Yes Thou Art Gone

By Anne Bronte

Elegy
    Yes, thou art gone! and never more     Thy sunny smile shall gladden me;     But I may pass the old church door,     And pace the floor that covers thee,     May stand upon the cold, damp stone,     And think that, frozen, lies below     The lightest heart that I have known,     The kindest I shall ever know.     Yet, though I cannot see thee more,     'Tis still a comfort to have seen;     And though thy transient life is o'er,     'Tis sweet to think that thou hast been;     To think a soul so near divine,     Within a form, so angel fair,     United to a heart like thine,     Has gladdened once our humble sphere.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This emotive piece is a poignant exploration of loss, memory, and the enduring power of love. The elegiac tone is immediately established with the direct address of the departed, creating a sense of intimacy and deep personal grief. The poem also focuses on the physicality of death – the 'cold, damp stone' and the 'old church door' – grounding the ethereal nature of loss in tangible, relatable imagery. This heightens the contrast between the living world and the world of the departed.

The poem's structure, with its consistent rhyme scheme, lends a comforting predictability to the narrative, perhaps reflecting the speaker's attempt to find order in the chaos of loss. The use of anaphora, repeating 'and though' at the beginning of lines in the third stanza, serves to underscore the speaker's acceptance of their loss, and their determination to cherish their memories. The final stanza is particularly striking in its depiction of the departed as almost divine, yet still part of the 'humble sphere' of the speaker's world. This serves to highlight the transformative power of love and memory, suggesting that they can imbue the ordinary with a sense of sacredness. Overall, this poem is a delicate, heartfelt tribute to a loved one, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of grief.

Understanding Elegy

An elegy is a form of poetry that expresses sorrow or lamentation, often for someone who has died. This type of poetry serves as a tribute to the deceased, reflecting on their life and the grief left behind.

Elegies are deeply emotional and personal, exploring themes of loss, mourning, and remembrance. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Mournful Tone: Elegies are characterized by a tone of sadness and reflection, as the poet grapples with the pain of loss.
  • Tribute to the Deceased: The subject of an elegy is often someone who has passed away, with the poem serving as a memorial that honors their life and legacy.
  • Personal Reflection: Elegies often include personal reflections on the impact of the deceased on the poet's life, as well as broader musings on mortality and the human condition.
  • Structure and Form: While elegies can vary in form, they often follow a traditional structure that includes an expression of grief, praise for the deceased, and a sense of consolation or acceptance.

From ancient times to the present, elegies have provided a way for poets to navigate the complexities of grief and loss, offering solace and a means of preserving the memory of those who have passed.