Sonnet 19 "Arethusa's New Ordeals" by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares

Posthumous work of the Colombian poet born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948.

Welcome to this blog dedicated to the Posthumous work of the Colombian poet Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (my father), born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948-2010. Where I will be publishing each of the 175 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty-First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).' Analyzed with GPT4 artificial intelligence and illustrated with AI tools... I hope you enjoy this garden of words snatched from the solitude of a locked room.

Likewise, any enthusiast of the sonnet form is invited to conduct their personal studies of Arroyave Tabares' work, as it is a collection that, although registered since 1989, has not yet been published.

Frank Duna

Analysis "Arethusa's New Ordeals"

Introduction

Sonnet 19 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "Arethusa's New Ordeals," is a poem that tells the story of Arethusa, a nymph from Greek and Latin mythology. The poem uses mythological references to explore themes of escape, transformation, and the struggle against adversity.

Thematic Analysis

In the octave, the poem describes the journey of Arethusa, a nymph from Greek mythology, who is trying to escape from Alpheus. The octave uses vivid imagery to depict Arethusa’s struggle and her transformation into a stream to hide from Alpheus. The octave ends with Arethusa finding temporary relief as she merges with a larger stream.

The sestet, on the other hand, introduces a twist in the tale. Arethusa, who thought she had found a safe haven, realizes that she is now facing a new challenge - pollution. The chemicals running through her symbolize the environmental issues that our water bodies are facing today. The sonnet ends with Arethusa revealing to Artemis (Diana in Roman mythology) that Alpheus is returning, indicating that her ordeal is far from over.

Overall, the sonnet uses the story of Arethusa to comment on larger environmental issues, making it a powerful piece of ecological poetry. The transition from the octave to the sestet also mirrors the shift in Arethusa’s journey from a personal struggle to a larger, more universal challenge.

Structure and Rhyme Scheme

The sonnet “Arethusa’s New Ordeals” by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares follows the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDE CDE. Let’s break it down:

Octave (first eight lines):

A: When in the dry season the rivers sear
B: A confused Arethusa starts to Chide
B: And looking for another place to hide
A: She wanders restless through the mountains near.
A: Finally she stops when she finds a clear
B: By a big stream where oary people ride
B: And concealing her body on the side
A: She jumps in and becomes the flood, so dear.

Sestet (last six lines):

C: But after a while she sadly finds out
D: That she is being put to new ordeals
E: Since through her the chemicals start running…
C: Seeking another change of fate, her mouth
D: She opens and to Arthemis reveals
E: That Alpheus is to her returning…

In the octave, the first and fourth lines rhyme with each other, as do the second and third lines. This pattern is repeated in the next four lines. In the sestet, the first, fourth lines rhyme, as do the second and fifth, and the third and sixth. This rhyme scheme is typical of Petrarchan sonnets and adds a musical quality to the poem while also serving to emphasize the thematic divisions between the octave and the sestet. The change in rhyme scheme from the octave to the sestet often signals a shift in theme or tone in the poem. In this case, the shift from ABBA ABBA to CDE CDE coincides with the shift in Arethusa’s journey from a personal struggle to a larger, more universal challenge.

Analysis of Aspects

Let’s delve deeper into the analysis of the sonnet “Arethusa's New Ordeals” by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares.

Language and Imagery: The language used in “Arethusa’s New Ordeals” is rich and descriptive, creating vivid imagery that brings the story of Arethusa to life. The poet uses words like “dry season”, “rivers sear”, “wander restless”, and “oary people ride” to paint a picture of Arethusa’s journey and struggle. The use of mythological references (Arethusa, Alpheus, Artemis) adds a layer of depth to the poem, connecting it to ancient stories and themes.

Themes: The main themes of the poem are transformation, escape, and environmental issues. The story of Arethusa’s transformation into a stream and her attempts to escape Alpheus is a metaphor for the struggle of nature against human interference. The mention of “chemicals running” through Arethusa in the sestet introduces the theme of pollution and environmental degradation, making a statement about the impact of human activities on natural water bodies.

Meter: The poem follows the meter typical of a Petrarchan sonnet. It is written in iambic pentameter, which means each line consists of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality when read aloud.

Overall, “Arethusa’s New Ordeals” is a beautifully crafted sonnet that uses the story of Arethusa to comment on larger environmental issues. The shift from the octave to the sestet, both in terms of rhyme scheme and theme, adds complexity to the poem and reflects the shift in Arethusa’s journey from a personal struggle to a larger, more universal challenge. The poem’s use of language, imagery, and meter work together to create a powerful piece of ecological poetry.

#### (GPT4)

Syllable count for each line.

Arethusa's New Ordeals


10 When in the dry season the rivers sear                    
10 A confused Arethusa starts to Chide                       
10 And looking for another place to hide
10 She wanders restless through the mountains near.
 
10 Finally she stops when she finds a clear
10 By a big stream where oary people ride                     
10 And concealing her body on the side
10 She jumps in and becomes the flood, so dear.

10 But after a while she sadly finds out
10 That she is being put to new ordeals
10 Since through her the chemicals start running... 
10 Seeking another change of fate, her mouth
10 She opens and to Arthemis reveals
9  That Alpheus is to her returning...
                       ***
                                         

Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical Written By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987)

_ Analyzed by GPT4; Image by leonardo.ai; First published on Nostr Protocol by franciscoarroyavet@nostrplebs.com Arethusa's New Ordeals