The Parting (2)

By Anne Bronte

Narrative Poem
1     The lady of Alzerno's hall     Is waiting for her lord;     The blackbird's song, the cuckoo's call     No joy to her afford.     She smiles not at the summer's sun,     Nor at the winter's blast;     She mourns that she is still alone     Though three long years have passed. 2     I knew her when her eye was bright,     I knew her when her step was light     And blithesome as a mountain doe's,     And when her cheek was like the rose,     And when her voice was full and free,     And when her smile was sweet to see. 3     But now the lustre of her eye,     So dimmed with many a tear;     Her footstep's elasticity,     Is tamed with grief and fear;     The rose has left her hollow cheeks;     In low and mournful tone she speaks,     And when she smiles 'tis but a gleam     Of sunshine on a winter's day,     That faintly beams through dreary clouds,     And in a moment dies away.     It does not warm, it does not cheer,     It makes us sigh for summer days     When fields are green, and skies are clear,     And when the sun has kinder rays. 4     For three years she has waited there,     Still hoping for her lord's return,     But vainly she may hope and fear     And vainly watch and weep and mourn;     She may wait him till her hairs are grey,     And she may wear her life away,     But to his lady and his home     Her noble lord will never come. 5     'I wish I knew the worst,' she said,     'I wish I could despair.     These fruitless hopes, this constant dread,     Are more than I can bear!'     'Then do not hope and do not weep,     He loved thee faithfully,     And nothing short of death could keep     So true a heart from thee;     Eliza, he would never go,     And leave thee thus to mourn,     He must be dead, for death alone     Could hinder his return.' 6     'Twas thus I spoke because I felt     As if my heart would break,     To see her thus so slowly pining     For Alzerno's sake.     But more than that I would not tell,     Though all the while I knew so well     The time and nature of his death.     For when he drew his parting breath     His head was pillowed on my knee,     And his dark eyes were turned to me     With and agonised heart-breaking glance,     Until they saw me not     O, the look of a dying man     Can never be forgot!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and enduring hope, a narrative elegy that tells the story of the lady of Alzerno's hall pining for her absent lord for three long years. The theme of unfulfilled longing and the transformative power of grief are palpable throughout each stanza, the lady's physical and emotional deterioration mirroring the passing of time.

The structure of the poem follows a consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme, which adds a sense of inevitability and consistency to the narrative, while the poet uses evocative imagery and metaphorical language to convey the depth of the lady's despair. The change in seasons and the lady's changing reactions to them, for instance, serve as an effective metaphor for her emotional journey. The poem's tone is mournful, imbued with a sense of melancholic resignation.

One standout literary device employed within the poem is the use of natural elements to mirror the lady's emotional state. The blackbird's song and the cuckoo's call, the summer's sun and the winter's blast, and the images of green fields and clear skies all serve to underscore the lady's loneliness and longing. The poet's use of direct speech in the final stanzas also lends a strong sense of immediacy and intimacy to the narrative.

In conclusion, the poem eloquently captures the anguish of waiting and the destructive nature of false hope, while the precision and evocativeness of its language ensure an emotional resonance that lingers well beyond the final stanza.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.