Sonnet 22 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares:

Defoliation

Flowing music of winds and clouds advance

Around rivers that run throuhg earth's bosom

And in the banks where flowers take their chance

Feelings of withering shake the bottom.

With open eyes, my thoughts rise to the sounds

Smelling sacrifice and defoliants 6

For those trees that gave smiles to men with boughs

And stood against storms with strength of giants.

I feel desires of running in the weild

Naked, without heart, with only a song:

To become one of them, a little child

Begging compassion for this nature 's throng.

And where will we sad creatures come to sing

In future days of almost fading Spring?

***

6-. defoliant= Chemical spray that strips growing plants of

their leaves.

Sonnet written by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares. Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com

Image by Leonardo.ai

Analysis of "Defoliation"

Sonnet 22 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "Defoliation," is a reflection on the relationship between humans and nature, particularly focusing on the impact of human actions on the environment. The sonnet is structured in the traditional Shakespearean format, with three quatrains and a final rhymed couplet.

In the first quatrain, the poet describes the natural world, with winds, clouds, and rivers flowing through the earth. The mention of flowers taking their chance on the banks suggests the delicate balance of life and the struggle for survival in nature.

The second quatrain introduces the human element, as the speaker's thoughts turn to the sacrifices made by trees for the benefit of humans. The use of the word "defoliants" (line 6) refers to chemicals that strip plants of their leaves, highlighting the destructive impact of human actions on the environment. The trees are personified as giants, emphasizing their strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

In the third quatrain, the speaker expresses a desire to become one with nature, running naked and heartless in the wild. This longing for unity with the natural world is contrasted with the image of a child begging for compassion, suggesting that humans should be more empathetic towards the environment.

The final couplet poses a question about the future, asking where humans will find solace and inspiration when the beauty of nature has been destroyed by their actions. The phrase "almost fading Spring" (line 14) implies that the natural world is on the brink of collapse, and the speaker wonders what will remain for future generations.

Overall, "Defoliation" is a poignant reflection on the consequences of human actions on the environment, urging readers to consider their impact on the natural world and to seek a more harmonious relationship with nature. (GPT4)

Analyze the rhyme of the poem in detail

"Defoliation" follows the rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet, which consists of three quatrains and a final rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG. Let's analyze the rhyme in detail:

A: advance (line 1)

B: bosom (line 2)

A: chance (line 3)

B: bottom (line 4)

C: sounds (line 5)

D: defoliants (line 6)

C: boughs (line 7)

D: giants (line 8)

E: weild (line 9)

F: song (line 10)

E: child (line 11)

F: throng (line 12)

G: sing (line 13)

G: Spring (line 14)

In each quatrain, the first and third lines rhyme with each other (A and A), and the second and fourth lines rhyme with each other (B and B). This pattern continues through the first three quatrains with different rhyming sounds (C and D in the second quatrain, E and F in the third quatrain).

The final couplet features two lines that rhyme with each other (G and G), providing a sense of closure and resolution to the poem.

It's worth noting that some of the rhymes in the poem are not perfect rhymes, such as "weild" (line 9) and "child" (line 11), which are more like slant rhymes. This can add a sense of tension or dissonance to the poem, reflecting the theme of the strained relationship between humans and nature. (GPT4)

Count the syllables of each line of the poem

(www.howmanysyllables.com)

Defoliation

10 Flowing music of winds and clouds advance

10 Around rivers that run throuhg earth's bosom

10 And in the banks where flowers take their chance

10 Feelings of withering shake the bottom.

10 With open eyes, my thoughts rise to the sounds

10 Smelling sacrifice and defoliants

10 For those trees that gave smiles to men with boughs

10 And stood against storms with strength of giants.

10 I feel desires of running in the weild

10 Naked, without heart, with only a song:

10 To become one of them, a little child

10 Begging compassion for this nature 's throng.

10 And where will we sad creatures come to sing

10 In future days of almost fading Spring?

What other analysis is worth doing on the poem?

In addition to the rhyme scheme and thematic analysis, there are several other aspects of the poem worth analyzing:

1-. Imagery: Examine the vivid images and sensory details the poet uses to convey the beauty of nature and the destructive impact of human actions. For example, the "flowing music of winds and clouds" (line 1) and the "withering" feelings (line 4) create contrasting images of harmony and decay.

2-. Personification: Analyze the instances of personification in the poem, such as the trees that "gave smiles to men with boughs" (line 7) and "stood against storms with strength of giants" (line 8). Consider how these personifications contribute to the poem's overall message about the relationship between humans and nature.

3-. Tone and mood: Explore the tone and mood of the poem, which shift from a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature to a more somber and reflective tone as the speaker contemplates the consequences of human actions on the environment.

4-. Diction and word choice: Analyze the poet's choice of words and phrases, such as "defoliants" (line 6) and "almost fading Spring" (line 14), which emphasize the destructive impact of human actions on the environment. Consider how the diction contributes to the poem's overall theme and message.

5-. Structure and form: Examine the poem's structure as a Shakespearean sonnet and consider how this form contributes to the poem's meaning. For example, the three quatrains can be seen as presenting different aspects of the relationship between humans and nature, while the final couplet offers a concluding reflection on the consequences of this relationship.

6-. Alliteration and assonance: Identify instances of alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds) and assonance (repetition of vowel sounds) in the poem, and consider how these poetic devices contribute to the poem's overall sound and rhythm. For example, the alliteration in "winds and clouds" (line 1) and "strength of giants" (line 8) adds a musical quality to the poem.

By exploring these additional aspects of the poem, you can gain a deeper understanding of the poet's intentions and the various techniques used to convey the poem's message about the relationship between humans and nature. (GPT4)