The Wild Swans of Coole

📝 Overview

Stanzas: 5 stanzas, each with 6 lines (sestets)
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDD
Meter: Predominantly iambic, with a pattern of tetrameter and trimeter lines, and a pentameter line in each stanza.

"The trees are in their autumn beauty,"
🍂 The poet sets the scene in autumn, symbolizing maturity and the passage of time.
"The woodland paths are dry,"
🚶‍♂️ The dry paths suggest a period of transition and change.
"Under the October twilight the water"
🌆 The evening light reflects on the water, creating a serene atmosphere.
"Mirrors a still sky;"
🪞 The calm water reflects the unchanging sky, emphasizing stillness.
"Upon the brimming water among the stones"
🦢 Swans are seen on the full lake, indicating abundance and life.
"Are nine-and-fifty swans."
🔢 The specific count of 59 swans introduces a sense of order and observation.

"The nineteenth autumn has come upon me"
📅 The poet reflects on the passage of 19 years since he first observed the swans.
"Since I first made my count;"
🧮 He recalls the initial act of counting the swans, marking a personal tradition.
"I saw, before I had well finished,"
👀 The swans suddenly take flight before he completes his count.
"All suddenly mount"
🕊️ The swans rise into the air abruptly, symbolizing spontaneity.
"And scatter wheeling in great broken rings"
🔄 The swans form dynamic patterns in the sky, showcasing their vitality.
"Upon their clamorous wings."
🔊 The noise of their wings emphasizes their energy and presence.

"I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,"
✨ The poet admires the swans' beauty and grace.
"And now my heart is sore."
💔 He feels a deep emotional pain, possibly from aging or lost love.
"All's changed since I, hearing at twilight,"
⏳ He notes that much has changed since he first observed them at dusk.
"The first time on this shore,"
🌊 Recalling his initial encounter with the swans at this location.
"The bell-beat of their wings above my head,"
🔔 The sound of their wings is likened to bells, evoking a spiritual or emotional resonance.
"Trod with a lighter tread."
🦶 He reflects on his younger, more carefree self.

"Unwearied still, lover by lover,"
💑 The swans remain tireless and paired, symbolizing enduring love.
"They paddle in the cold"
❄️ Despite the cold, they continue gracefully, indicating resilience.
"Companionable streams or climb the air;"
🌬️ They move together in harmony, whether on water or in flight.
"Their hearts have not grown old;"
❤️ The swans' spirits remain youthful, contrasting with the aging poet.
"Passion or conquest, wander where they will,"
🔥 They continue to experience passion and freedom.
"Attend upon them still."
🕊️ These qualities persist with the swans, highlighting their constancy.

"But now they drift on the still water,"
🌊 The swans are now calm and serene, mirroring the poet's contemplative mood.
"Mysterious, beautiful;"
🧩 Their enigmatic beauty captivates the poet.
"Among what rushes will they build,"
🏞️ He wonders where they will nest in the future.
"By what lake's edge or pool"
🌍 Speculating on their next destination, possibly beyond his reach.
"Delight men's eyes when I awake some day"
👁️ He imagines others finding joy in the swans after he's gone.
"To find they have flown away?"
🕊️ The poem ends with the fear of loss and the inevitability of change.

Imagery: Vivid descriptions of nature and the swans create a picturesque scene.
Symbolism: Swans symbolize eternal beauty, love, and the contrast between nature's permanence and human aging.
Personification: Swans are attributed with human qualities, such as having hearts that "have not grown old."
Alliteration: Phrases like "bell-beat of their wings" enhance the musical quality of the poem.
Metaphor: The swans serve as a metaphor for the poet's lost youth and enduring beauty.
Rhetorical Question: The final line poses a question that emphasizes uncertainty and the passage of time.

Aging and Change: The poet reflects on his own aging in contrast to the unchanging nature of the swans.
Nature's Permanence: The swans represent the enduring aspects of nature amidst human transience.
Unrequited Love: The solitary swan among pairs may symbolize the poet's own experiences with unfulfilled love.
Mortality: The poem contemplates the inevitability of death and the desire for lasting beauty.