Sonnet
XXII. To Simplicity
by
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(Poem, Summary, & Analysis)
Sonnet
XXII. To Simplicity
O! I
do love thee, meek Simplicity!
For
of thy lays the lulling simpleness
Goes
to my heart, and soothes each small distress--
Distress
tho' small, yet haply great to me!
'Tis
true, on Lady Fortune's gentlest pad
I
amble on; yet tho' I know not why,
So
sad I am! but should a friend and I
Grow
cool and miff, O! I am very sad!
And
then with sonnets and with sympathy
My
dreamy bosom's mystic woes I pall;
Now
of my false friend plaining plaintively,
Now
raving at mankind in general:
But
whether sad or fierce, 'tis simple all,
All
very simple, meek Simplicity.
Summary
The
speaker begins by expressing his deep affection for “meek Simplicity.” He loves
Simplicity for the gentle and soothing quality of her songs (“lays”), which
have a calming effect on his heart. These simple melodies help ease even his
minor troubles—though they may seem small, they can feel significant and
burdensome to him personally.
He
acknowledges that, outwardly, he appears to be leading a pleasant and easy
life, moving along comfortably on “Lady Fortune’s gentlest pad” (a soft path
provided by good fortune). Despite this, he admits he often feels inexplicably
sad—a kind of sorrow that lacks a clear cause.
This
sadness becomes especially strong when he has a falling out or misunderstanding
with a friend. When a friendship turns cold, it affects him deeply, making him
very unhappy. To cope with such emotional pain, he turns to writing sonnets and
seeking sympathy. Through poetry and emotional expression, he tries to cover or
soothe his mysterious inner sorrow.
In
his writing, he alternates between complaining softly about a false friend and
angrily criticizing humanity at large. His emotions swing between sadness and
rage, but regardless of the feeling, he notes that the tone and expression of
it all remains simple.
He
concludes by emphasizing that everything—his sorrow, his anger, his poetry—is
rooted in simplicity. Whether he is grieving or ranting, his emotions and their
expression are always marked by meek Simplicity, which he continues to cherish.
Analysis
in Detail
Title
and Subject
The
title itself — To Simplicity — immediately presents the poem as a direct
address to an abstract concept. Simplicity is personified and revered, almost
as if she were a gentle muse or guiding spirit. The sonnet praises not just
simplicity in style, but also simplicity in emotion, thought, and life.
Lines
1–4: Love for Simplicity and Emotional Relief
O! I
do love thee, meek Simplicity!
For
of thy lays the lulling simpleness
Goes
to my heart, and soothes each small distress—
Distress
tho' small, yet haply great to me!
The
speaker opens with a heartfelt exclamation of love for Simplicity, calling her
“meek,” which adds a sense of humility and gentleness to the concept.
“Thy
lays” refers to the songs or verses of Simplicity. These are described as
“lulling,” indicating a calming and comforting effect.
The
speaker acknowledges that the distresses he feels may be minor in the grand
scheme of things, but they are intensely felt on a personal level. This
self-awareness adds emotional honesty and emphasizes the importance of
simplicity in helping him cope.
Lines
5–8: Hidden Sadness Despite Good Fortune
'Tis
true, on Lady Fortune's gentlest pad
I
amble on; yet tho' I know not why,
So
sad I am! but should a friend and I
Grow
cool and miff, O! I am very sad!
Coleridge
describes himself as generally fortunate—“ambling” (gently walking) on the
“gentlest pad” provided by Lady Fortune, a classical symbol of luck and
prosperity.
Yet,
despite this apparent ease in life, the speaker feels an unexplained sadness.
He
becomes especially distressed when there is conflict in a friendship. The words
“grow cool and miff” are soft and understated, showing that even minor
relational tensions can deeply affect him.
The
repetition of “sad” and the emotional emphasis in “O! I am very sad!”
underscores the emotional sensitivity of the speaker.
