Sonnet 22

To Stay Here Rather on Earth

 

The book of poems Kevin gives Sara on her sixteenth birthday is called "Sonnets from the Portuguese," written by Elizabeth Barrett in 1845-6 and published in 1850, when she had become Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The poems are IRL love poems of an IRL love affair – the love story and marriage of Robert and Elizabeth in middle of the 19th century, which lasted 16 years, from January 10, 1845 until her death June 29, 1861.

This is the first contact between them, a letter from Robert Browning.

10-january, 1845

New Cross, Hatcham, Surrey.

I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett, -and this is no off-hand complimentary letter that I shall write, -whatever else, no prompt matter-of-course recognition of your genius and there a graceful and natural end of the thing:

Since the day last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been turning and turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect upon me - for in the first flush of delight I thought I would this once get out of my habit of purely passive enjoyment, when I do really enjoy, and thoroughly justify my admiration - perhaps even, as a loyal fellow-craftsman should, try and find fault and do you some little good to be proud of hereafter!

-but nothing comes of it all

-so into me has it gone, and part of me has it become, this great living poetry of yours, not a flower of which but took root and grew .. oh, how different that is from lying to be dried and pressed flat and prized highly and put in a book with a proper account at top and bottom, and shut up and put away .. and the book called a "Flora," besides!

After all, I need not give up the thought of doing that, too, in time; because even now, talking with whoever is worthy, I can give a reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thought

-but in this addressing myself to you, your own self, and for the first time, my feeling rises altogether.

I do, as I say, love these Books with all my heart - and I love you too: do you know I was once not very far from seeing .. really seeing you? Mr Kenyon said to me one morning "would you like to see Miss Barrett?"-then he went to announce me, - then he returned .. you were too unwell

-and now it is years ago-and I feel as at some untoward passage in my travels-as if I had been close, so close, to some world’s-wonder in chapel or crypt, .. only a screen to push and I might have entered - but there was some slight .. so it now seems .. slight and just-sufficient bar to admission, and the half-opened door shut, and I went home my thousands of miles, and the sight was never to be!

Well, these Poems were to be - and this true thankful joy and pride with which I feel myself

Yours ever faithfully,

Robert Browning.

 

It is quite fine how Robert contrasts a dried flower pressed flat between the pages of a book with the living flower of joy growing in his heart from reading Elizabeth’s poems. There are some reports Elizabeth read this letter with worry he was already fixed on her person, not on her work. It is quite extreme in its sentiment, surely. Soon this became a worry of little importance! They conducted a courtship, largly by letters, and married in September, 1846.

Sonnet 22 

When our two souls stand up erect and strong, 

Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, 

Until the lengthening wings break into fire 

At either curvèd point,—what bitter wrong 

Can the earth do to us, that we should not long

Be here contented? Think. In mounting higher, 

The angels would press on us and aspire 

To drop some golden orb of perfect song 

Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay 

Rather on earth, Belovèd,—where the unfit

Contrarious moods of men recoil away 

And isolate pure spirits, and permit 

A place to stand and love in for a day, 

With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.

 

Atheism?

While this poem is an anthem for living and loving without God or eternity, this does not mean Elizabeth was an atheist. Her works and letters say otherwise. Perhaps she was so in love the day she wrote it, she considered God to be in second place.

Why is it called "Sonnets from the Portuguese?"

One story about the title of this folio amuses: Elizabeth was shy of publishing sentiments so specific to her lover, so personal, so vulnerable. They were the love songs from her courtship of 1845 and 1846.
    Robert used the affectionate "my little Portuguese" for her, and she latched onto that as an inside fond connection, yet which would place the book ‘at a remove,’ with the implication it might be a translation from an imaginary poet she channeled.
    These sonnets belong to the greatest poems of the 19th Century, a tour de force of the English language. The tinge of them floating down from another language is a wonderful small conceit of the Romantic era.

Jenny and "Love Story"

In the film "Love Story" Jenny and Oliver ‘marry themselves’ and her vow is, yes, Sonnet 22. You can find the scene from the film on YouTube. Ali McGraw, playing Jenny, recites it very well. To hear it, go to YouTube and search on "love story film wedding vows."
    They had decided they were not ‘big on the God thing’ when telling her father about their plan for the ceremony, and this sonnet is a perfect deep confirmation of Jenny’s atheistic beliefs.

More about this great poet:

Poets' Org on Elizabeth Barrett Browning

A favorite quotation from Elizabeth:

"I am not of a cold nature, & cannot bear to be treated coldly. When cold water is thrown upon a hot iron, the iron hisses."

Sara loves that!


