Elizabeth Browning's Sonnet 14 is a powerful and moving poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this sonnet, Browning employs a variety of literary devices, including alliteration, rhyme, and meter, to convey the depth and intensity of her emotions.
The poem begins with a sense of loss and mourning, as the speaker laments the fact that time has passed and their loved one is no longer with them. This is evident in the opening lines: "Oh, to what brown earth this that I write my love, / When thou, my love, art up in heaven above?" The use of the word "brown" here suggests a sense of decay and deterioration, as the speaker is writing their love to the earth rather than to the person they love.
Despite this sense of loss and grief, the speaker remains steadfast in their love for their loved one. In the second quatrain, the speaker declares that their love is eternal and unchanging, saying: "No fading this our love, for thou dost keep / Time's furrows from my face and his gray hairs." The use of the phrase "our love" suggests that the speaker and their loved one are united in their love, even in death.
In the third quatrain, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life. They acknowledge that time moves on, but they believe that their love will transcend time and remain eternal. The use of alliteration in the lines "All life, all love, all glory, all delight" emphasizes the speaker's belief that their love is all-encompassing and eternal.
Finally, in the closing couplet, the speaker reaffirms their love for their loved one, declaring that they will continue to love them even after death. The use of rhyme in the lines "And so, love, thou and I shall love as one / Until we pass to life beyond the sun" creates a sense of unity and closure, as the speaker and their loved one are united in their eternal love.
Overall, Elizabeth Browning's Sonnet 14 is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the enduring power of love. Through her use of literary devices and emotional language, Browning captures the depth and intensity of the speaker's love for their loved one, even in the face of loss and the passage of time.
