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 (my father), born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948-2010. Where I will be publishing each of the 175 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty-First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).'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
Analysis "I Did Not Care To Ask"
Introduction
Sonnet 65 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "I Did Not Care To Ask," is a contemplative piece that explores the themes of self-discovery, the search for meaning, and the acceptance of mystery.
Thematic Analysis
First Quatrain (Lines 1-4): The speaker talks about planting seeds from their “original mind” on Earth, hoping to find “ancestral light” or reasons for their existence. This could be interpreted as the speaker’s quest for knowledge or understanding about their roots and purpose in life.
Second Quatrain (Lines 5-8): The speaker continues the metaphor of planting seeds, but reveals that despite their efforts, they realize that the “instance” (urgent plea or persistent solicitation) will possess humans regardless of their age or distance. This could suggest the inevitability of certain human experiences or conditions.
Third Quatrain (Lines 9-12): The speaker expresses their exhaustion from asking questions and seeking answers, eventually surrendering to sleep. However, they acknowledge that more answers remain in symbols, possibly referring to the symbolic or metaphorical nature of dreams or subconscious thoughts.
Couplet (Lines 13-14): In the final two lines, the speaker reveals that their oracle (source of wisdom or prophecy) was a forest in their dreams, but they chose not to ask questions, perhaps indicating a decision to accept ambiguity or uncertainty.
Overall, the sonnet explores themes of self-discovery, the pursuit of knowledge, and the acceptance of uncertainty. It uses the metaphor of planting seeds and tending to them as a symbol for the speaker’s intellectual and existential journey. The sonnet ends with the speaker’s realization that not all questions need to be asked or answered, suggesting a level of comfort with the unknown.
Rhyme Scheme
The sonnet “I Did Not Care To Ask” by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares follows the Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme, which is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Let’s break it down:
First Quatrain (Lines 1-4):
Line 1 (A): I digged seeds from my original mind
Line 2 (B): And planted them on the face of our earth
Line 3 (A): Expecting that in this way I could find
Line 4 (B): Ancestral light, or reasons for my birth.
Second Quatrain (Lines 5-8):
Line 5 (C): Each day I looked for water for their mold
Line 6 (D): But I found out one day that this instance
Line 7 (C): Will posses humans even if too old
Line 8 (D): No matter how far they get in distance.
** Third Quatrain (Lines 9-12):**
Line 9 (E): After my serious thoughts seemed deep
Line 10 (F): I asked all the people questions amain
Line 11 (E): Yet got tired and gave up to my sleep.
Line 12 (F): Rich in symbols where more answers remain.
Couplet (Lines 13-14):
Line 13 (G): In dreams my oracle was a forest
Line 14 (G): And did not care to ask, to be honest.
In this sonnet, the end words of each line rhyme with another line according to the pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This pattern is typical of a Shakespearean sonnet and helps to give the poem its rhythm and musicality. The final couplet (GG) often serves as a conclusion or summary of the themes explored in the preceding quatrains. In this case, the speaker reveals their acceptance of uncertainty and the unknown.
Additional Aspects to Analyze
While we've covered the rhyme scheme and thematic content of Sonnet 65 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, there are still several aspects that can be further analyzed.
Language and Imagery: The sonnet uses a rich and evocative language that creates vivid imagery. The metaphor of planting seeds from the “original mind” and looking for water for their “mold” (earth or ground) paints a picture of a person engaged in a deep, introspective journey. The use of words like “ancestral light”, “oracle”, and “forest” adds a mystical or spiritual dimension to this journey.
Themes: The main themes of the sonnet include self-discovery, the pursuit of knowledge, and the acceptance of uncertainty or the unknown. The speaker’s quest for understanding their roots and purpose, their realization of the inevitability of certain human experiences, and their eventual acceptance of ambiguity are all explored in the sonnet.
Meter: The sonnet appears to follow the iambic pentameter, which is the most common meter in English poetry and is particularly associated with sonnets. In iambic pentameter, each line consists of five iambs - pairs of syllables where the first is unstressed and the second is stressed (da-DUM). For example, in the line “And planted them on the face of our earth”, we can see the iambic pentameter at work.
Overall, “I Did Not Care To Ask” is a thought-provoking sonnet that uses beautiful language and imagery to explore profound themes. The structure of the sonnet, with its quatrains developing the speaker’s journey and the final couplet providing a resolution, is effectively used to convey the speaker’s introspective journey and their acceptance of the unknown. The sonnet’s adherence to the iambic pentameter gives it a rhythmic quality that adds to its appeal. The sonnet is a testament to Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares’s skill as a poet.
(GPT4)
Syllable count for each line
I Did Not Care To Ask
10 I digged seeds from my original mind
10 And planted them on the face of our earth
10 Expecting that in this way I could find
10 Ancestral light, or reasons for my birth.
10 Each day I looked for water for their mold
10 But I found out one day that this instance
10 Will posses humans even if too old
10 No matter how far they get in distance.
9 After my serious thoughts seemed deep
10 I asked all the people questions amain
9 Yet got tired and gave up to my sleep.
10 Rich in symbols where more answers remain.
10 In dreams my oracle was a forest
10 And did not care to ask, to be honest.
***
Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical Written By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987)
Analyzed by GPT4; Image by leonardo.ai;
First published on Nostr Protocol by franciscoarroyavet@nostrplebs.com
I Did Not Care To Ask