An Old Bouquet

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Narrative Poem
    I opened a long closed drawer to-day,     And among the souvenirs stored away     Were the faded leaves of an old bouquet.     Those faded leaves were as white as snow,     With a background of green, to make them show,     When you gave them to me long years ago.     They carried me back in a flash of light     To a perfumed, perfect summer night,     And a rider who came on a steed of white.     I can see it all -how you rode down     Like a knight of old, from the dusty town,     With a passionate glow in your eyes of brown.     Again I stand by the garden gate,     While the golden sun slips low, and wait     And watch your coming, my love, my fate.     Young and handsome and debonair     You leap to my side in the garden there,     And I take your flowers, and call them fair.     Out of the west the glory dies,     As we stand under the sunset skies,     With love in our hearts, and love in our eyes.     Love too tender and love too great     To die with death, or to yield to fate;     But your restless steed tells the hour is late.     You mount him again and you ride away     Into the west that is growing gray.     Oh! turn the key on that dear bouquet.     It is dry and faded and I am old:     And the hand that gave it is green with mould,     And the winter of life is cold -so cold.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a reflection on lost love, memory, and the relentless passage of time. The author uses the symbol of the faded bouquet, discovered in a long-closed drawer, to trigger a journey into the past. The bouquet serves as a poignant reminder of a youthful love, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing. The narrative is steeped in rich imagery, from the "perfumed, perfect summer night" to the "knight of old" who rides "on a steed of white."

The poem's structure and rhyme scheme give it a rhythmic flow, which mirrors the steady, relentless progression of time. The tone is bittersweet, fluctuating between warm reminiscence and the cold reality of present-day loss. The author uses contrasts effectively, juxtaposing the vibrancy and passion of youth with the stark, chilly winter of old age. The repetition of "love" in the stanza "With love in our hearts, and love in our eyes" underscores the enduring nature of this emotion, even as physical vitality fades. The phrase "turn the key on that dear bouquet" is a poignant metaphor for the desire to hold onto cherished memories, even as the physical tokens of those memories wither and fade. Overall, the poem is a rich exploration of the human experience, touching on themes of love, mortality, and the bittersweet nature of memory.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.