Summary of Ted Hughes The Seven Sorrows

The first sorrow of autumn
Is the slow goodbye
Of the garden who stands so long in the evening-
A brown poppy head,
The stalk of a lily,
And still cannot go.

These lines suggest a sense of melancholy and sadness that comes with the changing season of autumn. The speaker describes the garden, which has been vibrant and alive throughout the summer, now slowly saying goodbye. The mention of a brown poppy head and the stalk of a lily symbolize the fading beauty and vitality of the garden. Despite the approaching end, the garden lingers in the evening, unable to let go of its existence. It evokes a feeling of longing and the bittersweet nature of transitions in life. The lines capture the essence of the changing seasons and the inevitable passage of time.

The second sorrow
Is the empty feet
Of a pheasant who hangs from a hook with his brothers.
The woodland of gold
Is folded in feathers
With its head in a bag.

These lines continue to convey a sense of sorrow and loss. The speaker describes the image of a pheasant hanging from a hook, along with its brothers. The empty feet of the pheasant symbolize the absence of life and movement. The mention of the woodland of gold being folded in feathers suggests that the once vibrant and lively forest is now still and lifeless. The head of the woodland, representing its essence or spirit, is trapped in a bag, further emphasizing the loss and confinement. These lines evoke a feeling of captivity and the sadness that comes with the loss of freedom and natural beauty.

And the third sorrow
Is the slow goodbye
Of the sun who has gathered the birds and who gathers
The minutes of evening,
The golden and holy
Ground of the picture.

These lines continue to explore the theme of farewell and the passage of time. The speaker describes the sorrow of the sun bidding goodbye, as it gathers the birds and the minutes of evening. The sun, like a conductor, gathers all the elements of the evening and orchestrates the transition from day to night. The mention of the golden and holy ground of the picture suggests the beauty and sacredness of this moment. These lines capture the poignant beauty of sunsets and the melancholic feeling that comes with the end of each day. It reminds us of the fleeting nature of time and the need to appreciate and cherish each passing moment.

The fourth sorrow
Is the pond gone black
Ruined and sunken the city of water-
The beetle’s palace,
The catacombs
Of the dragonfly.

These lines highlight the sorrowful image of a pond that has turned black and the subsequent ruin of the aquatic city. The speaker describes the pond as a palace for beetles and catacombs for dragonflies, emphasizing the loss and destruction of their habitat. The imagery evokes a sense of decay and desolation, suggesting the impact of pollution or environmental degradation. It serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of nature and the consequences of human actions on the delicate ecosystems around us.

And the fifth sorrow
Is the slow goodbye
Of the woodland that quietly breaks up its camp.
One day it’s gone.
It has only left litter-
Firewood, tentpoles.

These lines emphasize the sorrow of the woodland as it silently bids farewell and disassembles its camp. The speaker describes how one day the woodland is simply gone, leaving behind only scattered debris like firewood and tentpoles. This imagery conveys a sense of transience and impermanence. It reminds us that nature, like everything else, goes through cycles of change and departure. The lines evoke a feeling of loss and the fleeting nature of existence, highlighting the importance of appreciating and preserving the beauty of the natural world.

And the sixth sorrow
Is the fox’s sorrow
The joy of the huntsman, the joy of the hounds,
The hooves that pound
Till earth closes her ear
To the fox’s prayer.

These lines describe the sorrow of the fox, contrasting it with the joy of the huntsman and the hounds. The speaker highlights the relentless pursuit of the fox, with the hooves pounding the ground. The mention of earth closing her ear to the fox’s prayer suggests the futility of the fox’s plea for mercy or escape. This imagery evokes a sense of the fox’s vulnerability and the harsh reality of the predator-prey relationship. It captures the sadness and unfairness of the fox being hunted, emphasizing the power dynamics and the inevitable outcome of the hunt.

And the seventh sorrow
Is the slow goodbye
Of the face with its wrinkles that looks through the window
As the year packs up
Like a tatty fairground
That came for the children.

These lines talk about the sorrowful farewell of a face with wrinkles that gazes through the window. The speaker compares the passing year to a worn-out fairground that came for the children. The imagery suggests the passage of time and the fleeting nature of youth and innocence. The wrinkles on the face symbolize the accumulated experiences and wisdom of a lifetime. The lines evoke a sense of nostalgia and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to the past. It reminds us of the inevitability of change and the importance of cherishing the moments we have.

Summary of Andrew Motion A Glass of Wine