Thread: Sonnet #8
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Unread 04-20-2011, 04:02 AM
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Petra Norr Petra Norr is offline
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The song 'Surabaya' has such a huge part in this sonnet, from the title to the epigraph to the text, that by rights you should suspect that the couple in the sonnet are Johnny and the woman who loves him. But I can't get away from my impression that's it's simply a couple who hasn't yet capitulated to love. Desire is there between them, the moon and sea provide the romantic backdrop, but the woman in the poem is setting herself against love, which she sees as synonymous with tragedy. In essence she's saying, "I'm not going to fall in love", and she goes off (in the wonderful ending line) to chase away the (romantic) moon, which "has no business there". The man in the poem could well be "a rogue" (of the charming type) -- there's something about the way he plucks a reed and coos a lazy air that gives me that impression. And of course the woman in the poem (who no doubt is attracted to him) knows it. That's my own take on the couple and the sonnet -- which I've read numerous times now. It's exquisite, and I admire it hugely.
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