I am so happy that someone is posting about the Amoretti.
I would add that I don't take the last lines of the poem as exactly a
declaration (of platonic truth, or even of intent), so much as an articulation
of desire (it's a sonnet, after all). The *future* renewal of life, in its many
senses, tends to emphasize the lack the speaker currently experiences--
the frustration with time, waves, poetry, and an uncooperative lady who
thinks much of what he says is pretentious. In other words, I think this is a
characteristically Spenserian moment of deferral, the "anticipated-but-
deferred wholeness" that David Lee Miller so beautifully lays out. what
makes it a fabulous sonnet for me is the combination of helplessness and
will to power in these last lines.
Chris Warley
---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 14:03:31 -0500
>From: William Oram <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: LXXV's last 3 words
>To: [log in to unmask]
>
>I agree with Charlie. The life of the poem written "in the heavens" is
>longer than the life of the individual which is written more or less "in
>the sand", and from that timeless place ("Where...") the example of the
>lovers become a model for future lovers. The comparison I think of is
>the ending of Donne's Canonization, where the "hymns" like the one that
>Donne is writing become the proof of the lovers' sainthood and they
>become divine mediators, begging a pattern or idea of love for future
>lovers to copy in their own lives. But the pattern that they're asked
>for is already provided in the text of the poem itself. Bill Oram
>
>>>> [log in to unmask] 02/20/04 09:27AM >>>
>Leigh Harrison
>> Our love shall later renew [our] life
>> Life shall later renew our love
>> /Later life/ (think Yeats) shall renew itself
>> Later life shall renew our love
>> Life will renew later
>> Our love shall renew Life [i.e. life altogether for "all the world"]
>~
>
>I love this kind of puzzle! Thanks for bringing it up. Your list looks
>pretty comprehensive, but might 'later life' refer to those (like us)
>who
>are born in later ages, who may find our own loves renewed by
>contemplation
>of theirs? The kind of thing you get in Shakespeare's
>
>So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
>You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes.
>
>One for the pot, anyway.
>
>Charlie
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