Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    Three memories hold us ever
    With longing and with pain;
    Three memories Time has never
    Been able to restrain;
    That in each life remain
    A part of heart and brain.

    The first 's of that which taught us
    To follow, Beauty still;
    Who to the Fountain brought us
    Of ancient good and ill,
    And bade us drink our fill
    At Life's wild-running rill.

    The second one, that 's driven
    Of anguish and delight,
    Holds that which showed us Heaven,
    Through Love's triumphant might;
    And, deep beneath its height,
    Hell, sighing in the night.

    The third none follows after:
    Its form is veiled and dim;
    Its eyes are tears and laughter,
    That look beyond the rim
    Of earth and point to Him,
    Who rules the Seraphim.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem employs a contemplative tone to explore the themes of memory, love, beauty, and spirituality. Its structure is uniform, with six lines per stanza that seem to echo the persistent, cyclical nature of memory. The poet's diction is deliberately archaic, lending a timeless feel to the themes.

The first two stanzas introduce the idea of the three powerful memories that shape our lives. The first memory pertains to the pursuit of beauty and the recognition of moral duality, symbolized by the "Fountain" of "ancient good and ill". The second memory speaks to the transformative power of love, which reveals both the heavenly and the hellish. Love, here, is depicted as a force of both "anguish and delight," an apt reflection of its dual nature.

The third memory is more abstract, its form "veiled and dim". The poet uses the imagery of "tears and laughter" to suggest a memory or experience that transcends earthly matters, pointing to a divine power—"Him, Who rules the Seraphim." This spiritual undertone is a potent reminder of the transcendental aspects of human existence, rounding out the poem's exploration of the profound influences that shape a life. Overall, the poem is a thoughtful meditation on how memory, love, beauty, and spirituality intertwine to form the tapestry of human experience.