Commentary of Lizzie:
The emotions this poem give me are simply unmeasurable. This American poem is written by a Corporal in the military who fought in Company G of the 14th Virginia Infantry which I found in a recent newspaper. Although it is American, I can feel the emotions the sister felt while writing this and can still relate to it. When he was getting deployed to go fight, his sister gave him a bouquet for which he was heartfelt and decided to write this poem for her. This poem shows how great sisters are and how much he appreciates his sister. There's this one particular stanza in the poem which I love: "I can not believe them who so often tell Of a friendship that’s riven by absence strong spell Ah, no it would cheer us in life’s latest even And grow brighter and fairer in the lap of heaven." This part is so heartwarming as the corporal is saying that people say that the friendship between his sister will diminish because of his absence. However, he refutes this by saying that the absence instead makes this bond even better since the sister-brother love will last even longer in the absence and will be valued even more. The relationship the Corporal has with his sister is very much like the one Laura and I have as sisters. Even in the absence of each other, like when Laura ate the goblin fruit and was emotionally gone and addicted to it, we still care for each other deeply and will never let harm to affect us. When Laura was very sick after eating the goblin fruit, I was so scared for her but still mustered up the courage to go help her by going to the goblins themselves. Despite the condition the goblin men put me in, I still do not regret that decision and would do it again just for my sister's wellbeing. That is how strong our bond is just like the bond between the corporal and the sister and would do anything to keep our friendship, even in the absence of each other.
Editor Commentary:
This poem is a symbol of true friendship between a brother and a sister. The Corporal in Company G of the 14th Virginia Infantry shows his love for his sister for giving the flowers to him as he is getting deployed. Along with friendship, this poem is also a symbol of brother and sisterly love, even in the absence of one of them. The quote "I can not believe them who so often tell Of a friendship that’s riven by absence strong spell Ah, no it would cheer us in life’s latest even And grow brighter and fairer in the lap of heaven." really shows how even in the absence of each other, their blood-related friendship continues and does not diminish one bit. The absence of each other makes their sibling bond even better and adds more value to their love. It allows for a chance to grow better relations with each other. It's as if the worry of apart feeling more intense than being together. Another quote, "I’ll keep the sweet flowers, and will not repine. Ah, no, for they’ll whisper the off’ring was thine." also shows how much he values the flowers his sister gives him as it will remind him of her when he mentions they will "whisper of... thine". As part of this reminder, he also doesn't look at the flowers as a burden to carry and take since he values them so much as he says he "will not repine" or complain about them. Lizzie’s choice as to choosing this item makes complete sense as it showcases her value of sisterly bonds. In an era full of female discrimination, it is evident that many women, like Lizzie, turned to each other for warmth and companionship. Therefore, having a sister for Lizzie became very important and she fulfilled her duty in becoming a good sister by taking care of Laura.
Citation:
Barksdale, Anthony Sydnor. Letter, 1863 September 1. Anthony Sydnor Barksdale of "Roughville," Halifax County, Va., letters, 1862-1864. (Mss 2 B2471 b (CMLS)) Virginia Museum of History and Culture, n.p.