Poetry · Chapter
Flood explained
The poem depicts a flood scene with golden-brown waters, swaying rockvine clusters, and vast wings brooding over the sea.
What happens
The poem depicts a flood scene with golden-brown waters, swaying rockvine clusters, and vast wings brooding over the sea. It conveys a mood of sullen day and ruthless, incertitude-filled nature, ending with a dedication to Trieste, 1915.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and Mood
The flood, rockvine, and brooding sea evoke a sullen, ruthless natural mood.
Transience and Loss
The imagery of sated flood and incertitude reflects the fleeting and uncertain nature of existence.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Goldbrown upon the sated flood The rockvine clusters lift and sway”
Golden-brown rockvine clusters rise and move on the full flood.
Describes the visual and motion of the flood.
“A waste of waters ruthlessly Sways and uplifts its weedy mane”
A vast, cruel expanse of water sways and raises its weedy surface.
Emphasizes the harsh, untamed nature of the sea.
“Uplift and sway, O golden vine, Your clustered fruits to love’s full flood”
Rise and move, golden vine, offering your fruits to the overwhelming flood of love.
A plea or invocation to the vine in the context of love's abundance.