The Cherry

Richard Allison's The Cherry

Introduction

Richard Allison's poem "The Cherry" is a masterful example of Elizabethan love poetry, blending intricate metaphors with a musical quality that exemplifies the era's poetic conventions. This analysis will delve into the poem's rich imagery, its structural elements, and its place within the broader context of Renaissance literature. By examining the layers of meaning within Allison's work, we can appreciate the sophistication of his craft and the cultural significance of his themes.

Imagery and Metaphor

The central conceit of "The Cherry" is the extended metaphor comparing a woman's face to a garden. This metaphor is not merely decorative but serves as the foundational structure upon which the entire poem is built. Allison begins by establishing the garden imagery in the first line, "There is a garden in her face," immediately setting the stage for a series of botanical comparisons that will unfold throughout the poem.

The garden metaphor is particularly apt for the poem's themes, as it evokes notions of beauty, fertility, and the natural world. The face-as-garden conceit allows Allison to explore the woman's features in a way that is both sensual and chaste, a hallmark of Elizabethan love poetry. The roses and white lilies mentioned in the second line are traditional symbols of beauty and purity, respectively, creating a contrast that suggests the subject's complex nature.

As the poem progresses, Allison narrows his focus to the specific image of cherries, which become the central metaphor for the woman's lips. The choice of cherries is significant for several reasons. Firstly, cherries are associated with sweetness and temptation, evoking the biblical imagery of forbidden fruit. Secondly, the redness of cherries mirrors the natural color of lips, creating a vivid visual connection. Lastly, the idea of ripeness introduced in the refrain "Till cherry ripe themselves do cry" adds a temporal dimension to the metaphor, suggesting the fleeting nature of beauty and the importance of seizing the moment.

Structure and Form

"The Cherry" consists of three stanzas, each following a consistent rhyme scheme of ABABCC. This structure, known as a sixain or sextain, was popular in Elizabethan poetry and lends itself well to the musical quality of the verse. The regularity of the rhyme scheme contributes to the poem's overall sense of harmony and balance, mirroring the idealized beauty it describes.

Each stanza concludes with the refrain "Till cherry ripe themselves do cry," creating a unifying thread throughout the poem. This repetition serves multiple purposes: it reinforces the central cherry metaphor, adds a lyrical quality to the verse, and emphasizes the theme of readiness or ripeness that is crucial to the poem's meaning.

The meter of the poem is predominantly iambic tetrameter, with some variations. This rhythmic pattern gives the poem a lilting, song-like quality that would have been appreciated in the musical culture of Elizabethan England. Indeed, "The Cherry" was set to music by several composers of the time, highlighting the close relationship between poetry and music in this period.

Symbolic Layers

Beyond the surface-level praise of female beauty, "The Cherry" contains deeper symbolic layers that reward close analysis. The repeated use of white imagery—white lilies, pearl, snow—contrasts with the implied redness of the cherries, creating a visual dichotomy that suggests purity and passion coexisting within the subject.

The mention of "orient pearl" in the second stanza introduces an exotic element, possibly alluding to the expanding global trade of the Elizabethan era. This reference not only elevates the status of the woman's beauty by comparing it to rare and precious materials but also places the poem within its historical context of exploration and cultural exchange.

The third stanza shifts focus to the woman's eyes and brows, described using militant imagery: "Her eyes like angels watch them still, / Her brows like bended bows do stand." This introduces a note of danger or warning, suggesting that the beauty described is not easily attainable. The "piercing frowns" that threaten to "kill / All that approach" reinforce the idea of the woman as both alluring and formidable, a common trope in courtly love poetry.

Cultural and Literary Context

"The Cherry" exemplifies many of the conventions of Elizabethan love poetry, particularly the tradition of the blazon, in which a poet itemizes and praises the features of the beloved. However, Allison's approach is more subtle than many examples of the genre, focusing on a single extended metaphor rather than cataloging the woman's attributes.

The poem also reflects the Neo-Platonic philosophy popular among Renaissance poets, which viewed earthly beauty as a reflection of divine perfection. By describing the woman's face as a "heavenly paradise," Allison elevates his subject beyond mere physical attractiveness, suggesting a spiritual dimension to her beauty.

The theme of ripeness and readiness in the refrain echoes similar motifs in Shakespeare's works, such as the line "Ripeness is all" from "King Lear." This preoccupation with the right moment or proper time was a common concern in Renaissance literature, reflecting broader cultural anxieties about mortality and the passage of time.

Language and Diction

Allison's choice of words throughout the poem is carefully calibrated to create a sense of refinement and elegance. The language is elevated without being obscure, making use of poetic diction that would have been familiar to educated readers of the time. Words like "enclose," "orient," and "approach" contribute to the poem's courtly tone, while more common terms like "face," "laugh," and "snow" ground the imagery in relatable experiences.

The use of enjambment, particularly in the second and third stanzas, creates a flowing quality that mimics the natural growth of the garden being described. This technique also allows Allison to build tension and anticipation, drawing the reader through the lines to reach the culminating refrain of each stanza.

Conclusion

Richard Allison's "The Cherry" stands as a testament to the artistic sophistication of Elizabethan poetry. Through its intricate metaphorical structure, musical qualities, and rich symbolic layers, the poem offers a multi-faceted exploration of beauty, desire, and the complexities of courtship. Allison's work demonstrates how the seemingly simple praise of a woman's features can be transformed into a complex literary artifact that reflects the philosophical, cultural, and aesthetic preoccupations of its time.

The poem's enduring appeal lies not only in its surface beauty but in the depth of meaning that can be extracted from its carefully constructed lines. As with the cherries it describes, "The Cherry" offers readers a sweet and tempting exterior that, when fully ripened through analysis, reveals a core of profound poetic craftsmanship. In studying this work, we gain insight not only into the artistry of Richard Allison but also into the broader literary and cultural landscape of Elizabethan England, making "The Cherry" a valuable subject for continued scholarly attention and appreciation.