Lord Byron

George Gordon Byron was born in London in 1788. His father was English, but his
mother was Scottish from the nobility. He was born with physical deformity and
suffered a lot from it. At the age of ten, Byron inherited the title of his great uncle
and became a lord. He is different from the other romantic poets because he was
more rebellious and belonged to the nobility. His poetry reflects the main features
of Romantic poetry, of which imagination and the description of nature are most
significant. His poetry is also characterized by subjectivity which is also another
feature of the Romantic poetry. Byron uses satirical style to criticize the
superficiality of the rich people. However, Byron is more famous as a man than a
poet because of his political tendencies. He joined the House of Lords and in his
first political speech he defended the industrial workers who protested against
unemployment and low payment. His political speeches brought him a lot of
enemies. He left England and travelled to Switzerland, Italy, and Greece where he
fought for the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire and died there
because of a violent fever in 1824. He married one time and had many
relationships.

On This Day I Complete My Thirty-Sixth Year

Introduction

On This Day I Complete My Thirty-Sixth Year is the last poem written by Lord
Byron in 1824. He wrote this poem in his birthday, three months before his death.
The poem is autobiographical because in this poem Byron expresses his feelings
and announces his decision to fight in the Greek War of Independence.

Analysis

'Tis time this heart should be unmoved,

Since others it hath ceased to move:
Yet though I cannot be beloved,
Still let me love!

Byron had many love affairs. But, he could not find real love. Therefore, Byron
feels that at this age he should not fall in love anymore because no one loves him
back. Despite knowing this fact, Byron cannot prevent himself from falling love
because love is part of who he is.
My days are in the yellow leaf;
The flowers and fruits of Love are gone;
The worm—the canker, and the grief
Are mine alone!

In the second quatrain, the poet uses metaphor and compares his days to a yellow
leaf. The yellow leaf is usually a symbol of death. In autumn, the leaves turn
yellow, fall from the trees, and die. This means that that the poet is living in the
autumn of his life and expecting his death. Byron was expecting his death because
his title was cursed and every man took this title before him died at the age of
thirty-six. In the following line, the poet refers to the progression of age through
the image of a tree which cannot produce fruits anymore. He tells us that the days
(his youth) when he enjoyed the pleasures of love are gone forever. The only
things that are left to him are the diseases and grief that come with old age.

The fire that on my bosom preys

Is lone as some Volcanic Isle;
No torch is kindled at its blaze
A funeral pile.

In this quatrain, the poet speaks about his loneliness. The fire in Byron’s chest is
the passion or love that previously filled his relationships. His passion or love is
still present but it is “lone as some Volcanic Isle.” Here, the poet uses simile and
compare his love and passions to a remote volcanic island which cannot be
inhabited. Byron’s fire cannot kindle any torch which means that he cannot spread
love among people. This fire is like a pyre that is used to burn the dead bodies. It
burns within him, consuming him.

The hope, the fear, the jealous care,

The exalted portion of the pain
And power of Love I cannot share,
But wear the chain.

In the fourth quatrain, Byron lists the complex feelings that one experiences in
love. Byron cannot experience these feelings anymore due to his old age. He
cannot share the sensations of love with others and at the same time he cannot get
rid of them. They become like a chain that restrict his movement.

But 'tis not thus—and 'tis not here

Such thoughts should shake my Soul, nor now,
Where Glory decks the hero's bier,
Or binds his brow.

In this quatrain, the poet remembers that it is not the suitable time or place to think
about love because he is in Greece and the people were fighting and dying to free
their country from the occupation of the Ottoman Empire.

The Sword, the Banner, and the Field,

Glory and Greece around us see!
The Spartan borne upon his shield
Was not more free.

Standing in the battle field, Byron sees that the Greek people are fighting for a
glorious cause which is freedom. Therefore, he compares the modern Greek men to
the Spartans; the Greek warriors who defended and protected Sparta (ancient
Greece) from any invasion in the ancient times.

Awake (not Greece—she is awake!)

Awake, my Spirit! Think through whom
Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake
And then strike home!

In this quatrain, the poet uses anaphora; which is the repetition of a word or phrase
at the beginning of multiple lines, and repeats the word “awake” for emphasis. He
asks his fighting spirit to wake and participate in the Greek War of Independence
because Greece is a great civilization and it is considered the foundation of the
European civilization. Therefore, Byron feels that his blood line descends from the
ancient Greek.

Tread those reviving passions down

Unworthy Manhood—unto thee
Indifferent should the smile or frown
Of beauty be.

In this quatrain, the poet addresses his spirit, asking it to suppress the reviving
passions (the passions of love) because these passions and physical desires are
‘unworthy’ and not suitable for his age. Through the word “unworthy,” Byron
gives the impression that he regrets the way he has lived his past life especially
when he was indulged in attaining his physical desires. In the following lines,
Byron tells his spirit not to be influenced by the smile and frown of the young
beautiful ladies.

If thou regret'st thy Youth, why live?

The land of honourable Death
Is here:—up to the Field, and give
Away thy breath!

In this quatrain, the poet asks himself “if you regret the way you lived your life
why you continue to live?” He tells himself that instead of living a worthless life,
he can have an honorable death by participating in war and sacrificing his soul for
a noble cause.

Seek out—less often sought than found—

A Soldier's Grave, for thee the best;
Then look around, and choose thy Ground,
And take thy rest.

After the decision of dying as a soldier, Byron tells himself that he needs to find a
grave or ground to be buried in. Only through this death, Byron can repent for the
sinful deeds he has done throughout his life and thus find rest and peace.