Sonnet 3 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
With A Tongue Not Written In My Genes
There are many ways that are more artful
In which my love for life I can rehearse 2
Changing in this way what has been adverse
Into those forms that please the beautiful.
One thing perhaps might seem to be doleful
Just one thing that I will try to inhearse. 6
Using the language of the universe
From place to place in ictus plentiful. 8
I know that my children lack divine blood 9
And speak a tongue not written in my genes
Ambitiously hiring to be jehu... 11
They convey joy and sadness of my sod 12
To where each human acme best convenes
Further than dreams of lavish parvenu. 14
***
2- to rehearse = to tell I detail. 6- ....I will try to inhearse=
I will try to forge, I will try to put underground. 8- ictus=
Rhytmical or metrical stress, or accent. 9- Children= the
poet's own verses. 11- jehu = furious charioteer. 12- sod=
dirt, the ashes when someone dies. 14- parvenu= a person
who acquires sudden wealth or power.
Sonnet written by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares. Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com
Image by Leonardo.ai
Copyright 1989
Analysis of "With A Tongue Not Written In My Genes"
"Sonnet 3" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares is a contemplative piece that explores the poet's relationship with language, his creative process, and his legacy. The sonnet is written in a traditional 14-line structure, with a rhyme scheme that appears to be ABBA ABBA CDC DCD, a variation of the Petrarchan sonnet.
The first quatrain (lines 1-4) introduces the idea of the poet's struggle with language and his desire to express his love for life in a more artful way. He seeks to transform adversity into beauty through his words. This could be interpreted as the poet's struggle to find the right words or the right form to express his thoughts and feelings.
The second quatrain (lines 5-8) continues this theme, with the poet expressing a desire to use the "language of the universe" to express his thoughts. The use of the term "ictus" suggests a focus on rhythm and meter, indicating the poet's attention to the musicality of language.
The first tercet (lines 9-11) introduces the metaphor of the poet's verses as his children. They lack "divine blood," suggesting they are not perfect or divine creations, but rather human and flawed. The term "jehu" refers to a furious charioteer, suggesting the poet's verses are ambitious and driven.
The final tercet (lines 12-14) continues the metaphor of the poet's verses as his children, conveying his emotions and experiences to the world. The term "sod" refers to the earth, suggesting mortality and the cycle of life and death. The term "parvenu" refers to someone who has suddenly acquired wealth or power, suggesting the poet's hope that his verses will reach beyond his own life and status.
Overall, "Sonnet 3" is a reflection on the poet's creative process and his hopes for his work's impact and legacy. It explores themes of language, creativity, mortality, and ambition. (GPT4)
Analyze the rhyme of the sonnet in detail
The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is a variation of the Petrarchan sonnet, which typically follows an ABBA ABBA CDE CDE or ABBA ABBA CDC DCD pattern.
In this sonnet, the first quatrain (lines 1-4) follows an ABBA pattern:
A: artful (1)
B: rehearse (2)
B: adverse (3)
A: beautiful (4)
The second quatrain (lines 5-8) also follows an ABBA pattern:
A: doleful (5)
B: inhearse (6)
B: universe (7)
A: plentiful (8)
The first tercet (lines 9-11) follows a CDC pattern:
C: blood (9)
D: genes (10)
C: jehu (11)
The second tercet (lines 12-14) follows a DCD pattern:
D: sod (12)
C: convenes (13)
D: parvenu (14)
This rhyme scheme creates a sense of balance and symmetry in the poem, while also allowing for a shift in tone and focus between the quatrains and the tercets. The ABBA pattern in the quatrains creates a mirrored effect, while the CDC and DCD patterns in the tercets create a sense of progression and conclusion. (GPT4)
Count the syllables of each line of the poem (www.howmanysyllables.com)
With A Tongue Not Written In My Genes
10 There are many ways that are more artful
10 In which my love for life I can rehearse
10 Changing in this way what has been adverse
10 Into those forms that please the beautiful.
10 One thing perhaps might seem to be doleful
10 Just one thing that I will try to inhearse.
10 Using the language of the universe
10 From place to place in ictus plentiful.
10 I know that my children lack divine blood
10 And speak a tongue not written in my genes
10 Ambitiously hiring to be jehu...
10 They convey joy and sadness of my sod
10 To where each human acme best convenes
10 Further than dreams of lavish parvenu.
***
Analyze the aspects that have yet to be analyzed in Sonnet 3
While we have covered the rhyme scheme, tone, imagery, language, and themes of the sonnet, there are still a few aspects that can be further analyzed:
1-. Metaphor: The sonnet is rich in metaphorical language. The poet's verses are referred to as his "children," suggesting a deep personal connection and a sense of responsibility towards his work. The "language of the universe" could be interpreted as a metaphor for a universal, shared human experience that the poet aims to capture in his work.
2-. Symbolism: The sonnet uses symbols to convey deeper meanings. The "divine blood" in line 9 could symbolize perfection or divinity, suggesting that the poet acknowledges the human flaws in his work. The "sod" in line 12 could symbolize the earth or mortality, hinting at the transient nature of life.
3-. Structure: The sonnet follows a traditional 14-line structure, which is typical of the sonnet form. This structure allows the poet to develop his ideas and themes in a concise and focused manner. The shift from the quatrains to the tercets also marks a shift in focus from the poet's struggle with language to his hopes for his work's legacy.
4-. Diction: The poet's choice of words contributes to the overall meaning and tone of the sonnet. Words like "artful," "doleful," and "jehu" add layers of meaning and evoke specific emotions and images. The use of less common words like "inhearse," "ictus," and "parvenu" adds a level of complexity and sophistication to the poem.
5-. Allusion: The sonnet contains allusions to biblical and mythological figures. The term "jehu" is a biblical reference to a king of Israel known for his furious chariot driving. This allusion adds a layer of historical and cultural context to the poem.
By analyzing these aspects, we can gain a deeper understanding of the poet's intentions and the complexities of "Sonnet 3." (GPT4)
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