Weep you no more, sad fountains;
What need you flow so fast?
Look how the snowy mountains
Heaven's sun doth gently waste.
But my sun's heavenly eyes
View not your weeping,
That now lies sleeping
Softly, now softly lies
Sleeping.
Sleep is a reconciling,
A rest that peace begets:
Doth not the sun rise smiling
When fair at even he sets?
Rest you then, rest, sad eyes,
Melt not in weeping,
While she lies sleeping
Softly, now softly lies
Sleeping.
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Comments
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Painted picture
From guest Ellen (contact)
Imagine that someone you love very dearly has just passed away. This person was in great pain before they died, and it hurt you to watch them in such pain. One they passed away, you hurt beause that person was gone, yet you felt comforted knowing that he/she doesn't have to feel any more pain, and is in a better place. When I read this poem the beginning said to me... Weep you no more sad fountains (Don't cry anymore) What need you flow so fast? (What requires you to leave me so quickly?) Look how the snowy mountains, heaven's sun doth gently waste? ( think about...look how the sun wastes all that snow on that mountain...when it could have cultivated it) But my sun's heavenly eyes, viw not your weeping. (He doesn't know that you have so much to live for) That now lies sleeping (Now you have passed on) Sofly now, softly lies sleeping. (Quietly she/he has passed on) Sleep is a reconciling (reconciling is another word for reunion) a rest that peace begets. (peace causes you to relax) Doth not the sun rise smiling, when fair at even he sets? (Does not the sun rise joyful when pale he sets...sets is another word for unchanging.)Rest you, then rest sad eyes (Be at peace, you don't have to ry in pain anymore) Melt not in weeping. (Melt/dissolve in my opinion means that the person didn't have to pass away in anguish because of pain could also be about you not having to break out into tears). That is what I believe the poem is about! -
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From guest jagen (contact)
he is saying that while something has happened that is terrible tomorrow will be better -
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not a happy poem
would suggest rereading the poem. There is a lot of sorrow in this--note the number of times weeping/sleeping is used. Also, "but my sun's heavenly eyes" lead to a conclusion of sorrow. Something is very wrong; a change has occurred. -
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Not sad but hopeful
The poet goes on to say
Doth not the sun rise smiling
It is an exhortation to leave the gloom (sadness) behind and look forward to the dawn light (hope).
Or as someone else put it much later on
Always look on the bright side . . .
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Interpretation woes
From guest Jennifer (contact)
OK, so this poem basically says "Cheer up, tomorrow will be better". Would someone like to have a go at giving a more detailed description of how the poet paints this picture? Thanks -
different versions?
From guest Megan (contact)
Are there different versions of this poem because I know it as: Why doth you flow so fast? Instead of: What need you flow so fast? which I think makes more sense. -
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When poems are reprinted in books and anthologies differences do creep in. Sometimes a poet will change the words they originally wrote and sometimes editors make errors. Sometimes when poems are set to music the words are altered to make them fit more readily with the tune.
All of this makes it difficult to be certain of the absolutely correct words but we do endeavour to ensure that the words we used are the final version prefered by the writer.
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