Lines
9–12: Coping Through Poetry and Emotional Swings
And
then with sonnets and with sympathy
My
dreamy bosom's mystic woes I pall;
Now
of my false friend plaining plaintively,
Now
raving at mankind in general:
In
the aftermath of sadness, the speaker turns to writing sonnets and seeking
sympathy to cover or ease his “mystic woes”—deep, perhaps undefined, emotional
pain.
“Dreamy
bosom” suggests a romantic, idealistic, or imaginative nature. “Mystic woes”
implies that his sorrows are not just personal but carry a mysterious or
spiritual quality.
He
moves between gentle lamenting about a “false friend” and fierce anger at
humanity as a whole. These mood swings depict a person of intense inner
emotional life, capable of both delicate feeling and passionate expression.
The
alliteration (“plaining plaintively”) adds musicality while enhancing the tone
of sorrow.
Lines
13–14: Simplicity as the Unifying Thread
But
whether sad or fierce, 'tis simple all,
All
very simple, meek Simplicity.
Despite
the range of emotions—from sorrow to rage—everything the speaker feels or
writes is described as simple.
This
concluding couplet brings the poem full circle, reaffirming that Simplicity is
at the core of all he experiences and expresses.
The
phrase “'tis simple all” emphasizes that simplicity is not dullness, but rather
a pure, honest, and unembellished emotional truth.
By
repeating “simple” and “Simplicity,” the poet shows his deep reverence for this
virtue, suggesting that simplicity is not only a poetic style but a way of
engaging with the world emotionally and morally.
Themes
Simplicity
in Life and Art: Coleridge elevates simplicity as both an emotional balm and an
artistic ideal.
Emotional
Sensitivity: The speaker’s deep reactions to small distress and relational
issues highlight a tender, introspective personality.
Romantic
Idealism: The emotional oscillations, poetic expressions, and focus on internal
states align closely with the Romantic era’s emphasis on individual emotion and
the sublime.
Authenticity:
There's an underlying argument that true feeling and expression don’t need to
be elaborate — honesty and simplicity are more powerful.
Tone
and Style
The
tone is affectionate, introspective, and sincere.
The
style is simple yet expressive, with a flow of thought that mirrors the
emotional movement of the speaker.
The
sonnet form is used traditionally, yet the language remains direct and
unpretentious, echoing the theme of Simplicity.
Paraphrase
1.
O! I do love thee, meek Simplicity!
Paraphrase:
Oh,
how I love you, gentle and humble Simplicity!
2.
For of thy lays the lulling simpleness
Paraphrase:
Because
your songs have a soothing and peaceful simplicity,
3.
Goes to my heart, and soothes each small distress—
Paraphrase:
They
touch my heart and ease all my little troubles—
4.
Distress tho' small, yet haply great to me!
Paraphrase:
Even
if those troubles are small, they can still feel big to me!
5.
'Tis true, on Lady Fortune's gentlest pad
Paraphrase:
It’s
true, I live a fairly easy life, thanks to good fortune—
6. I
amble on; yet tho' I know not why,
Paraphrase:
I
move along comfortably, yet I don’t know why—
7.
So sad I am! but should a friend and I
Paraphrase:
I
still feel sad! And if a friend and I
8.
Grow cool and miff, O! I am very sad!
Paraphrase:
Have
a falling out or argument, oh, I get truly upset!
9.
And then with sonnets and with sympathy
Paraphrase:
That’s
when I turn to poetry and seek comfort from others,
10.
My dreamy bosom's mystic woes I pall;
Paraphrase:
To
cover up the strange sadness inside my sentimental heart.
11.
Now of my false friend plaining plaintively,
Paraphrase:
Sometimes
I complain softly about a friend who betrayed me,
12.
Now raving at mankind in general:
Paraphrase:
Other
times I rant angrily about people in general.
13.
But whether sad or fierce, 'tis simple all,
Paraphrase:
But
whether I’m feeling sorrowful or angry, it all remains simple,
14.
All very simple, meek Simplicity.
Paraphrase:
It’s
all very pure and plain—just like you, gentle Simplicity.
){kind=link}
0 Comments