In the first line of the poem, “Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy,” Jonson is saying good bye to a child. The notion that the child is “of my right hand” suggests that the child stems from Jonson’s own flesh. Since the right hand is typically described as the dominant (and more beneficial) hand, Jonson utilizes this symbol to describe a significant and positive aspect of his life. While Jonson holds his son in high regard, the line “My sin was too much hope of thee, lov'd boy” indicates Jonson’s guilt for having exceedingly high expectations for his son’s life. As a result, Jonson uses this guilt to punish himself for the untimely death of his son.
Evidence about his son’s young death is revealed in the lines “seven years tho’
Evidence about his son’s young death is revealed in the lines “seven years tho’