Here's what you need to know about it:
* Definition: An aubade is a poem about the arrival of dawn, often focusing on the speaker's feelings of love, longing, or sadness as the night ends.
* Origin: The term "aubade" comes from the Occitan word "alba," meaning "dawn."
* Characteristics:
* Time: The central theme is the transition from night to day.
* Mood: The poem often reflects a sense of bittersweetness, as the speaker acknowledges the end of a shared night and the approaching separation.
* Themes: Love, longing, loss, regret, and the passage of time are common themes.
* Structure: While there is no strict form, aubades often use a dialogue format, address a lover, and have a lyrical, musical tone.
Examples of famous aubades:
* "The Sun Rising" by John Donne: This poem addresses the speaker's lover and encourages them to enjoy the night together, ignoring the rising sun.
* "Aubade" by Philip Larkin: This poem uses the arrival of dawn to reflect on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life.
* "Aubade" by Sylvia Plath: This poem explores themes of death, grief, and the struggle with inner demons as dawn approaches.
If you're interested in learning more about the form, you can find many examples of aubades by searching online or in poetry anthologies.