Days Come And Go

By Madison Julius Cawein

Lyric Poem
    Leaves fall and flowers fade,     Days come and go:     Now is sweet Summer laid     Low in her leafy glade,     Low like a fragrant maid,     Low, low, ah, low.     Tears fall and eyelids ache,     Hearts overflow:     Here for our dead love's sake     Let us our farewells make     Will he again awake?     Ah, no, no, no.     Winds sigh and skies are gray,     Days come and go:     Wild birds are flown away:     Where are the blooms of May?     Dead, dead, this many a day,     Under the snow.     Lips sigh and cheeks are pale,     Hearts overflow:     Will not some song or tale,     Kiss, or a flower frail,     With our dead love avail?     Ah, no, no, no.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem employs the natural cycle of seasons as a metaphor for the progression of human emotion, especially the pain of love lost. The key themes found here are transience, mortality, and the futile hope against loss. The tone is melancholic and somber, portraying both the ephemeral beauty of nature and the heartache of unrequited or lost love.

The poem’s structure, consisting of quatrains with a consistent rhyme scheme, supports the cyclical nature of the themes. This structure mirrors the repetition of life's cycles, underscoring the inevitability of change and loss. The recurrence of phrases like "Days come and go" and "Ah, no, no, no" further emphasize this cyclical pattern, while also reflecting the speaker's denial and grief.

The poet masterfully uses vivid, sensory language and metaphors to evoke strong emotions. The imagery of falling leaves, fading flowers, and migrating birds points to the ceaseless march of time and the fleeting nature of life. This is paralleled in the human realm through the descriptions of falling tears and aching hearts. Meanwhile, the rhetorical question "Will he again awake?" introduces a sense of longing and despair, hinting at a personal loss that underlies the broader existential themes.

Overall, the poem offers a poignant exploration of the universal experiences of love, loss, and the passage of time, using the natural world as a powerful and evocative canvas.

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.