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

 

Sonnet XX.

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

Sonnet XX.

The piteous sobs that choke the Virgin's breath

For him, the fair betrothed Youth, who les

Cold in the narrow dwelling, or the cries

With which a Mother wails her Darling's death,

These from our Nature's common impulse spring

Unblamed, unpraised; but o'er the piled earth,

Which hides the sheeted corse of gray-haired Worth,

If droops the soaring Youth with slackened wing;

If he recall in saddest minstrelsy

Each tenderness bestowed, each truth impressed;

Such Grief is Reason, Virtue, Piety!

And from the Almighty Father shall descend

Comforts on his late Evening, whose young breast

Mourns with no transient love the aged friend.

 

Summary

The poem begins with a description of deeply emotional and natural expressions of grief. It refers to the piteous sobs of a young woman (the Virgin) who mourns her beloved fiancé, now dead and lying cold in the grave (referred to as the "narrow dwelling"). It also includes the cries of a mother who mourns the death of her beloved child. These examples are presented as natural human reactions, which arise from the basic instincts of human nature. These forms of sorrow, the poet says, are neither blamed nor praised—they are simply understood as natural responses to loss.

The poem then shifts focus to a different kind of mourning: that of a young man who grieves the death of an elderly person of great worth ("gray-haired Worth"). As he stands over the buried body ("piled earth" that covers the corpse), his spirit is downcast, and his usual vigor is weakened ("slackened wing").

If this young man remembers, through melancholic music or poetry, the acts of kindness and truths taught to him by the deceased, then Coleridge describes this grief not as mere emotion, but as something greater—he calls it Reason, Virtue, and Piety.

Finally, the poem ends with the affirmation that such a sincere and lasting sorrow from a young person for an elderly friend will not go unnoticed. It assures that God, the "Almighty Father," will send comfort to the young mourner in his own later years (“his late Evening”), as a kind of divine reward for his heartfelt and enduring grief.

 

Paraphrase

 

1. "The piteous sobs that choke the Virgin's breath"

The sorrowful sobs that make it hard for the young woman (the Virgin) to breathe.

 

2. "For him, the fair betrothed Youth, who lies"

She mourns for her handsome fiancé, who now lies dead.

 

3. "Cold in the narrow dwelling, or the cries"

He lies cold in his grave, in the small space of his tomb, or she cries out in grief.

 

4. "With which a Mother wails her Darling's death,"

Like a mother who cries out for the loss of her beloved child.

 

5. "These from our Nature's common impulse spring"

These reactions are natural to human nature—they come from deep, instinctive feelings.

 

6. "Unblamed, unpraised;"

These feelings are neither criticized nor praised; they are simply understood as part of life.

 

7. "But o'er the piled earth, Which hides the sheeted corse of gray-haired Worth,"

But when the body of an elderly, respected person is buried, covered by the earth...

 

8. "If droops the soaring Youth with slackened wing;"

If a young man, once full of life and energy, is weighed down with sorrow and despair...

 

9. "If he recall in saddest minstrelsy"

If he remembers the kind acts and wisdom of the deceased with a sad, musical tune (perhaps through poetry or song)...

 

10. "Each tenderness bestowed, each truth impressed;"

He remembers every kindness and every truth that the elderly person gave to him.

 

11. "Such Grief is Reason, Virtue, Piety!"

This grief is not just sorrow—it is a sign of wisdom (Reason), goodness (Virtue), and reverence (Piety).

 

12. "And from the Almighty Father shall descend"

And from God, the Almighty Father, will come...

 

13. "Comforts on his late Evening, whose young breast"

Comfort will come in the later years of the young man’s life.

 

14. "Mourns with no transient love the aged friend."

Comfort will come to the young man who mourns the death of his elderly friend, not out of fleeting affection, but out of true, lasting love.

 

Analysis in Detail

Line 1: "The piteous sobs that choke the Virgin's breath"

This line introduces the emotional weight of grief. The Virgin (a young, unmarried woman) is overwhelmed with sorrow, so much so that her sobs choke her ability to breathe. The word “piteous” conveys the extreme nature of her grief, as she mourns the death of her fiancé, who had a promising life ahead of him. Coleridge uses vivid imagery to emphasize the intensity of the emotion.

 

Line 2: "For him, the fair betrothed Youth, who lies"

Here, the poet reveals the reason for the Virgin's grief: her betrothed—her fiancé, described as fair (handsome, promising)—is dead. The emphasis on youth suggests the tragedy of the loss, especially since it is untimely.

