Sonnet 30 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
Our Earth Sojourns
Our earth sojourns and dreams of evergreen
Each passing day running into havoc
Nostalgically trying to evoke
The celestial garden our place has been.
Dark umbrellas cover this world, so keen
Meant for the screenage of the hearts of rock
And their spores with enough shovels provoke 7
More dimentions toward destructive sheen.
History grows tragic with our error
Of mutual balances of terror
While for the mind there is no more a role...
The belligerent business stockpiles high
Under cordial smiles of leaders that sigh
And look innocent of the peace arms stole.
***
7-. enough shovels = this an allusion to the book, "With Enough Shovels", by Robert Sheer.
Sonnet written by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares. Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com
Image by Leonardo.ai
Analysis of "Our Earth Sojourns"
Sonnet 30 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "Earth Sojourns," is a reflection on the state of the world and the consequences of human actions. The poem is structured as a traditional sonnet with 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter and following an ABBA ABBA CDC DCD rhyme scheme.
The first quatrain introduces the theme of the poem: the earth's journey and its longing for a return to a more idyllic state. The poet describes the earth as "nostalgically trying to evoke / The celestial garden our place has been," suggesting a yearning for a time when the world was more harmonious and unspoiled.
In the second quatrain, the poet introduces the concept of "dark umbrellas," which symbolize the negative forces that have taken over the world. These forces are described as "meant for the screenage of the hearts of rock," indicating that they serve to shield and protect those with hardened hearts. The reference to "enough shovels" in line 7 alludes to the book "With Enough Shovels" by Robert Sheer, which discusses the arms race and the dangerous consequences of nuclear proliferation.
The third quatrain delves into the tragic nature of human history, marked by errors and the pursuit of power through "mutual balances of terror." The poet laments the loss of the mind's role in this world, as it has been overshadowed by the destructive forces at play.
The final couplet brings attention to the hypocrisy of political leaders who maintain a facade of innocence while contributing to the escalation of conflict and the theft of peace. The phrase "peace arms stole" highlights the irony of using weapons and warfare to achieve peace, which ultimately undermines the very goal they claim to pursue.
In summary, "Earth Sojourns" is a poignant reflection on the state of the world, the consequences of human actions, and the longing for a return to a more harmonious and peaceful existence. The poem serves as a critique of the destructive forces that have taken hold of the earth and the hypocrisy of those who perpetuate them. (GPT4)
Analyze the rhyme of the poem in detail
In "Earth Sojourns" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, the rhyme scheme follows the pattern of a Petrarchan sonnet, which is ABBA ABBA CDC DCD. Let's analyze the rhyme in detail:
1. Our earth sojourns and dreams of evergreen (A)
2. Each passing day running into havoc (B)
3. Nostalgically trying to evoke (B)
4. The celestial garden our place has been. (A)
In the first quatrain, the rhyme scheme is ABBA, with "evergreen" and "been" forming the A rhymes, and "havoc" and "evoke" forming the B rhymes.
5. Dark umbrellas cover this world, so keen (A)
6. Meant for the screenage of the hearts of rock (B)
7. And their spores with enough shovels provoke (B)
8. More dimensions toward destructive sheen. (A)
The second quatrain continues the ABBA rhyme scheme, with "keen" and "sheen" forming the A rhymes, and "rock" and "provoke" forming the B rhymes.
9. History grows tragic with our error (C)
10. Of mutual balances of terror (D)
11. While for the mind there is no more a role... (C)
In the first tercet, the rhyme scheme is CDC, with "error" and "role" forming the C rhymes, and "terror" as the D rhyme.
12. The belligerent business stockpiles high (D)
13. Under cordial smiles of leaders that sigh (C)
14. And look innocent of the peace arms stole. (D)
In the final tercet, the rhyme scheme is DCD, with "high" and "stole" forming the D rhymes, and "sigh" as the C rhyme.
Overall, the poem adheres to the Petrarchan sonnet rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDC DCD, which is a traditional structure for this type of poem. (GPT4)
Count the syllables of each line of the poem
(www.howmanysyllables.com)
Our Earth Sojourns
10 Our earth sojourns and dreams of evergreen
10 Each passing day running into havoc
10 Nostalgically trying to evoke
10 The celestial garden our place has been.
10 Dark umbrellas cover this world, so keen
10 Meant for the screenage of the hearts of rock
10 And their spores with enough shovels provoke
10 More dimentions toward destructive sheen.
10 History grows tragic with our error
10 Of mutual balances of terror
10 While for the mind there is no more a role...
10 The belligerent business stockpiles high
10 Under cordial smiles of leaders that sigh
10 And look innocent of the peace arms stole.
What other analysis is worth doing on the poem?
In addition to analyzing the rhyme scheme, there are several other aspects of the poem "Earth Sojourns" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares that are worth examining:
1-. Meter: Analyze the poem's meter, which appears to be iambic pentameter. This means that each line typically consists of five pairs of syllables, with the first syllable being unstressed and the second syllable being stressed. Examining the poem's meter can provide insight into the rhythm and flow of the language.
2-. Imagery: Explore the imagery used throughout the poem, such as "celestial garden," "dark umbrellas," and "belligerent business stockpiles high." Analyzing the imagery can help to uncover the poem's deeper meanings and the emotions it evokes.
3-. Symbolism: Investigate the symbols used in the poem, such as the "dark umbrellas" representing negative forces and the "enough shovels" alluding to the arms race. Understanding the symbolism can provide a deeper understanding of the poem's themes and messages.
4-. Tone: Examine the tone of the poem, which can be described as somber, reflective, and critical. Analyzing the tone can help to reveal the poet's attitude towards the subject matter and the emotions they wish to convey.
5-. Themes: Identify the central themes of the poem, such as the consequences of human actions, the longing for a more harmonious world, and the hypocrisy of political leaders. Understanding the themes can provide a clearer picture of the poem's overall message and purpose.
6-. Diction: Analyze the poet's choice of words and phrases, such as "nostalgically trying to evoke," "mutual balances of terror," and "cordial smiles of leaders." Examining the diction can reveal the poet's intentions and the nuances of their message. (GPT4)
By examining these aspects of the poem, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of "Earth Sojourns" and the poet's intentions, as well as the emotions and messages conveyed through the language, imagery, and structure.
