Distance

By Madison Julius Cawein

Lyric Poem
             I.     I dreamed last night once more I stood      Knee-deep in purple clover leas;     Your old home glimmered thro' its wood      Of dark and melancholy trees,      Where ev'ry sudden summer breeze     That wantoned o'er the solitude     The water's melody pursued,      And sleepy hummings of the bees.              II.     And ankle-deep in violet blooms      Methought I saw you standing there,     A lawny light among the glooms,      A crown of sunlight on your hair;      Wild songsters singing every where     Made lightning with their glossy plumes;     About you clung the wild perfumes      And swooned along the shining air.              III.     And then you called me, and my ears      Grew flattered with the music, led     In fancy back to sweeter years,      Far sweeter years that now are dead;      And at your summons fast I sped,     Buoyant as one a goal who nears.     Ah! lost, dead love! I woke in tears;      For as I neared you farther fled!

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Lyric Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a poignant exploration of nostalgia, longing, and the evanescence of love. The first two stanzas create a vivid, sensory-rich landscape, marked by a dreamy, melancholic tone. The poet employs a wealth of natural imagery – the purple clover, dark trees, summer breeze, bees, and blooming violets – to convey a sense of idyllic, pastoral beauty. This setting is then juxtaposed with the "old home" and the loved one, infusing the poem with a sense of loss and yearning.

The third stanza shifts from the external, visual imagery to the internal, emotional landscape. The poet's use of sound – the beloved's call, the music of the past – underlines the power of memory and the pull of the past. The phrase "sweeter years that now are dead" indicates a longing for a romanticized past. The closing lines encapsulate the poem's central theme: the unbridgeable distance between the present and the past, reality and dreams. The loved one, just like the past, continually recedes, leading the speaker to wake up in tears. The poem's melancholic tone, its vivid imagery and its exploration of memory and longing make it a poignant piece of romantic verse.

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.