A Guinevere

By Madison Julius Cawein

    Sullen gold down all the sky,      In the roses sultry musk;      Nightingales hid in the dusk     Yonder sob and sigh.     You are here; and I could weep,      Weep for joy and suffering.      "Where is he?" He'd have me sing; -     There he sits asleep.     Think not of him! he is dead      For the moment to us twain;      He were dead but for this pain     Drumming in my head.     "Am I happy?" Ask the fire      When it bursts its bounds and thrills      Some mad hours as it wills     If those hours tire.     He had gold. As for the rest -      Well you know how they were set,      Saying that I must forget,     And 'twas for the best.     I forget! but let it go! -      Kiss me as you did of old.      There! your kisses are not cold!     Can you love me so,     Knowing what I am to him      Sitting in his gouty chair      On the breezy terrace where     Amber fire-flies swim?     "Yes?" - Your cheek a tear-drop wets,      But your kisses on my lip      Fall as warm as bees that sip     Sweets from violets.     See! the moon has risen white      As this bursten lily here      Rocking on the dusky mere     Like a silent light.     Let us walk. We soon must part -      All too soon! but he may miss!      Give me but another kiss;     It will heat my heart     And the bitter winter there.      So; we part, my Launcelot,      My true knight! and am I not     Your true Guinevere?     Oft they parted thus they tell      In that mystical romance.      Were they placed, think you, perchance,     For such love in hell?     No! it can not, can not be!      Love is God and God is love,      And they live and love above,     Guinevere and he!     I must go now. See! there fell,      Molten into purple light,      One wild star. Kiss me good-night;     And, once more, farewell!

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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 complex exploration of love, desire, and guilt, framed within a melancholic and romantic landscape. The speaker appears to be engaged in a forbidden love affair, evoking the legendary romance of Guinevere and Lancelot as a metaphor for their own relationship. The tone of the poem is both intense and melancholic, characterized by a sense of longing, joy, and heartache.

The structure of the poem, composed of multiple quatrains, effectively captures the speaker's fluctuating emotional state. The poet employs rich imagery and sensory language to create a vivid and evocative setting—the sullen gold of the sky, the sultry musk of roses, and the sobbing nightingales in the dusk. These images serve as a poignant backdrop to the speaker's internal struggle. The use of rhetorical questions and direct address intensifies the emotional depth of the poem, as the speaker grapples with their feelings and their situation's moral implications. The poem concludes with a poignant invocation of divine love, suggesting the speaker's desire for transcendence and redemption despite their transgressions. The final farewell, coupled with the falling star's imagery, leaves a lingering sense of sadness and unresolved longing.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

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:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

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.