Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

SONG FOR A DEPARTURE, by ELIZABETH JENNINGS Poet Analysis

"Song for a Departure" is a poem written by Elizabeth Jennings and was first published in 1958 in her poetry collection titled "Song for a Birth or a Death". It is a poem about the feeling of loss and loneliness when someone dear to us departs.

Explanation:

The poem talks about the departure of someone close to the speaker, and the feelings of sadness and emptiness that come with it. The speaker describes the person leaving and how the world suddenly feels quieter and emptier without them. The poem then shifts to the idea that this person will now have their own journey, but the speaker still wishes that they would return.

Poetic Elements:

Enjambment: The use of enjambment creates a flowing, uninterrupted effect throughout the poem.
Imagery: The poem has vivid imagery that creates a strong emotional impact on the reader.
Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "You go" emphasizes the idea of departure and reinforces the feeling of loss.
Personification: The use of personification in the line "The garden is lonely, the trees are bare" creates a sense of desolation and emptiness.
Rhyme scheme: The poem has an ABAB rhyme scheme in each stanza, creating a musical quality.
Metaphor: The image of the "imprisoned heart" represents the speaker's feelings of sadness and loneliness.
Symbolism: The idea of the journey symbolizes the departure of the person and the hope that they will return.

Conclusion:

"Song for a Departure" is a powerful poem that conveys the emotions of loss and loneliness that come with the departure of someone close. The use of vivid imagery, repetition, and metaphor creates a strong emotional impact on the reader. The poem ends on a note of hope, with the idea of the journey representing the hope that the person will return.

Poem Snippet:

"You go, heavy with autumn

And with a pain in your heart.

I listen to the farewell

Of your steps down the path."