In Kathleen Raine's poem "Passion," the use of structure and form plays a significant role in

conveying the speaker's attitude and ideas. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Raine to
experiment with the placement of words and the flow of language. This choice of form reflects the
speaker's inner turmoil and confusion, as she struggles to find meaning and clarity in a world that
seems to elude her grasp.

Eight three-line stanzas, or tercets, make up the poem "Passion". Every stanza has three lines that
rhyme, some of which are exact rhymes and others that are slant rhymes. The poem's theme of the
connection of God, nature, and humanity is maintained by this arrangement, which creates an
overall sense of harmony and order.

The lines, "Full of desire I lay, the sky wounding me, / Each cloud a ship without me sailing, each tree
/ Possessing what my soul lacked, tranquillity," immediately draw attention to the speaker's
emotional state. The use of enjambment and rhythmic flow in these lines creates a sense of urgency,
mirroring the restlessness and ache of unfulfilled passion. The sky, clouds, and trees become
symbolic elements, representing the unattainable solace sought by the speaker.

The second stanza introduces a shift in tone and narrative as the speaker waits for a significant
communication, perhaps from a beloved. The speaker's physical and emotional deterioration is
expressed through, "Waiting for the longed-for voice to speak / Through the mute telephone, my
body grew weak / With the well-known and mortal death, heartbreak." The structure of these lines,
with the repetition of "weak" and "heartbreak," emphasizes the toll of unmet expectations and the
inevitable pain associated with human connections.

The third stanza serves as a resolution, offering a transformative experience that transcends the
personal and connects the individual to the cosmic. The speaker experiences a revelation from the
sky, a moment of communion with the universe. The language in this section becomes more
elevated and ethereal, mirroring the spiritual awakening of the speaker.

"The sky said to my soul, 'You have what you desire. / Know now that you are born along with
these / Clouds, winds, and stars, and ever-moving seas / And forest dwellers. This your nature is,"
represents a turning point in the poem. The structure of these lines, with the direct speech from the
sky, imparts a sense of authority and revelation. The use of the second person "you" engages the
reader personally, inviting them to share in the speaker's transcendental experience

It is only when the sky speaks to her that the speaker begins to find clarity and understanding. The
use of personification again highlights the speaker's feelings of connection with nature, as she
realizes that she is a part of this world. The repetition of "every visible substance turn / Into
immortal" creates a sense of transformation and renewal, as the speaker begins to see the world in
a new light.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful, as Raine uses imagery and metaphor to convey
a sense of transcendence and spirituality. The image of judgment day suggests a moment of
reckoning, as the speaker comes face to face with her own mortality. The use of alliteration in "light,
love and eternity" creates a sense of harmony and unity, as the speaker realizes that she is not alone
in this world.

In conclusion, Kathleen Raine's use of structure and form in "Passion" reflects the speaker's
emotional journey from confusion and isolation to clarity and connection. The use of free verse
allows Raine to experiment with language and create a sense of urgency and intensity. The
repetition of phrases like "each tree possessing" and "every visible substance turn" highlights the
speaker's feelings of lack and transformation. Ultimately, it is through her connection with nature
that the speaker finds meaning and understanding in this world.