Glossary - Life | Poem by Henry Van Dyke
Glossary
mourning (v) - feeling or expressing great sadness
veils (v) - to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it clearly or understand it
crown (n) - a prize or position offered for being the best
quest (n) - a long search for something that is difficult to find
unreluctant* (adj.) - willing to do something (*This form is generally not used but the poet has coined it for emphasis)
Sonnet
The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word “sonetto,” which means a ‘little song’ or ‘small lyric’. In poetry, a sonnet has 14 lines, and is written in 'iambic pentameter' (A line with ten syllables, accented on every second beat). The first eight lines of a sonnet is known as “octave” and the last six lines is known as “sestet”. Sonnets can be categorized on the basis of their rhyme scheme.