external validation or criticism alters her inner state, evidenced by the metaphor "still, nothing turns the gold to corn, nothing is sweet to the tooth crushing in." This metaphor suggests that nothing can transform her current pain into something bearable or sweet; all attempts at consolation are as fruitless as trying to turn metal into food.

The line "I'll not ask for the impossible; one learns to walk by walking," reflects a resignation to the realities of grief. It acknowledges that some processes, like learning to walk, must be accomplished through direct, often repetitive action, hinting at a slow, perhaps painful, path toward recovery. This sentiment introduces a slight shift from complete despair to a recognition of potential, albeit slow, progress.

As the sonnet progresses toward its conclusion, the speaker contemplates a future where the acute pain of loss might lessen: "In time I'll forget this empty brimming, I may laugh again at / a bird, perhaps, chucking the nest - but it will not be happiness, for I have known that." The imagery of forgetting an "empty brimming"—a poignant oxymoron that captures the feeling of being overwhelmed by a void—is powerful. The potential to laugh again at something as simple and hopeful as a bird leaving the nest suggests moments of lightness may return. However, the speaker is clear that these moments will not equate to true happiness, as she has experienced it before and recognizes its absence now.

"Sonnet" by Rita Dove poignantly captures the complexity of enduring grief—the inescapable pain, the slow journey toward adjustment, and the bittersweet moments of future levity that do not compare to past joys. The poem's structure and its lyrical exploration of sorrow and fleeting comfort showcase Dove's ability to convey deep emotional truths within the confines of a traditional poetic form.

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