Confusing Sonnet

  • Nick Tonelli
    16 years ago

    After reading this I figured out the connotative meanin of this poem...how it is of a woman who rejects the speakers love for her...but thats about as far as my understanding for this sonnet goes and im certain ive only scratched the surface...any one have any ideas?

    If this be love, to draw a weary breath,
    Paint on floods, till the shore, cry to th'air,
    With downward looks still reading on the earth,
    The sad memorials of my love's despair.
    If this be love, to war against my soul,
    Lie down to wail, rise up to sigh and grieve me,
    The never-resting stone of care to roll,
    Still to complain my griefs, and none relieve me.
    If this be love, to clothe me with dark thoughts,
    Haunting untrodden paths to wail apart,
    My pleasures horror, music tragic notes,
    Tears in my eyes, and sorrow at my heart.
    If this be love, to live a living death,
    O then love I and draw this weary breath.

  • kevin Boundy AKA the ghost
    16 years ago

    In my opinion, I think hes talking more along the lines of love really hurts. like when he says If this be love, to war against my soul, Lie down to wail, rise up to sigh and grieve me, The never-resting stone of care to roll, Still to complain my griefs, and none relieve me. If this be love, to clothe me with dark thoughts, Haunting untrodden paths to wail apart, My pleasures horror, music tragic notes, Tears in my eyes, and sorrow at my heart. If this be love, to live a living death, O then love I and draw this weary breath. hes basically saying if this be love then just kill me now (blunt interpratation) but thats just my interpratation i hope this helps you

  • Nick Tonelli
    16 years ago

    Thanks guys...you both bring up some pretty good points...and yeah im kinda new to this whole interpretation thing so pretty much anything that anyone says is helpful haha...thanks again for your input...its always nice to get a different perspective