Effusion XXII To The Nightingale

       The Nightingale by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is one of a collection of sonnets of the "Romantic" genre that was popularized by the Romantic school of poets of which Coleridge and his contemporary friends , like Wordsworth were known for. Frequently , many pieces of poetry or prose would become a collection on one topic. These lyrical ballads were on one topic and were designed to express an appreciation of both nature and the emotions that could be evoked by reflection on the scene described in nature and the lesson that could be learned from being contemplative about scene. In this sonnet the poet, Coleridge is meditating on the beauty of the night and the moon which illuminates and defines the night with "diversities of tone" and refers to the various ways the moon looks in brightness and crescent as well as the feeling the moon causes in the night sky and how it varies. These changing phases of the moon evoke memories for the observer. The author uses personification to make the reader believe the moon is a women who is watching from above the people and its lovers below and causing emotions in those people and their thoughts of love. Coleridge is trying to write this sonnet in the manner of Rev. Bowles, one of his admired authors. Additionally, Coleridge was a brilliant scholar and writer on the subject of Shakespeare, and this sonnet is also, like many sonnets, reminiscent of Shakespeare writings as well. Coleridge’s sonnet poems are conversation poetry. It is blank fluent verse which follows the format of many such sonnets, which begin with a landscape description, which goes on to evoke memories and than usually sadness or loss and therefore causes a moral resolution and ends with romance or a landscape description once again. This poem was about the poets lover and wife, Sara, and her love for the author. The sonnet ends on a very loving note, discussing how the author, Coleridge, is thrilled with his "Sara" uttering her his name. It compares and contrasts the female personification of the moon lite night with his beautiful female lover Sara. It speaks of her breast of white snow much like he discusses the soft colors of the moon and the "white arm" of the harp like moon, or the crescent "female"moon. The poet Coleridge was a Romantic moody sonnet writer considered very knowledgeable and gifted in his art as well as a very intelligent thinker.