Unlike Are We, Unlike (Sonnet 3)

Song Meaning

The narrator directly addresses a "princely Heart," immediately establishing a stark contrast between their lives. The opening "Unlike are we, unlike" isn't just a statement of difference; it's a lament, a recognition of separate paths and destinies that even their "ministering two angels" find surprising. This sets up a core tension: one figure is destined for grand social stages, showered with attention, while the other is a solitary, weary figure. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this disparity. The "princely Heart" is a "guest for queens," adorned with admiration from "brighter eyes," and tasked with a role of "chief musician." This is juxtaposed with the narrator's self-description as a "poor, tired, wandering singer," relegated to observing from a distance, "looking from the lattice-lights." The imagery of "chrism" on one head and "dew" on the other powerfully underscores their divergent experiences of anointing and hardship. The most striking craft element is the use of contrasting imagery and the implied narrative of unbridgeable social and experiential divides. The "princely Heart" is associated with light, pageantry, and divine or royal favor (chrism), while the narrator is linked to darkness, weariness, and the natural, perhaps more humble, elements (dew, leaning on a cypress tree). The final line, "And Death must dig the level where these agree," is a profound, somber conclusion, suggesting that only the ultimate equalizer can bring these disparate lives into common ground.