Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings.   For today’s post, I have decided to do a stanza-by-stanza analysis of a poem by Emily Bronte!   For those who do not know, Emily Bronte is one of my favorite writers, so I always enjoy exploring her poetry in the Winter as a cozy activity.   My love of revisiting my favorite classic poems in Winter is part of what inspired this post!   As a side note, to make reading my thoughts easier, the sections in bold and all caps are my thoughts after each stanza.   I accessed the text of the poem on The Poetry Foundation website: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47644/ah-why-because-the-dazzling-sun.

Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun

BY EMILY BRONTË

Ah! why, because the dazzling sun 

Restored my earth to joy 

Have you departed, every one, 

And left a desert sky? 

~THE FIRST STANZA IS AN OPENING THAT CLEARLY EVOKES THE EMOTIONAL TONES OF THE POEM, A DESIRE TO SEEK THE RADIANCE OF THE SUN.   THIS IS A REFLECTION OF HAVING HAD A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE THAT HAS ENDED AND WONDERING IF YOU WILL EVER HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AGAIN!

All through the night, your glorious eyes 

Were gazing down in mine, 

And with a full heart’s thankful sighs 

I blessed that watch divine!

~THE SECOND STANZA IS A RECOLLECTION OF TIME SPENT WITH A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, LIKELY A LOVER OR ONE WHO THE NARRATOR HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH, EVEN IF IT IS UNREQUITED! 

I was at peace, and drank your beams 

As they were life to me 

And revelled in my changeful dreams 

Like petrel on the sea. 

~THE THIRD STANZA EXPRESSLY LIKENS THE LOVER TO THE SUN, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THE NARRATOR PUTS THIS PERSON ON A PEDESTAL, WITH THEIR MERE PRESENCE GIVING THE WARMTH AND VITALITY OF THE SUN!

Thought followed thought—star followed star 

Through boundless regions on, 

While one sweet influence, near and far, 

Thrilled through and proved us one. 

~THE FOURTH STANZA RELATES THE EMOTIONS OF SPENDING TIME IN DEEP DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLY IN DEBATE, WITH THE LOVER.   THIS IS THE HONEYMOON PERIOD IN THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH THE NARRATOR REMEMBERS FONDLY!

Why did the morning rise to break 

So great, so pure a spell, 

And scorch with fire the tranquil cheek 

Where your cool radiance fell?

~THE FIFTH STANZA RELATES THE MORNING COMING AFTER A NIGHT SPENT IN DEEP CONTEMPLATION, A BUBBLE OF ROMANTIC BLISS, WHICH WAS BROKEN BY THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY, AND LIKELY THE LOVER NEEDING TO LEAVE THE NARRATOR! 

Blood-red he rose, and arrow-straight, 

His fierce beams struck my brow; 

The soul of Nature sprang elate, 

But mine sank sad and low! 

~THE SIXTH STANZA SHOWS THE NARRATOR SAD TO SEE THE ACTUAL SUN BECAUSE THE SUN OF HER LIFE NOW NEEDS TO LEAVE HER SIDE!

My lids closed down—yet through their veil 

I saw him blazing still; 

And bathe in gold the misty dale, 

And flash upon the hill. 

~THE SEVENTH STANZA SHOWS THE NARRATOR TRYING TO CLOSE HER EYES AND SLEEP DURING THE DAY, BUT THE SUN KEEPS HER AWAKE, AND SHE CANNOT ESCAPE HER LONELINESS!

I turned me to the pillow then 

To call back Night, and see 

Your worlds of solemn light, again 

Throb with my heart and me! 

~THE EIGHTH STANZA CLEARLY STATES THAT THE NARRATOR IS WISHING FOR THE NIGHT TO BE RETURNED, AS BEING SEPARATED FROM THE ONE SHE LOVES IS SO PAINFUL!

It would not do—the pillow glowed 

And glowed both roof and floor, 

And birds sang loudly in the wood, 

And fresh winds shook the door. 

~THE NINTH STANZA RELATES THAT THE NARRATOR COULD NOT BLOCK OUT THE OUTSIDE WORLD OF DAYLIGHT, AS THE SUNLIGHT AND SOUNDS OF NATURE WERE TOO BRIGHT AND LOUD!

The curtains waved, the wakened flies 

Were murmuring round my room, 

Imprisoned there, till I should rise 

And give them leave to roam. 

~THE TENTH STANZA IS THE NARRATOR’S RECOGNITION THAT SHE MUST RISE AND FACE THE DAY.

O Stars and Dreams and Gentle Night; 

O Night and Stars return! 

And hide me from the hostile light 

That does not warm, but burn— 

~THE ELEVENTH STANZA IS THE NARRATOR’S HEARTFELT PLEA TO BE RETURNED TO THE NIGHT AND THE EMBRACE OF HER LOVER, AS THE REAL SUN IS NOT WARM BUT SO HOT IT BURNS!

That drains the blood of suffering men; 

Drinks tears, instead of dew: 

Let me sleep through his blinding reign, 

And only wake with you! 

~THE FINAL STANZA IS THE NARRATOR’S FINAL LAMENT OF HER DESIRE TO SLEEP THE DAY AWAY UNTIL HER LOVER’S RETURN, THE SUN OF HER HEART JOINING HER AT NIGHT WHEN THE SUN IN THE SKY IS HIDDEN BY THE MOON!

~I hope you have enjoyed this analysis of this lovely poem by Emily Bronte.   Who are some of your favorite poets to read in the Winter?   Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is a painting of Emily Bronte.   I found the image on https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emily-Bronte.

LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries