Sonnet 38 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies
The slow little lady has only years
To place her weight with each step of her feet
When she roams up and down the shaded street
Each day, after light in the East appears.
She can not afford to think about fears
And this is why she comes outside to meet
The love through people who have something sweet
In glances or warm words to chace her tears.
Tears of solitude will rain on her house
When her maideness returns in a sigh
And on the wall she looks at a picture.
There she performs acts of a youthful spouse
For loved ones are far, live in heavens high
But she still remains from that adventure.
***
Sonnet written by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares. Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com
Image by Leonardo.ai
Analysis of "Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies"
Sonnet 38 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies," explores themes of aging, loneliness, and the search for connection. The poem is structured as a traditional sonnet with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
The poem begins by describing an elderly woman who walks slowly through the streets each day, emphasizing her age and the weight of her years. Despite her physical limitations, she ventures outside to seek human connection and love from those she encounters. The poem suggests that she does this to overcome her fears and chase away her tears.
The second quatrain delves into the woman's emotional state, revealing that she is plagued by loneliness and solitude. The mention of "tears of solitude" and the image of her looking at a picture on the wall suggest that she is reminiscing about her past and the loved ones she has lost.
In the final lines, the poem reveals that the woman's loved ones are now in "heavens high," implying that they have passed away. Despite this, she continues to perform acts of a youthful spouse, perhaps as a way to hold onto her memories and the love she once shared with them.
Overall, "Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies" is a poignant exploration of the human experience of aging, loneliness, and the desire for connection. The poem encourages empathy and understanding for the elderly, who may be struggling with the loss of loved ones and the weight of their years. (GPT4)
Analyze the rhyme of the poem in detail
In "Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, the poem follows a traditional sonnet structure with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. Let's analyze the rhyme in detail by breaking down the end rhymes of each line:
A: years (line 1)
B: feet (line 2)
A: street (line 3)
B: appears (line 4)
C: fears (line 5)
D: meet (line 6)
C: sweet (line 7)
D: tears (line 8)
E: house (line 9)
F: sigh (line 10)
E: picture (line 11)
F: spouse (line 12)
G: high (line 13)
G: adventure (line 14)
The poem consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a final rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme within the quatrains is ABAB, CDCD, and EFEF, creating a sense of continuity and interconnectedness between the lines. The final couplet, with the GG rhyme, provides a sense of closure and resolution to the poem.
It's worth noting that some of the rhymes are not perfect or exact rhymes, such as "house" and "spouse" (lines 9 and 12) or "picture" and "adventure" (lines 11 and 14). These are examples of slant rhymes, which are approximate rhymes where the sounds are similar but not identical. The use of slant rhymes can add a subtle variation to the poem's structure and contribute to its overall musicality.
In summary, the rhyme scheme of "Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies" follows a traditional sonnet structure, with a pattern of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. The use of both perfect and slant rhymes throughout the poem contributes to its musicality and reinforces the themes of aging, loneliness, and the search for connection. (GPT4)
Count the syllables of each line of the poem
(www.howmanysyllables.com)
Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies
10 The slow little lady has only years
10 To place her weight with each step of her feet
10When she roams up and down the shaded street
10 Each day, after light in the East appears.
10 She can not afford to think about fears
10 And this is why she comes outside to meet
10 The love through people who have something sweet
10 In glances or warm words to chace her tears.
10 Tears of solitude will rain on her house
9 When her maideness returns in a sigh
10 And on the wall she looks at a picture.
10 There she performs acts of a youthful spouse
10 For loved ones are far, live in heavens high
10 But she still remains from that adventure.
***
What other analysis is worth doing on the poem?
In addition to analyzing the rhyme scheme, there are several other aspects of the poem worth examining to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and structure:
1-. Imagery: Analyzing the imagery used in the poem can help reveal the emotions and themes the poet is trying to convey. For example, the image of the elderly woman walking slowly down the street, the picture on the wall, and the acts of a youthful spouse all contribute to the poem's exploration of aging, loneliness, and the passage of time.
2-. Diction and word choice: Examining the specific words and phrases used in the poem can provide insight into the poet's intentions and the emotions they are trying to evoke. For instance, words like "slow," "weight," "solitude," and "sigh" contribute to the somber and melancholic tone of the poem.
3-. Tone and mood: Analyzing the tone and mood of the poem can help reveal the poet's attitude towards the subject matter and the emotions they want the reader to experience. In this poem, the tone is reflective and empathetic, while the mood is somber and contemplative.
4-. Metaphors and symbols: Identifying any metaphors or symbols used in the poem can help uncover deeper meanings and themes. For example, the image of the woman performing acts of a youthful spouse could be seen as a metaphor for her longing for the past and her desire to hold onto the memories of her loved ones.
5-. Structure and form: Analyzing the poem's structure and form can provide insight into how the poet has chosen to convey their message. As mentioned earlier, this poem follows a traditional sonnet structure, which is often used to explore themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The choice of this form may be significant in reinforcing the poem's themes.
By exploring these aspects of the poem, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of "Saying Hello To 0ld Ladies" and the themes, emotions, and messages the poet is trying to convey.
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