Vanity

This poem is a poignant exploration of the themes of love, regret, and the passage of time, with a slightly ominous undertone. The repetition of the first stanza in the third section creates a sense of cyclical continuation, suggesting that the speaker's experience and feelings are recurring. This repetition also serves to underline the melancholic nostalgia of the speaker. The images of 'wan sky' and 'wan lawn' seem to convey a sense of faded beauty and lost vitality, reflecting the speaker’s emotional state.

The poem utilizes a flower as a central symbol, representing a past love or a cherished moment that the speaker clings to. The flower, although described as 'tawdry, tattered, faded', holds immense value for the speaker, signifying a treasured memory or a lost opportunity. This discordance between the physical appearance of the flower and the emotional weight it carries for the speaker contributes to the poem's overall melancholic mood.

The poem's tone fluctuates between longing and defiance, especially in the last stanza where the speaker declares to 'guard' the flower 'from all', even 'the jealous kings in hell'. This statement, rich in hyperbole, conveys the intensity of the speaker's emotions and their determination to protect their treasured memory, regardless of its perceived worthlessness.

Overall, the poem is a resonant exploration of human attachment, the subjective value of memories, and the bittersweet passage of time. Its simple but evocative imagery and emotional depth render it a compelling piece of poetry.