My galley charged with forgetfulness

Considering the title, the intelligent reader can suppose that the galley represents the speaking voice and makes the reader asking why there is a forgetfulness and what forgetfulness is it.

The most important words are “my” and “forgetfulness” that are the first and the last words.

This title gives an idea of sadness and also an idea of war because galley is a warship, may the speaking voice is in contrast with himself.

The poem is arranged into one octave and one sestet. It is a petrarchian sonnet written by Sir Thomas Wyatt. It is similar with the first one written by Petrarch in Italian: “Passa la mia nave colma d’oblio”.

 In the octave the speaking voice present the problem. He says that his galley is going through sharp seas in winter nights. This setting makes the reader suppose that galley is in a difficult situation. At the end of the second line we find “doth”, this verb is written to reinforce the concept and in this way stress the last word. The ship sails trying to fence rocks. His lord is also his enemy and he is so cruel. He says also that a wind is ripping sails and death is the best solution for himself. The light represent the death and there is a contrast between dark and light; the darkness of the winter nights and the light of the death.

In the sestet he tells the reader that a cloud represent a disdain, he uses a hyperbole in the first sentence. He refers to the atmospherical agent to describe his emotions. Stars are responsible of a pain in the poet’s soul. Galley is not transported by the reason, but it follows his enemy, his lord. In the last line he hopes to find the port, place whose gives him peace.

This sonnet is a metaphor, indeed the galley represent the speaking voice who in a difficult situation. The extended metaphor of a voyage is the poet’s life. He is headed by an unsatisfied love that drowns the reason. He search a port, a place where he could find peace after this pain.

The difficulties of the ship are conveyed with the use of the <r>s’ sound that makes rhythm more hard.

The forgetfulness is linked to the reason, indeed he forgot the reason and he remained under love supremacy.