 

Line 3: "Cold in the narrow dwelling, or the cries"

The phrase "cold in the narrow dwelling" refers to the fiancé’s death and burial, where his body is now cold in the grave—a narrow space, a simple tomb. The word “narrow” also hints at the limitations of human life and death. The cries here again symbolize the overwhelming sorrow of the mourning loved ones.

 

Line 4: "With which a Mother wails her Darling's death,"

This line contrasts the earlier mention of the Virgin with the image of a Mother mourning the loss of her darling child. The Mother's wail suggests the most basic, universal expression of grief—a mother’s love for her child. Coleridge draws a parallel between the young woman and the grieving mother, both experiencing deep sorrow.

 

Line 5: "These from our Nature's common impulse spring"

Coleridge claims that these types of grief (the loss of a fiancé, child, or loved one) spring from human nature—they are automatic, deeply ingrained emotional responses that all humans experience in some form. Grief is seen here as an instinctual, primal reaction to loss.

 

Line 6: "Unblamed, unpraised;"

Here, the poet makes a notable point about how these natural reactions are neither criticized nor praised. They are expected, even if sorrowful. The grief displayed in these situations is not regarded as extraordinary or virtuous—it is simply understood as a natural human response.

 

Line 7: "But o'er the piled earth, Which hides the sheeted corse of gray-haired Worth,"

The focus shifts from personal, intimate grief to a more universal, reflective form of mourning. Now, the poet describes the burial of an elderly, respected person—someone of worth. The piled earth and the sheeted corpse (the body covered by a shroud) convey the finality of death, as well as the reverence for the deceased person’s life.

 

Line 8: "If droops the soaring Youth with slackened wing;"

Now, the poet introduces Youth, typically seen as energetic and full of promise. In this case, the youth's wing is slackened, symbolizing that grief has caused his spirit to falter or droop. This is a shift from the earlier natural grief to a more reflective, intellectual grief that is tied to the wisdom or virtue of the deceased.

 

Line 9: "If he recall in saddest minstrelsy"

Here, minstrelsy refers to music or poetry, especially the kind that expresses sadness. The youth recalls the deceased’s life through the saddest of songs or memories, indicating that this is no fleeting grief. It is serious and deep, perhaps even artistic in its expression.

 

Line 10: "Each tenderness bestowed, each truth impressed;"

The youth mourns not just the loss of the elderly person but also the tenderness and truths that they imparted—life lessons, wisdom, kindness, and virtues. This line implies that the elderly person lived a life full of significance, and the youth feels the weight of that legacy.

 

Line 11: "Such Grief is Reason, Virtue, Piety!"

Unlike the earlier expressions of grief, which were driven by instinct, this kind of mourning is intellectual and virtuous. Coleridge presents this grief as being elevated—it is not merely an emotional response but is aligned with Reason, Virtue, and Piety. Grieving the loss of someone who taught wisdom and lived virtuously is a form of honoring those qualities.

 

Line 12: "And from the Almighty Father shall descend"

In this line, Coleridge invokes God (the Almighty Father) as a source of divine comfort. The implication is that God recognizes the virtue and depth of the youth’s grief and will provide support for him in return. The idea of divine comfort suggests that sincere mourning is something that is blessed or rewarded.

 

Line 13: "Comforts on his late Evening, whose young breast"

The “late Evening” refers to the later years of the youth’s life. The young breast implies that, although the youth is grieving now, in his later years (when he has grown older), he will be comforted. The idea of Evening symbolizes the end of the day of life—approaching old age or the final stages of life.

 

Line 14: "Mourns with no transient love the aged friend."

Finally, the poet emphasizes that this grief is not fleeting (transient). The youth mourns not out of momentary affection, but because of a deep, lasting bond with the aged friend. This makes the grief more noble—it is not just sorrow for a passing moment but a profound loss that speaks to the value of the relationship.

 

Key Themes:

Grief and Mourning: The poem reflects on the natural and intellectual expressions of grief. The first part acknowledges the raw, emotional grief of the Virgin and the Mother, while the second part elevates the mourning for a wise, elderly person, showing that it can be an expression of virtue and wisdom.

The Value of Wisdom and Virtue: Coleridge contrasts two types of mourning—one that is natural and instinctive and another that is tied to the appreciation of wisdom, kindness, and the lasting impact of a person’s life. The mourning for the elderly person is elevated because the mourner recognizes the significance of the life lived.

Divine Comfort: Coleridge suggests that God rewards sincere, thoughtful grief. The promise of divine comfort emphasizes the idea that those who grieve deeply and reflectively will be comforted in their later years.

Timeless Grief: The poem contrasts the grief of youth and the elderly, but it ultimately underscores that deep, meaningful grief for a beloved individual—especially one who imparted wisdom—is noble and spiritually significant.