Home Thoughts from Abroad, written by Robert Browning, whilst he was abroad in Italy, captures his feelings of homesickness and his longing to be back in his homeland, England.
In the first verse, the writer is very focused on the nature in England and the joys that nature brings, especially in the springtime; he particularly notes the song of the Chaffinch.
In the second verse, the writer tells us about the way that nature changes:
And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows -
Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent spray’s edge -
That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children’s dower,
- Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!
Nature changes in a dramatic way, when May takes over from April and then summer comes along. The song of the ‘wise thrush’ makes an entrance; the Thrush is wise because it sings its song twice over…just in case the listener might think that the Thrush couldn’t repeat the song in the same, carefree manner.
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
The beauty of nature in the English spring and summer is portrayed in each verse; both contain some very beautiful images that highlight the wonder of nature, such as the idea of buttercups lighting up the fields in their ‘noontide’ glory. Robert Browning cleverly contrasts this with,
‘this gaudy melon-flower!
The Melon flower is no doubt a metaphor for the spring/ summer time in Italy and the Buttercups are a metaphor for the English spring/summer; Robert Browning makes it quite obvious which he prefers! The word, ‘gaudy’ suggests that the melon flower has a cheap and vulgar showiness about it, whereas the yellow Buttercups are far more likeable to Browning.
Robert Browning certainly portrays a very delicate, yet stunning beauty of the natural world and he seems to find comfort in reminiscing; it’s as if he is back at home in England feeling very content, as he writes his poem. It’s very evident that Browning loves the simple pleasures that England has to offer but especially the pleasures that the spring and summer time produce.
Good Morning Sal.
ReplyDeleteThe Brownings lived difficult lives, especially Elizabeth (she lived in Torquay at the Hotel Regina on the harbour for a few years to assist in her health issues), and she and Robert had to marry secretly and then move to Italy, again for her health. We stayed in an apt. just a few doors up from the Hotel Regina one year when visiting. Passing the windows the bar looked busy and interesting - we went in but were refused service as it was only open to people staying there! I would have loved to look around.
I haven't seen a chaffinch in so long as we apparently don't have them here, but do recall them from my childhood.
Happy Spring - like me you are busy in the garden I'm sure.
Mary -
Thank you, Mary! I knew that they had connections with Torquay.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that you weren’t allowed service at The Hotel Regjna.
Happy spring to you too xxx