Since There's No Help By Michael Drayton

 

         The sonnet( 61) 'Since There's No Help' is written by Michael Drayton.  (Click On It ) Who is considered as one of the famous poet of Elizabethan Age after Shakespeare and Sidney. That can be seen in the structure of this sonnet as it follows the format of Shakespearean sonnet. This sonnet is the part of the book named Idea's  Mirrors. Which was published in 1594. Here we shall see the general meaning of the poem.  

          The whole poem is centred around the theme of lovers' separation. Which can be seen in the title too. While reading the sonnet, we come across such words which follows the first person narrative techniques. Here one thing gets clear that it is the feeling of author/ narrator for his beloved.  

Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part; 

  Nay, I have done, you get no more of me, 

 And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart, 

    That thus so cleanly I myself can free; 

        In the very first quatrain poet says to his beloved that 'let's us kiss and part.' It means something has already happened in the past, which we don't know. What we know is that narrator and his beloved both are ready to depart. May be their future is not together. The lover shares his thought regarding his relationship with her. In addition, he is now glad to depart as that will make both of them free from everything. But the tone is full of melancholy. 

  Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows, 

      And when we meet any time again, 

      Be it not seen in either of our brows

    That we one jot of former love retain.  

     However,  the next quatrain has some hope.  Or we can say there's some indirect communication between them which only they can understand. Now, the narrator is ready to shake hands for the last time, probably before escorting her. Who tells his beloved to cancel all past vows.  It means, lovers know that how past memories can affect them.  So it is better to forget everything. Suddenly, there's certain change in tone as writer shows some hope for the future encounter. Again the lover tells his beloved that if they meet in future life, they will pretend as strangers. And for that he provides the reason also. Because, that can help them to reinvent their love for each other.  

Now at the last gasp of love's latest breath, 

When, his pulse failing, passion speechless lies, 

When faith is kneeling by his bed of death, 

And innocence is closing up his eyes,

Now if thou ( You) wouldst, when all have given him over, 

From death to life thou mightst him yet recover.  

    The next stanza sounds more seducing.  But with wooing intent. The lover tells his beloved that the love is almost dead now. There's no more passion.  And he regrets that there's no trust, faith anymore in this relationship. Or we can say that their relationship is without soul now. As we have reached at the concluding part of the poem, similarly, the lover expresses his final words by telling his beloved that the retrieval of this relationship is in the hands of his beloved. Which makes his stand clear.  

     In conclusion we can say that the end of the poem is some how optimistic as the beloved doesn't answer anything. Which makes narrator hopeful to revive his love.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABAB CDCD EFEF GG 

Personifications : "Faith" is kneeling... 

                                 "Innocence" is closing... 

Further Readings : 

 1. Since There's No Help 

           

        

My Friend, The Things That Do Attain by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

              The poem 'My Friend, The Things That Do Attain' speaks about the universal happiness of human beings. In addition, it shows the political influence of that time in which Henry Howard lived. Most importantly, his eminence lies as the founder of English Renaissance Poet and the member of the court life of that British period. In this present poem the narrator describes the elements through which one can attain the happiness in his or her life. Along with his poetic genius, he was a reckless politician with less circumspect and that becomes the reason of his execution by Henry- 8. 

               Inherently Henry Howard was a wealthy lad and that helped him to establish his career in the court life of that time. Unlike his father, he becomes the victim of political upheaval caused by the different parties. Eventually, what we are trying to see is that how Howard draws the attention of audience through his bitter experiences of past life. Furthermore, he provides valid, common, ingredients to seek happiness in this collosal world.  Here we shall see the detailed analysis of each stanza. 

        My Friend, the things that do attain 

            The happy life be these, I find : 

          The riches left, not got with pain ;

      The fruitful ground ; the quiet mind ; 

            The first stanza is focused upon how one can attain sublime happiness in the life by following the shared elements. The narrator describes that to become rich is necessary but the way should be more honest and peaceful. Which draws our attention towards prevailing inequality among the people. Especially economical one. In addition, speaker provides the positive consequences of that honest life. For example, hard work always pays the fruit. As here narrator has mentioned, fruitful ground and quiet mind.  

       The equal friend : no grudge, no strife ;

          No charge of rule, nor governance; 

            Without disease, the healthy life; 

             The household of continuance; 

 

  The next stanza is based on total four elements of one standard life.  The first one is about the importance of true and equal, friendship.  Not only that, the author emphasizes on the true attributes of friendship.  Like,  there shouldn't be any hypocrisy, grudge or strife among the friends. At the very next moment, the poem swings from individualism to utilitarianism.  In order to maintain peace in a country, every nation requires a calm political situation. And to establish that situation, government needs to stop interfering into the private life of common people for their selfish motives. In current time, some of the developing countries are the authentic examples of cruel dictatorship.  The narrator doesn't stop here, now his focus is on person's health.  As a healthy life is considered as the symbol of heaven. When we read about the author, we come to know that how his family plays pivotal role in his political career. Similarly,  the narrator also illuminates the family values and its importance for a  peaceful life. It seems that the poem is following the chronological order, isn't it ? ! 

