Many various interpretations may be formed; therefore, it is probable that most readers will have a different understanding of what the sunflower is meant to stand for. The poem has two stanzas divided into quatrains, each with the rhyme pattern ABAB CDCD. Blake writes in a meter loosely based on anapaests: feet having two unstressed syllables and one stressed syllable in between. The majority of lines are anapestic trimeter because they have three anapests. The author utilizes several phonetic devices, such as alliteration, which is evident in the line “Who countest the steps of the Sun, Seeking after that sweet golden clime” (Blake, n.d.). The repetition of the sounds creates the effect of sibilance. On the other hand, the assistance is presented in the line “Arise from their graves and aspire” (Blake, n.d.) with repetition of the sound a. The diction and syntax are based on multi-punctuation; the exclamation mark creates additional emphasis on the sunflower as a central element of the poem.
The following syntactic structures complement the central idea by marking the supporting statements with the adverbs such as where and who and adding such participle as seeking. Blake employs a wide range of rhetorical strategies. These can include caesura, symbolism, pauses, and allusion. In the poem, the sunflower serves as a metaphor; the connection between the sun and the flower symbolizes the bond between people and God. The sunflower longs to be in the same place as the sun, whose figurative ‘steps’ it follows all day. The sun is used in the poem to symbolize both heaven and God. The poem could be a metaphor or symbol for eternal love, sinful humanity, lost purity, or several other interpretations, depending on how it is interpreted. Pauses known as caesurae can be found at the verses’ start, middle, or end. For instance, the opening stanza’s first line begins, “Ah, Sun-flower! weary of time” (Blake, n.d.) The forced pause shifts the focus to the separated part, emphasizing the importance of the idea.
Therefore, the imagery of humans reaching eternal life in heaven is evident throughout the poem. Blake incorporates various stylistic devices to depict the concept of religious plots through the metaphor of a flower. Since its release, the brief, complex poem has sparked a variety of metaphorical interpretations. It is also conceivable to view it as a subtle criticism of the refusal of earthly desires to earn passage to heaven.
Reference
Blake, W. (n.d.) Ah! Sun-flower. Poetry Foundation. Web.