Sonnet 22

To Stay Here Rather on Earth

 

The book of poems Kevin gives Sara on her sixteenth birthday is called "Sonnets from the Portuguese," written by Elizabeth Barrett in 1845-6 and published in 1850, when she had become Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The poems are IRL love poems of an IRL love affair – the love story and marriage of Robert and Elizabeth in middle of the 19th century, which lasted 16 years, from January 10, 1845 until her death June 29, 1861.

This is the first contact between them, a letter from Robert Browning.

10-january, 1845

New Cross, Hatcham, Surrey.

I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett, -and this is no off-hand complimentary letter that I shall write, -whatever else, no prompt matter-of-course recognition of your genius and there a graceful and natural end of the thing:

Since the day last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been turning and turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect upon me - for in the first flush of delight I thought I would this once get out of my habit of purely passive enjoyment, when I do really enjoy, and thoroughly justify my admiration - perhaps even, as a loyal fellow-craftsman should, try and find fault and do you some little good to be proud of hereafter!

-but nothing comes of it all

-so into me has it gone, and part of me has it become, this great living poetry of yours, not a flower of which but took root and grew .. oh, how different that is from lying to be dried and pressed flat and prized highly and put in a book with a proper account at top and bottom, and shut up and put away .. and the book called a "Flora," besides!

After all, I need not give up the thought of doing that, too, in time; because even now, talking with whoever is worthy, I can give a reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thought

-but in this addressing myself to you, your own self, and for the first time, my feeling rises altogether.

I do, as I say, love these Books with all my heart - and I love you too: do you know I was once not very far from seeing .. really seeing you? Mr Kenyon said to me one morning "would you like to see Miss Barrett?"-then he went to announce me, - then he returned .. you were too unwell

-and now it is years ago-and I feel as at some untoward passage in my travels-as if I had been close, so close, to some world’s-wonder in chapel or crypt, .. only a screen to push and I might have entered - but there was some slight .. so it now seems .. slight and just-sufficient bar to admission, and the half-opened door shut, and I went home my thousands of miles, and the sight was never to be!

Well, these Poems were to be - and this true thankful joy and pride with which I feel myself

Yours ever faithfully,

Robert Browning.

 

It is quite fine how Robert contrasts a dried flower pressed flat between the pages of a book with the living flower of joy growing in his heart from reading Elizabeth’s poems. There are some reports Elizabeth read this letter with worry he was already fixed on her person, not on her work. It is quite extreme in its sentiment, surely. Soon this became a worry of little importance! They conducted a courtship, largly by letters, and married in September, 1846.

Sonnet 22 

When our two souls stand up erect and strong, 

Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, 

Until the lengthening wings break into fire 

At either curvèd point,—what bitter wrong 

Can the earth do to us, that we should not long

Be here contented? Think. In mounting higher, 

The angels would press on us and aspire 

To drop some golden orb of perfect song 

Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay 

Rather on earth, Belovèd,—where the unfit

Contrarious moods of men recoil away 

And isolate pure spirits, and permit 

A place to stand and love in for a day, 

With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.

 

Atheism?

While this poem is an anthem for living and loving without God or eternity, this does not mean Elizabeth was an atheist. Her works and letters say otherwise. Perhaps she was so in love the day she wrote it, she considered God to be in second place.

Why is it called "Sonnets from the Portuguese?"

One story about the title of this folio amuses: Elizabeth was shy of publishing sentiments so specific to her lover, so personal, so vulnerable. They were the love songs from her courtship of 1845 and 1846.
    Robert used the affectionate "my little Portuguese" for her, and she latched onto that as an inside fond connection, yet which would place the book ‘at a remove,’ with the implication it might be a translation from an imaginary poet she channeled.
    These sonnets belong to the greatest poems of the 19th Century, a tour de force of the English language. The tinge of them floating down from another language is a wonderful small conceit of the Romantic era.

Jenny and "Love Story"

In the film "Love Story" Jenny and Oliver ‘marry themselves’ and her vow is, yes, Sonnet 22. You can find the scene from the film on YouTube. Ali McGraw, playing Jenny, recites it very well. To hear it, go to YouTube and search on "love story film wedding vows."
    They had decided they were not ‘big on the God thing’ when telling her father about their plan for the ceremony, and this sonnet is a perfect deep confirmation of Jenny’s atheistic beliefs.

More about this great poet:

Poets' Org on Elizabeth Barrett Browning

A favorite quotation from Elizabeth:

"I am not of a cold nature, & cannot bear to be treated coldly. When cold water is thrown upon a hot iron, the iron hisses."

Sara loves that!