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 Where I will be publishing each of the 175 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty-First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).'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 of "Only To Kiss"
Introduction
The sonnet “Only To Kiss” as a whole blends elements of astronomy, mythology, and romanticism to create a rich and imaginative exploration of the night sky and the emotions associated with a kiss.
Thematic Analysis
Quatrain 1 (Lines 1-4): The speaker, along with the “sidereal nymphs” (star-like nymphs), keeps vigil (stays awake) during the absence of Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. They observe other “sigils” (symbols or signs) in the sky, as the usual rulers of their hearts are not present.
Quatrain 2 (Lines 5-8): In the vast darkness, the speaker sees distant gazes or constellations (“blazes”). Light prevails where Urania’s flocks (stars) graze, nurturing a secret bestowed upon them. Urania is the Greek muse of astronomy.
Quatrain 3 (Lines 9-12): While Cupid (the god of love) and Artemis (the moon goddess) with her nymphs are asleep, Psyche (personification of the soul and lover of Cupid) and Mnemosyne (goddess of memory and mother of the Muses) are awake. They delve into the depths of dreams (“oniric deep”), following the paths left by passion.
Couplet (Lines 13-14): The speaker and his beloved have only enough strength to bid each other goodnight with a kiss. Yet, they happily dissolve their thoughts, love, and faith into one another.
This sonnet is a beautiful exploration of love, passion, and the mysteries of the night sky, intertwining human emotion with celestial bodies and mythological figures. It’s a testament to the power of poetry to elevate human experience to the divine.
Structure and Rhyme Scheme
The sonnet “Only To Kiss” follows the traditional English or Shakespearean sonnet form in terms of its rhyme scheme. Here’s a detailed analysis:
Quatrain 1 (Lines 1-4):
Line 1: Sidereal nyphs and I through vigils (A)
Line 2: Have other views if Selene is absent (B)
Line 3: Or notice in the sky other sygils (A)
Line 4: Since rulers of tha heart are not present. (B)
Quatrain 2 (Lines 5-8):
Line 5: In dark expanse I see the distant gaze (C)
Line 6: or blazes with other ones underneath (D)
Line 7: And light weilds where Urania’s flocks graze (C)
Line 8: And nurture secret that to us bequeath. (D)
Quatrain 3 (Lines 9-12):
Line 9: Cupid and all the hunting girls now sleep (E)
Line 10: While Psyche and Mnemosyne are avake (F)
Line 11: Searching the essence of oniric deep (E)
Line 12: And tiding on paths left by passions wake. (F)
Couplet (Lines 13-14):
Line 13: To kiss goodnight we only have the strength (G)
Line 14: But happily we melt thoughts, love and faith. (G)
So, the rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of the English or Shakespearean sonnet. This structure allows for a logical progression of thought, with each quatrain presenting a distinct idea or argument, and the final couplet providing a summarizing or contrasting statement. The rhymes help to unify the poem and add a musical quality to the language.
Analysis of Aspects
The sonnet “Only To Kiss” by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares is a rich tapestry of language, imagery, and themes. Here’s a detailed analysis:
Language: The language used in the sonnet is highly poetic and filled with allusions to Greek mythology. The poet uses words like “sidereal,” “vigils,” “Selene,” “sigils,” “Urania,” “Cupid,” “Psyche,” and “Mnemosyne,” which add a layer of complexity and depth to the poem. The language is also quite descriptive, painting vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
Imagery: The sonnet is replete with celestial imagery. The poet uses the night sky as a backdrop for the unfolding drama of love and passion. Images of “sidereal nymphs,” “Selene,” “sigils in the sky,” “distant gaze,” “blazes,” and “Urania’s flocks” create a dreamy, otherworldly atmosphere. The imagery serves to elevate the human experience of love to the divine.
Themes: The primary themes of the sonnet are love, passion, and the mysteries of the night sky. The poet explores the depths of human emotion and intertwines it with celestial bodies and mythological figures. The theme of love is personified through the figures of Cupid and Psyche, while the theme of passion is explored through the vigils kept by the speaker and his beloved.
Meter: The sonnet appears to follow the traditional iambic pentameter, which is common in English sonnets. This means each line consists of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables, giving the poem a rhythmic quality.
Overall, “Only To Kiss” is a beautifully crafted sonnet that skillfully weaves together language, imagery, and themes to create a captivating exploration of love and passion against the backdrop of the night sky. The use of Greek mythology adds a layer of complexity, making the poem a rich and rewarding read.
(GPT4)
Syllable count for each line.
Only To Kiss
10 Sidereal nyphs and I through vigils
10 Have other views if Selene is absent
10 Or notice in the sky other sygils
10 Since rulers of tha heart are not present.
10 In dark expanse I see the distant gaze
10 or blazes with other ones underneath
10 And light weilds where Urania's flocks graze
10 And nurture secret that to us bequeath.
10 Cupid and all the hunting girls now sleep
10 While Psyche and Mnemosyne are avake
10 Searching the essence of oniric deep
10 And tiding on paths left by passions wake.
10 To kiss goodnight we only have the strength
10 But happily we melt thoughts, love and faith.
***
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
Only To Kiss