Wyatt's "Whoso List to Hunt"
Thomas Wyatt revolutionised English poetry by bringing the sonnet form from Italy to England, and this poem shows why he's legendary. Writing as a diplomat in Henry VIII's court, he uses an extended metaphor comparing courting a woman to hunting a deer - but this isn't just any woman.
The poem's sibilance ("whoso list") creates harsh sounds that mirror the speaker's pain and frustration. Wyatt cleverly uses the ABBA ABBA CDDCEE rhyme scheme with mostly monosyllabic words in the octave, giving it a factual, controlled tone that barely contains the speaker's obsession.
Here's the brilliant bit: the "untouchable" deer likely represents Anne Boleyn, making this poem a dangerous political statement. The Caesar reference hints at Henry VIII's claim over Anne, showing how love and power dangerously intersect.
Key Insight: Notice how the metrical irregularity and enjambment reflect the speaker's scattered thoughts - this technical chaos mirrors emotional chaos, a technique you'll spot in many great poems.