The speaker of this poem begins by talking to a start like he normally talk to a person, and he actually calls this star by a name. But what exactly was he trying to say to this “bright star”? at the beginning of the poem, the lines would describe the meaning of the words where he was trying to say how he would like to be like this certain star. He says “Would I were stedfast as thou art”, which it actually means “I wish I were as steadfast as you are”. This could might make you think that the speaker is a person who travels a lot and he’s desire is to be at one place only.
However, as you keep on reading he tries to change up his words around by saying how he would not like to be like the star, huh?
Furthermore, he uses the word “Emirate”, which it was use as a fancy way to the word “hermit”in the seventeen century, and it means loneliness. There, he is revealing why would he not like to be like the star. Why would he start by saying that he would like to be like a star and then changes his mind?. As you can see, later on the poem he starts to reveal what exactly the star is gazing on from up there. Then, he sees that although this star is steadfast is still too far away from others, and this is why he lays on his girlfriend breast feeling a relief of having her near him. Therefore, he says “still steadfast, still unchangeable”, where I believe that what he is trying to say that he might want to be as steadfast as the star, but not change anything that already is surrounding him.
1. What difference do you think the order of the words make? Which order do you prefer? why?
2.Why do you think he changes his thought of wanting to be as steadfast as the star?