Sonnet 12 "Small Pandora Boxes " By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
Posthumous work of the Colombian poet born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948.
Welcome to this blog dedicated to the Posthumous work of the Colombian poet Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (my father), born in Don Matias on January 20, 1948-2010. Where I will be publishing each of the 175 sonnets from his unpublished collection 'Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical (1984-1987).' Analyzed with GPT4 artificial intelligence and illustrated with AI tools... I hope you enjoy this garden of words snatched from the solitude of a locked room.
Likewise, any enthusiast of the sonnet form is invited to conduct their personal studies of Arroyave Tabares' work, as it is a collection that, although registered since 1989, has not yet been published.
Frank Duna
Sonnet 12 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares
Small Pandora Boxes
Will thoughts pierce further than laser anger
After enough summits on earth to pray
For understanding that people can say
Will bring that peace to our way much stronger?
Will I love beam stay around for longer
To frame around each child the fair sun rays
Instead of mutant genes that now-a-days
Speak for pasts to which he is a stranger?
It sounds too good to say there is still hope
For humans who see this end of the rope
Now that those small cases our fate conceal.
Pandora Boxes! Each day we have more; 12
And will we seal on time the dreaded door?
And will there be room for our dreams to heal?
***
12-. Pandora = the first mortal woman, who curiously
opened a box letting all human ills escape, and leaving
only hope. "Pandora Boxes" in this poem alludes to the
cases which only a leader of a super power nation may
posses in order to trigger an arms confrontation when
he is traveling.
Analysis "Small Pandora Boxes "
Introduction
Sonnet 12 by Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares, titled "Small Pandora Boxes," is a reflection on the human condition, the potential for destruction, and the hope for a better future. The poem is structured as a traditional sonnet with 14 lines, divided into an octave (first eight lines) and a sestet (last six lines). The rhyme scheme follows the pattern ABBA ABBA CCD EED.
Thematic Analysis
In the octave, the speaker questions whether human understanding and love can overcome the destructive forces of anger and conflict. The mention of "laser anger" and "mutant genes" alludes to the potential for technological advancements to be used for harm. The speaker also wonders if love can protect children from the consequences of past actions, as they are "strangers" to the past.
The sestet introduces the concept of hope, despite the seemingly dire circumstances. The "small cases" mentioned in line 11 refer to the Pandora Boxes, which are explained in the footnote as cases that can trigger an arms confrontation when possessed by a leader of a superpower nation. The poem ends with two questions, asking if humanity can prevent further destruction and if there will be room for dreams to heal.
Overall, the poem explores themes of hope, love, and the potential for human destruction. It serves as a reminder of the power that individuals and nations hold, and the responsibility to use that power wisely for the betterment of humanity..
Structure and Rhyme Scheme
In "Small Pandora Boxes," the rhyme scheme follows the pattern of a Petrarchan sonnet, which is characterized by an octave (the first eight lines) and a sestet (the last six lines). The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBA ABBA CCD EED.
Here is the poem with the rhyme scheme indicated:
A Will thoughts pierce further than laser anger
B After enough summits on earth to pray
B For understanding that people can say
A Will bring that peace to our way much stronger?
A Will I love beam stay around for longer
B To frame around each child the fair sun rays
B Instead of mutant genes that now-a-days
A Speak for pasts to which he is a stranger?
C It sounds too good to say there is still hope
C For humans who see this end of the rope
D Now that those small cases our fate conceal.
E Pandora Boxes! Each day we have more; 12
E And will we seal on time the dreaded door?
D And will there be room for our dreams to heal?
In the octave, the rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA, the sestet follows a CCD EED rhyme scheme.
The use of the Petrarchan sonnet structure and rhyme scheme lends the poem a sense of formality and tradition, which contrasts with the modern themes and imagery present in the poem. This contrast serves to emphasize the timeless nature of the human struggle between love and destruction, as well as the enduring power of hope.
Analysis of Aspects
In addition to the rhyme scheme and thematic analysis, other aspects worth analyzing in "Small Pandora Boxes" include:
Meter and Rhythm: The sonnet largely follows the iambic pentameter, which is a common metrical form in traditional English poetry and verse drama. This means each line generally has ten syllables, following a pattern of unstressed-stressed syllables.
Imagery and Symbolism: The poem is rich in imagery and symbolism. The “laser anger” symbolizes destructive power, while “summits on earth” could represent human achievements or ambitions. The “small cases” or “Pandora Boxes” symbolize the potential for disaster but also hope, as per the Greek myth of Pandora’s box.
Tone and Mood: The tone of the poem is contemplative and somewhat somber, reflecting on serious issues such as the potential for human destruction and the hope for peace and understanding. The mood is one of cautious optimism, acknowledging the challenges but also expressing hope.
Theme: The overarching theme of the poem is the duality of human nature and our capacity for both destruction and redemption. It contemplates on how technological advancements can lead to potential disasters (symbolized by Pandora’s boxes), but there’s still hope for humanity to prevent these disasters and heal.
Allusion: The poem makes a direct allusion to the Greek myth of Pandora’s box. In this myth, Pandora opens a box out of curiosity, releasing all evils into the world but leaving hope inside once she closed it again. This allusion is used to symbolize the potential dangers that come with knowledge and progress, but also the enduring presence of hope.
By examining these additional aspects of "Small Pandora Boxes," readers can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's themes, structure, and overall impact.
(GPT4)
Syllable count for each line.
Small Pandora Boxes
10 Will thoughts pierce further than laser anger
10 After enough summits on earth to pray
10 For understanding that people can say
10 Will bring that peace to our way much stronger?
10 Will I love beam stay around for longer
10 To frame around each child the fair sun rays
10 Instead of mutant genes that now-a-days
10 Speak for pasts to which he is a stranger?
10 It sounds too good to say there is still hope
10 For humans who see this end of the rope
10 Now that those small cases our fate conceal.
10 Pandora Boxes! Each day we have more;
10 And will we seal on time the dreaded door?
10 And will there be room for our dreams to heal?
***
Sonnets For The Twenty First Century And A Circadian Musical Written By Francisco Luis Arroyave Tabares (1984-1987)
Analyzed by GPT4; Image by leonardo.ai;
First published on Nostr Protocol by [email protected]
Small Pandora Boxes