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The Annotated Edition

SONG OF PROSERPINE WHILE GATHERING FLOWERS ON THE PLAIN OF ENNA. by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Proserpine, known as Persephone in Greek mythology, sings a heartfelt prayer to her mother, the Earth goddess.

Poet
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Themes
beauty, family, nature
The PoemFull text

SONG OF PROSERPINE WHILE GATHERING FLOWERS ON THE PLAIN OF ENNA.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

[Published by Mrs. Shelley, “Poetical Works”, 1839, 1st edition. There is a fair draft amongst the Shelley manuscripts at the Bodleian Library. See Mr. C.D. Locock’s “Examination,” etc., 1903, page 24.] 1. Sacred Goddess, Mother Earth, Thou from whose immortal bosom Gods, and men, and beasts have birth, Leaf and blade, and bud and blossom, Breathe thine influence most divine _5 On thine own child, Proserpine. 2. If with mists of evening dew Thou dost nourish these young flowers Till they grow, in scent and hue, Fairest children of the Hours, _10 Breathe thine influence most divine On thine own child, Proserpine. ***

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Proserpine, known as Persephone in Greek mythology, sings a heartfelt prayer to her mother, the Earth goddess. She asks for her blessings and protection, just as her mother nurtures the flowers blooming on the plain of Enna. This brief, tender moment between daughter and mother unfolds just before Proserpine is taken by Pluto, adding a layer of quiet heartbreak to the scene. Shelley beautifully conveys that delicate, innocent joy, teetering on the brink of disaster.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Sacred Goddess, Mother Earth, / Thou from whose immortal bosom

    Editor's note

    Proserpine begins with a hymn-like invocation to the Earth, referring to her as "Sacred Goddess" and "Mother Earth." These titles carry both cosmic and personal significance. The term "bosom" evokes a sense of physical motherhood, suggesting the Earth is a nurturing body that sustains all living beings. By mentioning "Gods, and men, and beasts" alongside "Leaf and blade, and bud and blossom," Shelley blurs the lines between the divine and the natural: all life springs from the same origin. The stanza concludes with a couplet that asks the goddess to bestow her divine influence on Proserpine, shifting the prayer inward — the daughter seeking the same care from her mother that she offers to the entire world.

  2. If with mists of evening dew / Thou dost nourish these young flowers

    Editor's note

    The second stanza clarifies the prayer's reasoning: *if* you nurture these flowers with dew and help them bloom into nature's finest creations, *then* you can surely do the same for me. These flowers are referred to as "Fairest children of the Hours," indicating they are products of time and season, much like Proserpine, who is a child of the Earth. The repeated closing couplet has a different impact here — we now grasp the full significance of the comparison. Proserpine seeks to be cared for as delicately as a flower, unaware that she is about to be uprooted just like one.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is soft and reverent, resembling a quiet prayer rather than a loud proclamation. The rhythm has a lullaby-like feel — the short lines and repeating refrain create a soothing, almost childlike quality. However, understanding the myth adds a layer of dramatic irony: this tranquility is on the verge of being disrupted. Shelley maintains a perfectly calm surface, intensifying the impact of the implied tragedy.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The flowers
The flowers Proserpine is gathering reflect her own essence — they’re beautiful, youthful, nurtured by the Earth, and at risk of being picked. They hint at her destiny: she will be taken from this field just like a flower is cut from the ground.
Evening dew / mists
The dew symbolizes a mother’s quiet, unseen care—gentle nourishment that arrives softly, without pressure. This stands in stark contrast to the violent abduction that is about to unfold, highlighting what Proserpine is on the brink of losing.
The Plain of Enna
Enna is the Sicilian meadow mentioned in the myth where Proserpine was abducted. Choosing this setting for the poem isn't just for show; it captures the song at the peak of innocence, right before everything shifts.
Mother Earth's bosom
The earth as a nurturing figure—a source of warmth, life, and connection. For Proserpine, being separated from the surface world feels like losing her mother’s embrace, which is why this image holds such deep emotional significance.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Shelley penned this short lyric around 1820 while living in Italy, where he was steeped in classical mythology. His wife, Mary Shelley, published it posthumously in 1839. The myth of Proserpine (known as Persephone in Greek) is one that Shelley revisited multiple times, particularly in his longer drama *Proserpine* (1820), for which this song was likely intended as an insert. The tale tells of Proserpine, the daughter of Ceres, the goddess of harvest, who was picking flowers on the plain of Enna in Sicily when Pluto, the god of the underworld, kidnapped her and made her his queen. Her mother's grief led to the neglect of the earth, ushering in winter. Shelley was captivated by the myth's exploration of lost innocence, the deep connection between mother and child, and the jarring intrusion of death into a beautiful world.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Proserpine is the Roman equivalent of Persephone, the goddess of spring and daughter of Ceres, the harvest goddess. In the myth, she's collecting flowers on the plain of Enna in Sicily when Pluto, the god of the underworld, takes her. Shelley’s poem captures this very moment—the final seconds of her carefree existence.

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