Author: William Ernest Henley

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    We'll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon.
    November glooms are barren beside the dusk of June.
    The summer flowers are faded, the summer thoughts are sere.
    We'll go no more a-roving, lest worse befall, my dear.

    We'll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon.
    The song we sang rings hollow, and heavy runs the tune.
    Glad ways and words remembered would shame the wretched year.
    We'll go no more a-roving, nor dream we did, my dear.

    We'll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon.
    If yet we walk together, we need not shun the noon.
    No sweet thing left to savour, no sad thing left to fear,
    We'll go no more a-roving, but weep at home, my dear.

    1875

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the inevitable fading of youth and joy. Employing a repetitive refrain, "We'll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon," the poet underscores a sense of loss and resignation. The light of the moon symbolizes youthful adventures and romantic escapades that are now seemingly inaccessible, replaced by the harsh light of noon.

The tone is nostalgic and melancholic, with a sense of longing for the past. The use of contrasting imagery, such as "November glooms" versus "the dusk of June," and "summer flowers" against "summer thoughts are sere," enhances the theme of lost youth and fleeting happiness. The poet's use of seasons as metaphors for the cyclical nature of life is particularly effective. The poem ends on a somber note, with the speaker and their dear one no longer venturing out for adventures, but staying at home to weep, suggesting an acceptance of the inevitable decay and loss that comes with time. While the structure of the poem is relatively simple, the poet's skillful use of repetition, contrast, and metaphor imbues it with profound emotional depth.