Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Lucy." - The old familiar name Is now, as always, pleasant, Its liquid melody the same Alike in past or present; Let others call you what they will, I know you'll let me use it; To me your name is Lucy still, I cannot bear to lose it. What visions of the past return With Lucy's image blended! What memories from the silent urn Of gentle lives long ended! What dreams of childhood's fleeting morn, What starry aspirations, That filled the misty days unborn With fancy's coruscations! Ah, Lucy, life has swiftly sped From April to November; The summer blossoms all are shed That you and I remember; But while the vanished years we share With mingling recollections, How all their shadowy features wear The hue of old affections! Love called you. He who stole your heart Of sunshine half bereft us; Our household's garland fell apart The morning that you left us; The tears of tender girlhood streamed Through sorrow's opening sluices; Less sweet our garden's roses seemed, Less blue its flower-de-luces. That old regret is turned to smiles, That parting sigh to greeting; I send my heart-throb fifty miles Through every line 't is beating; God grant you many and happy years, Till when the last has crowned you The dawn of endless day appears, And heaven is shining round you!
Type of Poem: Lyric Poem
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 exploration of memory, time, affection, and loss. The speaker's relationship with "Lucy" is steeped in fondness and nostalgia, yet tinged with a palpable sense of loss. The repeated use of the name "Lucy" underscores the significance of this individual in the speaker's life, while the regular rhyme scheme and meter contribute a rhythmic, lullaby-like quality that complements the retrospective tone.
The poem is rich in evocative imagery. The shift in seasons from "April to November," for instance, symbolizes the passage of time and the inevitable changes it brings. This is consolidated by the mention of "summer blossoms all... shed" and the garden's diminished vibrancy, furthering the theme of loss and change. The speaker also uses the metaphor of a "silent urn" to represent memories of deceased loved ones, invoking a sense of melancholy and longing.
The poem's tone shifts in the final stanza, where the speaker replaces regret with a smile and a parting sigh with a greeting. This change in tone conveys acceptance of the past and a hopeful outlook for Lucy's future. The speaker's wish for Lucy to have "many and happy years" indicates enduring affection, despite the distance and time that separate them. The poem ends with a hopeful note, the "dawn of endless day" symbolizing Lucy's potential for eternal happiness and peace. This balance between nostalgia, acceptance, and hope characterizes the poem's exploration of human relationships, memory, and the passage of time.
Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.
Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:
From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.