            The mean diet, no dainty fare; 

          Wisdom joined with simpleness; 

           The night discharged of all care, 

      Where wine the wit may not oppress;     

  The third stanza is directly connected with the human body.  The narrator shares the core values of moderate food. And we know that gluttony is considered as something evil among all scriptures. The prime focus of this stanza is on the simple life and its benefits.  If person follows the simplicity in his life then he may never choose to be relax.  Or we can say person doesn't need to intake wine.  Which is dangerous for human body. So according to the narrator,  one should live more simple life which is full of wisdom. Like, Mahatma Gandhi. When we read books based on his life, it tells that he was a staunch follower of simple life.  That's what makes him great 'Politician.' 

         The faithful wife, without debate; 

      Such sleeps as may beguile the night; 

          Content thyself with thine estate, 

     Neither wish death, nor fear his might.  

  As earlier we have seen that the poem looks like a growing up story.  Likewise, the last stage of this poem takes us towards the blissful end of life. Here, the narrator has a message for a married couple. As the last stanza suggests that faithfulness is the crucial aspects of a spousal life. In addition, poet uses the irony by considering night as something beguile. The last two lines of the poem represents the core knowledge of writer's past life. It tells that once person has his own estate it is better to be content with what he has rather than to be more wolfish.  Not only that, the narrator considers this life more compassionate for everyone. In order to achieve that beauty, people should avoid the fear of death. Because once person win over the fear, he or she  can achieve anything in this world.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABAB CDCD  EFEF GHGH 

                                  4 QUATRAINS 

Ode On Solitude by Alexander Pope

    

   'Ode On Solitude' is a short poem written by Alexander Pope.  ( Click on it)  He was 12 years old while writing this poem. While focusing on its title, it has the word - 'Ode' which means,  A lyrical poem and can have a complex meter. Most importantly it is more like an admiration of something. This ode consist total five quatrains. Which we will see in details.  

        The poem sounds simple in its stature but it contains robust meaning in it. In the very beginning, the narrator familiarizes the reader about the happiness of a person who possesses his own land in a countryside. Here, the anonymous person inherits this  land from his forefathers. In addition the person is content with what he has. For instance the narrator says that there is pure air, green ground and other heavenly things, which is to live with nature, are here to please the person. The narrator describes the solitary life of a person and considers him as a lucky guy.  Which induces the importance of solitude in life. 

          The second stanza focuses upon the daily routine of a common grazier. It shows the independent life of a person. As he doesn't need to go outside to buy milk, bread, clothes and etc,. What we have been told here is that this grazier is far away from madding crowd and to survive, he owns his own herds, which provides milk and attire.  Not only that, he cultivates his own land to get enough yields.  As we move further in this poem, the author emphasizes upon the importance of trees.  Because the same trees becomes the shelter in heat and fire in the winter.

The third phase of this ode takes us into the life of people living in rural area.  Who have nothing to do with the mainstream of nation. They know the alluring desire of city life. However,  the narrator considers them as blessed. It shows the cycle of life. Where everything is connected with each other. For instance, the third stanza speaks about the peaceful, healthy and happy life of countryside. They haven't become the cog in a machine if we say so.  And that's how they are living their austere life.  

     These lyrics connect solitude with the innocence. The narrator describes the another quality of a  solitary life.  The people who have lived in solitude are more patient compared to others as this isolation provides them self introspection.  One can see the powerful insight of the writer as he considers this cycle as a meditation.  And to study hard one needs full isolation where you can obtain peace of mind which helps person to grasp the concept. Moreover, to create something new, a person requires ability to think and which should be free of all other obscurities. 

      The concluding lines are focused on the trivial nature of life. Here writer through the persona of an anonymous person tells us that nothing is stangnant. As a result of it one should live the life at fully. But the person doesn't want to be famous. What he wants is an unlamented death. He knows that how cruel this world is. At the end, the speaker sends one message to the audience. We can say that the last two lines are the epitome of the poem. Which reminds us the different aspects of solitude and loneliness. The narrator says that he is not stone hearted person but sometimes it is more preferable, to reinvent yourself, one should seek the solitude.  

Rhyming Scheme : ABABCDCDEFEFGHGH 

Background of the Poem. ( Click On It)  

Further Readings : ( Click On It ) 

1. Ode On Solitude 

2. Ode On Solitude 

3. Alexander Pope's disability and creativity