Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes
If sometimes in the dark blue eye, Or in the deep red wine, Or soothed by gentlest melody, Still warms this heart of mine, Yet something colder in the blood, And calmer in the brain, Have whispered that my youth's bright flood Ebbs, not to flow again. If by Helvetia's azure lake, Or Arno's yellow stream, Each star of memory could awake, As in my first young dream, I know that when mine eye shall greet The hillsides bleak and bare, That gird my home, it will not meet My childhood's sunsets there. Oh, when love's first, sweet, stolen kiss Burned on my boyish brow, Was that young forehead worn as this? Was that flushed cheek as now? Were that wild pulse and throbbing heart Like these, which vainly strive, In thankless strains of soulless art, To dream themselves alive? Alas! the morning dew is gone, Gone ere the full of day; Life's iron fetter still is on, Its wreaths all torn away; Happy if still some casual hour Can warm the fading shrine, Too soon to chill beyond the power Of love, or song, or wine!
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 reflection on the passage of time and the inevitable loss of youth, suffused with a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. The speaker juxtaposes moments of warmth and vibrancy ("the dark blue eye" or "the deep red wine") with elements of coldness and calmness ("something colder in the blood" and "calmer in the brain"), suggesting a decline in passion and vitality as age advances.
The poet employs vivid and evocative imagery to conjure up scenes from the past, using locations like "Helvetia's azure lake" and "Arno's yellow stream" as a backdrop for his memories. The stars of memory, however, are unable to awaken the intensity of his "first young dream." The speaker's lamenting tone intensifies as he acknowledges that his childhood sunsets are forever lost to him.
The penultimate stanza vividly recalls the innocence and fervor of first love, juxtaposing it with the speaker's present state of wearied disillusionment. The metaphor of "morning dew" symbolizes the fleeting nature of youth, which disappears "ere the full of day." The concluding lines encapsulate the poem's theme of age's relentless march, with the speaker expressing a sorrowful acceptance of the fading warmth of his life's "fading shrine." Despite his efforts, he acknowledges the futility of trying to rekindle the vivacity of his youth through "love, or song, or wine." As such, the poem serves as a sobering meditation on the transient nature of youth and the inexorable progression 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.