Dejection: An Ode

Dejection: An Ode is a poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1802. The poem in its original form was written to Sara Hutchinson, a woman who was not his wife, and discusses his feelings of love for her. The various versions of the poem describe Coleridge's inability to write poetry and living in a state of paralysis, but published editions remove his personal feelings and mention of Hutchinson.

Coleridge wrote in his notebook about Hutchinson and possible poems: "Can see nothing extraordinary in her — a Poem nothing all the virtues of the mild & retired kind [...] Poem on this night on Helvellin /William & Dorothy & Mary / —Sara & I — [...] Poem on the length of our acquaintance / all the hours that I have been thinking of her &c." During this time in 1802, Coleridge was separated from his family and he eventually returned home during March. The relationship between him and his wife was restarted and they had a daughter in December 1802. However, of the poems he intended to write about Hutchinson, he managed to complete one and an early draft was sent to her in a letter on 4 April 1802.

The original draft was titled "Letter to Sara Hutchinson", and it became Dejection when he sought to publish it. There are many differences between the versions beyond the original being 340 lines and the printed 139 lines as they reflect two different moments in Coleridge's emotional struggle. Also, passages describing his childhood and other personal matters were removed between versions. It was published in the 4 October 1802 Morning Post (see 1802 in poetry). This date corresponding to Wordsworth's wedding to Mary Hutchinson and Coleridge's own wedding anniversary. The poem was grouped with the Asra poems, a series of poems discussing love that were dedicated to Hutchinson. Eventually, Coleridge cut himself off from Hutchinson and renounced his feelings for her, which ended the problems that resulted in the poem.

The poem begins with a claim that the narrator has lost his ability to write, which fuels the mood of dejection:

This mood of dejection makes the narrator unable to enjoy nature:

The poem continues by expression a state of poetic paralysis:

The poem continues with the narrator hoping that the woman he desires can be happy:

The poem was a reply to William Wordsworth's "Resolution and Independence". It is also connected to Wordsworth's Immortality Ode in theme and structure. The poem expresses feelings of dejection and the inability to write poetry or to enjoy nature. Wordsworth is introduced into the poem as a counter to Coleridge, because Wordsworth is able to turn such a mood into a benefit and is able to be comforted. However, Coleridge cannot find anything positive in his problems, and he expresses how he feels paralyzed by his emotions. This source of their paralysis was Coleridge's feelings for Hutchinson and problems dealing with his marriage. However, Coleridge couldn't have been completely in dejection or he would have been unable to create the poem.

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