Sonnet V. by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

Sonnet V.

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

Sonnet V.

Sweet Mercy! how my very heart has bled

To see thee, poor old man! and thy gray hairs

Hoar with the snowy blast; while no one cares

To clothe thy shrivelled limbs and palsied head.

My Father! throw away this tattered vest

That mocks thy shiv'ring! take my garment--use

A young man's arm! I'll melt these frozen dews

That hang from thy white beard and numb thy breast.

My Sara, too, shall tend thee, like a child:

And thou shalt talk, in our fire-side's recess,

Of purple pride, that scowls on wretchedness.--

He did not scowl, the Galilaean mild,

Who met the Lazar turned from rich man's doors,

And called him Friend, and wept upon his sores!

Summary

The poem opens with the speaker expressing deep sorrow and compassion upon witnessing an old man suffering in the cold. His heart aches ("how my very heart has bled") as he observes the man with gray hair turned white by the snow and frost. The man appears uncared for, left exposed to the harsh weather, with no one offering him warmth or clothing. His limbs are shrunken, and his head is trembling with age and cold, emphasizing his vulnerability and neglect.

Moved by pity, the speaker urges the old man to discard his ragged clothes, which are inadequate against the cold. The speaker offers his own garment, symbolic of warmth and youthful strength, and volunteers to support the old man with his own arm. He expresses a desire to provide comfort and promises to melt the icy frost that clings to the old man's beard and chills his chest.

The speaker’s compassion extends further as he mentions his beloved, Sara, who will care for the old man tenderly, as one would care for a child. The speaker imagines a warm and loving scene where the old man, now safe and sheltered by their fireside, recounts stories of worldly pride and how it often looks down on the suffering poor.

In the final lines, the speaker contrasts this "purple pride" (a symbol of wealth and power) with the gentle and compassionate nature of Jesus ("the Galilaean mild"). He recalls how Jesus did not turn away from the poor and sick, referencing the biblical figure Lazarus, who was rejected by the rich. Instead of scorn, Jesus welcomed Lazarus with kindness and even wept over his suffering, calling him “Friend.”

Analysis in Detail

Title and Form

The poem is a sonnet, specifically a Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet, consisting of 14 lines divided into an octave (first 8 lines) and a sestet (last 6 lines). This structure allows Coleridge to present a problem or emotional situation in the octave, followed by a reflection or resolution in the sestet.

Themes

Compassion and Mercy: The central theme of the poem is the moral and spiritual virtue of mercy—especially as it is expressed toward the old, poor, and suffering.

Christian Charity: The poem elevates Christian values, particularly Christ-like compassion, as a response to social indifference and pride.

Social Critique: Coleridge subtly critiques the indifference of society (symbolized by "purple pride") towards the poor and vulnerable.

Human Dignity: Even in his suffering, the old man is referred to with dignity and tenderness, especially when the speaker calls him "My Father!"

Line-by-Line Analysis

Octave (Lines 1–8): The Emotional Appeal and Immediate Response

Sweet Mercy! how my very heart has bled

To see thee, poor old man! and thy gray hairs

Hoar with the snowy blast; while no one cares

To clothe thy shrivelled limbs and palsied head.

The sonnet opens with a personified appeal to Mercy—as if it were a divine or virtuous presence the speaker reveres.

The speaker is emotionally affected by the sight of an old man, suffering in extreme cold and neglected by society.

“Hoar with the snowy blast” paints a visual of his gray hair being whitened further by snow—symbolizing both age and the cruelty of nature.

The phrase "no one cares" is a powerful condemnation of society’s apathy.

My Father! throw away this tattered vest

That mocks thy shiv'ring! take my garment--use

A young man's arm! I'll melt these frozen dews

That hang from thy white beard and numb thy breast.

The speaker directly addresses the old man with the intimate and respectful title “My Father!”—suggesting reverence, love, and a shared humanity.

He implores him to discard his worthless clothing and accept warmth and support from someone younger and able.

The imagery of “frozen dews” on the man's beard and breast enhances the sense of physical suffering.

The lines reflect active compassion: not just feeling sorry, but offering comfort, warmth, and aid.

Sestet (Lines 9–14): Compassion at Home and a Spiritual Reflection

My Sara, too, shall tend thee, like a child:

And thou shalt talk, in our fire-side's recess,

**Of purple pride, that scowls on wretchedness.--

The speaker includes Sara, his beloved (likely referencing Coleridge’s wife, Sara Fricker), indicating a shared life of love and kindness.

He imagines the old man sheltered in their home, being lovingly cared for.

“Like a child” emphasizes the reversal of roles—someone once strong and possibly proud, now frail and dependent.

The phrase “purple pride” symbolizes wealth, nobility, or aristocracy—those in positions of power who disdain or ignore the suffering of the poor.

The old man is envisioned as recounting stories of such proud figures who "scowl on wretchedness", highlighting the cruel disconnect between the rich and the suffering.

He did not scowl, the Galilaean mild,

Who met the Lazar turned from rich man's doors,

And called him Friend, and wept upon his sores!

The sestet closes with a reference to Jesus Christ ("the Galilaean mild"), contrasting His gentleness with the harshness of worldly pride.

Coleridge alludes to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31), emphasizing Jesus’s compassion.

Christ welcomes and befriends the poor and afflicted (“called him Friend”) and even shares in their sorrow (“wept upon his sores”), reinforcing the poem’s moral message.

Tone and Mood

The tone is tender, compassionate, and reverent.

There’s a strong moral and emotional undercurrent, conveying the speaker’s empathy and commitment to Christ-like values.

The mood moves from sorrow and discomfort to warmth and hope, culminating in a spiritual reassurance through Christ's example.

Language and Imagery

Coleridge uses vivid visual and tactile imagery—frost, snow, tattered garments, frozen dews—to evoke the harshness of the old man’s condition.

The sonnet balances personal tenderness with universal moral reflection, combining domestic imagery (fireside, family care) with biblical references.

The contrast between “purple pride” and the “Galilaean mild” offers a sharp moral juxtaposition.

Conclusion

Coleridge’s Sonnet V is a powerful poetic reflection on human suffering, mercy, and Christian love. Through the figure of the old man, Coleridge challenges societal indifference and holds up Christ’s compassion as the ideal model for humanity. The poem blends personal emotion, religious faith, and social conscience, making it both a heartfelt plea and a quiet act of protest against neglect and pride.

Paraphrase

Oh, sweet mercy! My heart has truly ached

Seeing you, poor old man, with your grey hair

Turned white by the cold wind and snow—

While no one bothers to give you warm clothes

To cover your frail body and trembling head.

My dear old man, throw away that ragged coat

That does nothing to protect you!

Take my own clothes instead—

Lean on my strong young arm!

I’ll warm the icy frost

That hangs from your beard