Before Parting

By Algernon Charles Swinburne

Lyric Poem
    A month or twain to live on honeycomb     Is pleasant; but one tires of scented time,     Cold sweet recurrence of accepted rhyme,     And that strong purple under juice and foam     Where the wines heart has burst;     Nor feel the latter kisses like the first.     Once yet, this poor one time; I will not pray     Even to change the bitterness of it,     The bitter taste ensuing on the sweet,     To make your tears fall where your soft hair lay     All blurred and heavy in some perfumed wise     Over my face and eyes.     And yet who knows what end the scythd wheat     Makes of its foolish poppies mouths of red?     These were not sown, these are not harvested,     They grow a month and are cast under feet     And none has care thereof,     As none has care of a divided love.     I know each shadow of your lips by rote,     Each change of love in eyelids and eyebrows;     The fashion of fair temples tremulous     With tender blood, and colour of your throat;     I know not how love is gone out of this,     Seeing that all was his.     Loves likeness there endures upon all these:     But out of these one shall not gather love.     Day hath not strength nor the night shade enough     To make love whole and fill his lips with ease,     As some bee-builded cell     Feels at filled lips the heavy honey swell.     I know not how this last month leaves your hair     Less full of purple colour and hid spice,     And that luxurious trouble of closed eyes     Is mixed with meaner shadow and waste care;     And love, kissed out by pleasure, seems not yet     Worth patience to regret.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poignant poem revolves around the themes of lost love, the passage of time, and the transient nature of pleasure. The use of rich, sensuous imagery—honeycomb, scented time, and purple wine—captures the fleeting sweetness and intoxication of love experienced and then lost. The tone is one of melancholy acceptance, a sorrowful acknowledgement of the inevitable ebb of passion and the bitterness that follows the initial sweetness of love.

The poem's structure is notably complex, with each stanza presenting a different facet of the speaker's relationship and feelings. A recurring motif is the contrast between the first flush of love and its eventual fading, symbolised by contrasting images like 'fresh kisses' versus 'the latter kisses', or the 'foolish poppies' that bloom briefly only to be trampled 'under feet'. These vivid metaphors underscore the transient nature of love and the inevitability of change.

One of the standout literary devices is the use of synecdoche, where the poet refers to aspects of his lover—her lips, hair, eyes—to represent the whole person and the totality of his feelings for her. This serves to highlight the poet's intimate knowledge of his lover, thereby intensifying the sense of loss and longing.

In conclusion, the poem is a deeply moving exploration of love's transient nature, employing rich imagery, contrasting metaphors, and a complex structure to convey the bittersweet experience of cherishing and then losing a beloved.

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.