Posthumous work of the Colombian poet born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948.
Welcome to this blog dedicated to the Posthumous work of the Colombian poet Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948-2011. Where I will be publishing each of the 170 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).' Analyzed with GPT4 artificial intelligence and illustrated with AI tools... I hope you enjoy this garden of words snatched from the solitude of a locked room.
Likewise, any enthusiast of the sonnet form is invited to conduct their personal studies of Arroyave Tabares' work, as it is a collection that, although registered since 1989, has not yet been published.
Frank Duna
Sonnet 4 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
A Castaway's Dream
Cruel tidal waves rise and fall and combine
To destroy little by little my shore
Where I grow shells for pearls that I adore
And which to match her teeth and eyes I twine.
And there are mad winds that my boat incline
Till I feel lonely and wait for much more
Of this forlorn for the bad spirits roar
Not letting my strengths rejoin and aline.
I drowned my old habits with compassion
To keep afloat when I started sinking
My many deaths surpassing my actions.
My only hope is to start more dreaming
Or days when I can have other options
And forgetfulness and new beginning.
***
Analysis of Sonnet 4 "A Castaway's Dream"
The sonnet explores themes of struggle, loneliness, hope, and renewal. The speaker, portrayed as a castaway, faces the destructive forces of nature symbolized by "cruel tidal waves" and "mad winds." These forces threaten the speaker's shore, where he grows shells for pearls that he adores, possibly representing his pursuit of beauty and perfection.
The imagery in the sonnet is vivid and evocative. The waves, winds, and spirits create a sense of chaos and despair, while the shells and pearls evoke a longing for beauty and connection. The boat represents the speaker's life or mental state, constantly being tossed and inclined by the challenges he faces.
The sonnet follows a Petrarchan (Italian) structure, consisting of an octave and a sestet. The octave presents the problem or conflict, while the sestet offers a resolution or reflection. The volta, or turn, occurs between the octave and sestet, shifting the tone or perspective of the poem.
In terms of literary devices, the sonnet employs metaphor and personification. The sea and boat serve as extended metaphors for the speaker's struggles and journey through life. The personification of the winds and spirits adds a sense of agency and malevolence to the forces the speaker contends with.
The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABBAABBA CDCDCD, following the Petrarchan form. This structure contributes to the poem's musicality and helps to organize its ideas.
Overall, "A Castaway's Dream" is a poignant exploration of the human experience, capturing the speaker's battle against external forces, his attempts to cope, and his yearning for change and renewal. The sonnet's vivid imagery, metaphors, and structured form work together to convey the themes and emotions expressed by the speaker.
Structure and Rhyme Scheme
The sonnet follows a Petrarchan (Italian) rhyme scheme, which consists of an octave (eight-line stanza) and a sestet (six-line stanza). The rhyme scheme of the octave is ABBAABBA, while the sestet follows the pattern CDCDCD.
Here's a breakdown of the rhyme scheme in each stanza:
Octave (ABBAABBA):
- Line 1: Cruel tidal waves rise and fall and combine (A)
- Line 2: To destroy little by little my shore (B)
- Line 3: Where I grow shells for pearls that I adore (B)
- Line 4: And which to match her teeth and eyes I twine (A)
- Line 5: And there are mad winds that my boat incline (A)
- Line 6: Till I feel lonely and wait for much more (B)
- Line 7: Of this forlorn for the bad spirits roar (B)
- Line 8: Not letting my strengths rejoin and aline (A)
Sestet (CDECDE):
- Line 9: I drowned my old habits with compassion (C)
- Line 10: To keep afloat when I started sinking (D)
- Line 11: My many deaths surpassing my actions (C)
- Line 12: My only hope is to start more dreaming (D)
- Line 13: Or days when I can have other options (C)
- Line 14: And forgetfulness and new beginning (D)
The rhyme scheme in this sonnet helps to create a sense of structure and musicality. The consistent rhyme patterns in the octave and sestet sections contribute to the poem's overall flow and rhythm. The volta, or turn, typically occurs between the octave and sestet, marking a shift in tone, theme, or perspective. In "A Castaway's Dream," the volta occurs after the octave, leading into the sestet where the speaker reflects on their struggles and expresses hope for a new beginning.
By employing a specific rhyme scheme, the poet enhances the sonnet's form and reinforces the themes and emotions conveyed in the poem.
Analysis of Aspects
While we've discussed the themes, rhyme scheme, and some symbolism in "A Castaway's Dream," there are still several aspects that can be further analyzed, including its meter, imagery, and use of metaphor.
Meter: The sonnet appears to follow the iambic pentameter, which is typical of traditional sonnets. This means each line generally has ten syllables, with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This rhythmic pattern contributes to the musicality and flow of the poem.
Imagery: The sonnet is rich in vivid and evocative imagery. The "cruel tidal waves," "mad winds," and "bad spirits" create a sense of chaos and struggle. The image of the speaker growing shells for pearls and using them to match her teeth and eyes adds a touch of beauty and longing to the harsh landscape. The imagery serves to draw the reader into the speaker's world and evoke an emotional response.
Metaphor: The sonnet uses extended metaphors of the sea and a boat to represent the speaker's life and struggles. The sea, with its destructive waves and winds, symbolizes the challenges and adversities the speaker is facing. The boat represents the speaker's life or mental state, which is being tossed about by these challenges. The speaker's efforts to grow shells for pearls could be seen as a metaphor for his attempts to find beauty and meaning amidst the chaos.
(GPT4)
Count the syllables of each line of the poem
(www.howmanysyllables.com)
A Castaway's Dream
10 Cruel tidal waves rise and fall and combine
10 To destroy little by little my shore
10 Where I grow shells for pearls that I adore
10 And which to match her teeth and eyes I twine.
10 And there are mad winds that my boat incline
10 Till I feel lonely and wait for much more
10 Of this forlorn for the bad spirits roar
10 Not letting my strengths rejoin and aline.
10 I drowned my old habits with compassion
10 To keep afloat when I started sinking
10 My many deaths surpassing my actions.
10 My only hope is to start more dreaming
10 Or days when I can have other options
10 And forgetfulness and new beginning.
***
Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical Written By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987)
Analyzed by GPT4 and www.howmanysyllables.com Image by leonardo.ai
