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 Where I will be publishing each of the 175 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty-First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).'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 "To Hold You"
Introduction
The sonnet "To Hold You" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares is a sonnet that expresses the speaker's yearning for their lover.
Thematic Analysis
In the octave, the speaker expresses a sense of wandering and searching in the river of time, looking for a sensation to prolong their love and avoid loneliness. The speaker also explores different worlds, studying their currents and the motives that drive them. This part of the sonnet sets up the problem or conflict.
The sestet then provides a resolution or response to the problem set up in the octave. Here, the speaker reflects on the past and future, which lead him to one thing: the moments when he got to hold the person he loves. Despite the allure of space and other places, nothing compares to the heavens without the loved one’s smile and dew.
The transition from the octave to the sestet, known as the volta or “turn”, is where the poem shifts from setting up a situation (octave) to commenting on or resolving it (sestet). In this sonnet, the volta occurs between the eighth and ninth lines, marking a shift from the speaker’s exploration and search to their realization of what truly matters to them.
Overall, the sonnet beautifully captures the speaker’s journey of love and longing, with the octave and sestet working together to convey a complete, nuanced narrative.
Rhyme Scheme
The rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDE CDE) is a common one for sonnets, particularly those in the Petrarchan or Italian style. Let’s analyze how this scheme applies to the sonnet “To Hold You” by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares:
A I have been wandering and searching hard
B In this river of time that damps my song
B For a sensation to my love prolong
A And avoid lone notes that sometimes I heard.
A Through bays of many worlds I wandered
B Studying currents that they thrive among
B And the motives that push them right along
A What they call goals as each one plays a card.
C Past and future pour in me their content
D Most of it keeps leading me to one thing,
E To those moments when I got to hold you...
C Not even space lures me with its movement
D Or places that better faces bring
E Or heavens without your smile and your dew.
In the octave (the first eight lines), the first four lines (ABBA) and the second four lines (ABBA) have the same rhyme scheme. This creates a mirrored effect, where the first and fourth lines rhyme, and the second and third lines rhyme.
In the sestet (the last six lines), the rhyme scheme changes to CDE CDE. This change in rhyme scheme often coincides with a shift or turn in the poem’s subject matter or tone. In this case, the sestet shifts the focus from the speaker’s wandering and searching to their realization of the importance of the moments when they held their loved one.
Overall, the ABBA ABBA CDE CDE rhyme scheme provides a structure that helps to emphasize the poem’s themes and emotional shifts. It’s a beautiful and effective use of the sonnet form.
Additional Aspects
Let’s delve deeper into the sonnet’s language, imagery, themes, meter, and overall impact.
Language and Imagery: The sonnet uses rich and evocative language to convey the speaker’s emotions. The metaphor of the “river of time” and the “bays of many worlds” creates a vivid image of the speaker’s journey through life and love. The use of words like “wandering”, “searching”, “currents”, and “motives” further enhances this imagery, giving the reader a sense of the speaker’s longing and exploration.
Themes: The main themes of the sonnet are love, longing, and the passage of time. The speaker expresses a deep longing for their loved one and reflects on the moments they shared together. The theme of time is also prominent, with references to the “river of time”, “past and future”, and the “moments” they held their loved one.
Meter: The sonnet appears to follow the iambic pentameter, which is a common meter in English sonnets. This means each line typically contains five pairs of syllables, with the stress falling on the second syllable of each pair. This creates a rhythmic pattern that enhances the flow and musicality of the poem.
Overall: “To Hold You” is a beautifully crafted sonnet that effectively uses language, imagery, and meter to convey a poignant narrative of love and longing. The themes are universal and relatable, and the structure of the sonnet— with its octave and sestet, and the turn between them— provides a satisfying progression from problem to resolution. The sonnet is a testament to the power of poetry to capture complex emotions and experiences in a compact and structured form.
(GPT4)
Syllable count for each line.
To Hold You
10 I have been wandering and searching hard
10 In this river of time that damps my song
10 For a sensation to my love prolong
10 And avoid lone notes that sometimes I heard.
10 Through bays of many worlds I wandered
10 Studying currents that they thrive among
10 And the motives that push them right along
10 What they call goals as each one plays a card.
10 Past and future pour in me their content
10 Most of it keeps leading me to one thing,
10 To those moments when I got to hold you...
10 Not even space lures me with its movement
10 Or places that better faces bring
10 Or heavens without your smile and your dew.
***
Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical Written By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987)
Analyzed by GPT4; Image by Frank Duna;
First published on Nostr Protocol by franciscoarroyavet@nostrplebs.com
*To Hold You