Edmund Spenser is undoubtedly the best English poet of the sixteenth century. The Faerie Queen is considered his best work ever. Geoffrey Chaucer’s works had a profound influence on Spenser.
Charles Lamb calls Spenser the poet’s poet because of the quality of his poetry. Spenser has 89 sonnets to his account. One day I wrote her name is considered as his sonnet 75.
One day I wrote her name is one of the most beautiful romantic poems by Edmund Spencer which glorifies the divinity of his love. Even though the lyrics are simple they are strong enough to intensify love.
This poem testifies how one could achieve strong desires irrespective of their situation. This poem seems like a prophecy about the poet’s hope and desires for his romantic and poetic life.
One day the poet wrote his lover’s name on the bay shore but waves washed it away. Then the speaker made another attempt but the waves did the same.
His lover reminded him it would be a vain attempt to write her name on the shore as waves could easily wipe it off. She further added like lifeless body decay her name also would decay.
She further interrogates the poet that how could them transform from mortal to immortal. But Edmund Spencer reveals his strong desire to keep her fame. Poet affirms to her that her name would be immortal like his poems.
Poet concludes that the world is subdued to death but their love would remain immortal forever. Poet believes that literature can regenerate the common emotions shared between them. When we study his poems in this century, his prophecy has come true.
Shakespeare’s Shall I compare you to a summer day also depicts an intensified love.
