ENG102

3/16/12

Xu Xiong

The river of life

                Thomas Campbell (27 July 1777 – 15 June 1844) was a Scottish poet chiefly remembered for his sentimental poetry dealing specially with human affairs. He was also one of the initiators of a plan to found what became the University of London.  In 1799, he wrote “The Pleasures of Hope” a tradition 18^th century survey in heroic couplets . he also produced several stirring patriotic war songs. I think the poem is great and portrays with accuracy the life’s stages we go through. It adheres to strict rhyme and meter which is more difficult than commonly acknowledged.

                ‘The more we life’, the ’more brief’ each stage of life becomes. ‘Youth’ is current life. ‘Disorders’ means terrible future. ‘Steals lingering’ means people want to stay youth. ‘grassy borders’ means the board of good life. ‘ the care worn cheets grow wan’ means got old. ‘stars’ are hopes for people. ‘Bloom and breath’ means meaning and fantasy. ‘vapid’ means nothing. ‘Heaven’ is a hope and dream. ‘years’ is lives.

                The primary metaphor for life is the river. In youth , this “gladsome current” is at its most “smooth”, “lingering” on verdant “grassy borders”, before it is disturbed by “passion”. This vision of life as a river’s journey is evoked by the author’s use of the ballad form, with its rollicking rhymes in each stanza keeps the mood buoyant, even when the poem describes the sadness of age.

                     What is the haven? It is that gives our years of “fading strength” an “indemnifying fleetness”. This powerful and memorable phrase grants a redemptive gravitas to time’s peculiar will. It’s perversity os really a form of protection. It is only suitable that our happiest and most joyful days are those of the greatest “seeming length”.

 

 

Biography information: Wikipedia.com