# By the Arno explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Oscar Wilde.

## What happens

The poem describes a dawn scene along the Arno in Florence, where the oleander blooms and the nightingale sings in the almond-scented vale, contrasting the lingering shadows of night with the approaching morning that will silence the bird.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Seasons

The poem vividly depicts the natural world at dawn—oleander, dew, blossoms, grasshoppers, nightingale, and the almond-scented vale.

### Transience and Mortality

The nightingale's song will be silenced by the day, and the dawn 'slays' the night, reflecting the fleetingness of beauty and life.

## Character check-ins

### Love

The speaker's heart's delight is referenced, tied to love and the nightingale's song.

## Key lines

> The oleander on the wall Grows crimson in the dawning light

The oleander flowers on the wall turn red as the morning light appears.

_Opening image of dawn's arrival._

> the grasshoppers have fled, The little Attic song is still

The grasshoppers are gone, and their small, classical song has ceased.

_Reference to the cicadas of Attica, symbolizing silence replacing sound._

> The day will make thee silent soon, O nightingale sing on for love!

Daylight will soon silence you, nightingale, so keep singing for love while you can.

_Plea to the nightingale to continue its song before dawn ends it._

> the long white fingers of the dawn Fast climbing up the eastern sky To grasp and slay the shuddering night

The pale rays of dawn climb quickly in the east to overcome and end the trembling night.

_Personification of dawn as a killer of night._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/by-the-arno
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters