96
Quatrain 12
A book of verses underneath the bough,
A jug of wine, a loaf of bread – and thou
Beside me singing in the wilderness
Oh, wilderness were paradise enow
Rhyme scheme AABA
Understanding
Quatrain 12, tells us that we can be able to built our own paradise by means of enjoying
and making most of what we have or find contentment in simple things, unfettered on the
constraints of everyday life. In the stanza we can see that the speaker is with his
companion, singing song in the wilderness and this wilderness is a paradise for them.
Analysis
The quatrain 12 shows how the speaker finds his own paradise in material pleasures like
wine, bread, poems and probably, his lover, using “Thou” as intimate mode of speech.
They share a peaceful atmosphere in the “wilderness”. And the speaker emphasized that
wilderness seems like a paradise to them. In connection to the theme of the poem, seize
the day”, enjoyment and contentment when we make the best of what we have, share
time with the people we care and live in the moment.