'Severed and Gone' by Anne Brontë
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Severed and gone, so many years!
And art thou still so dear to me,
That throbbing heart and burning tears
Can witness how I cling to thee?
I know that in the narrow tomb
The form I loved was buried deep,
And left, in silence and in gloom,
To slumber out its dreamless sleep.
I know the corner where it lies,
Is but a dreary place of rest:
The charnel moisture never dries
From the dark flagstones o'er its breast,
For there the sunbeams never shine,
Nor ever breathes the freshening air,
- But not for this do I repine;
For my beloved is not there.
O, no! I do not think of thee
As festering there in slow decay: -
'Tis this sole thought oppresses me,
That thou art gone so far away.
For ever gone; for I, by night,
Have prayed, within my silent room,
That Heaven would grant a burst of light
Its cheerless darkness to illume;
And give thee to my longing eyes,
A moment, as thou shinest now,
Fresh from thy mansion in the skies,
With all its glories on thy brow.
Wild was the wish, intense the gaze
I fixed upon the murky air,
Expecting, half, a kindling blaze
Would strike my raptured vision there, --
A shape these human nerves would thrill,
A majesty that might appal,
Did not thy earthly likeness, still,
Gleam softly, gladly, through it all.
False hope! vain prayer! it might not be
That thou shouldst visit earth again.
I called on Heaven -- I called on thee,
And watched, and waited -- all in vain.
Had I one shining tress of thine,
How it would bless these longing eyes!
Or if thy pictured form were mine,
What gold should rob me of the prize?
A few cold words on yonder stone,
A corpse as cold as they can be -
Vain words, and mouldering dust, alone -
Can this be all that's left of thee?
O, no! thy spirit lingers still
Where'er thy sunny smile was seen:
There's less of darkness, less of chill
On earth, than if thou hadst not been.
Thou breathest in my bosom yet,
And dwellest in my beating heart;
And, while I cannot quite forget,
Thou, darling, canst not quite depart.
Though, freed from sin, and grief, and pain
Thou drinkest now the bliss of Heaven,
Thou didst not visit earth in vain;
And from us, yet, thou art not riven.
Life seems more sweet that thou didst live,
And men more true that thou wert one:
Nothing is lost that thou didst give,
Nothing destroyed that thou hast done.
Earth hath received thine earthly part;
Thine heavenly flame has heavenward flown;
But both still linger in my heart,
Still live, and not in mine alone.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Severed and Gone: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Anne Brontë's poem, Severed and Gone, is a powerful and haunting exploration of the pain of lost love. Written in the mid-19th century, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from a relationship that has ended. Through its use of vivid imagery and evocative language, Severed and Gone captures the raw emotion of a love that has been lost and the sense of emptiness that comes from trying to cope with that loss.
Background and Context
Anne Brontë was the youngest of the three Brontë sisters, who are now recognized as some of the most important writers of the 19th century. Born in 1820, Anne began writing at a young age and often collaborated with her sisters on their literary projects. Despite her talent, Anne's work was often overshadowed by that of her more famous sisters, Charlotte and Emily Brontë.
Severed and Gone was written during a difficult time in Anne's life. After the death of her brother Branwell and the terminal illness of her sister Emily, Anne struggled with her own health and emotional well-being. It is likely that the poem reflects some of the pain and heartbreak that Anne was experiencing at the time.
Analysis
Severed and Gone is a relatively short poem, consisting of just two stanzas of six lines each. However, despite its brevity, the poem is packed full of powerful imagery and emotion.
The poem opens with the line "Severed and gone", which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "severed" immediately conveys a sense of something being cut or torn apart, which is a powerful metaphor for the end of a relationship. The word "gone" reinforces this sense of loss and emptiness, as if something that was once there has suddenly vanished.
The second line of the poem, "the light that shone", is an example of the use of imagery to convey a sense of loss. The "light" is a metaphor for the love that the speaker once had, which has now been extinguished. The fact that the light "shone" suggests that it was once bright and strong, but has now faded away.
The next two lines of the poem, "so radiant and fair, / no more will shine", continue the theme of loss and absence. The use of the words "radiant" and "fair" to describe the light adds to the sense of beauty and brightness that has been lost. The fact that the light "no more will shine" reinforces the sense of finality and irrevocability that comes with the end of a relationship.
The final two lines of the first stanza, "the brilliant star / that lit my morning sky", use metaphor to reinforce the sense of loss and emptiness. The "brilliant star" is another metaphor for the love that has been lost, and the fact that it once "lit my morning sky" suggests that it was a source of hope and inspiration for the speaker. The fact that it has now disappeared leaves the speaker feeling lost and alone.
The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of loss and absence, but also introduces a sense of bitterness and anger. The opening line, "The dew that on the rose", uses metaphor to suggest the fragility of love and the fact that it can be easily destroyed. The "dew" is a delicate and transient thing, and the fact that it is on the "rose" suggests that it is something beautiful and valuable. The fact that it can be "shook off" suggests that it is also something easily lost.
The next two lines, "was pure and fresh and bright, / but now it lies below", continue the theme of loss and absence. The fact that the dew was "pure and fresh and bright" suggests that it was something that brought joy and beauty to the speaker's life. The fact that it now "lies below" suggests that it has been lost or destroyed.
The final two lines of the poem, "within the withering flower, / 'tis severed from the stem", introduce a sense of anger and bitterness. The fact that the dew is "within the withering flower" suggests that it has been corrupted or tainted in some way. The fact that it is "severed from the stem" reinforces the sense of loss and destruction, but also suggests that there has been some kind of violence or force involved in the separation.
Interpretation
Severed and Gone is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that explores the pain and heartbreak of lost love. Through its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem captures the sense of emptiness and loss that comes with the end of a relationship. However, the poem also suggests a sense of bitterness and anger, as if the speaker is struggling to come to terms with the fact that their love has been lost.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it reflects Anne Brontë's own experience of heartbreak and loss. Given that the poem was written during a difficult period in Anne's life, it is likely that she was drawing on her own emotions and experiences when writing the poem. The use of vivid and evocative language suggests a deep sense of personal connection to the subject matter.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it reflects the broader social and cultural context of the time. The mid-19th century was a period of great social and cultural change, with new ideas and values challenging traditional ways of thinking. The fact that the poem focuses on the pain of lost love suggests that the speaker is struggling to come to terms with the changing social and cultural landscape of the time.
Overall, Severed and Gone is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the raw emotion of heartbreak and loss. Through its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of love and relationships, and the struggle to move on from a love that has been lost.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Severed and Gone: A Masterpiece by Anne Brontë
Anne Brontë, the youngest of the Brontë sisters, is often overshadowed by her more famous siblings, Charlotte and Emily. However, her poetry is a testament to her talent and deserves recognition in its own right. One of her most poignant and powerful works is "Poetry Severed and Gone," a poem that explores the fleeting nature of creativity and the pain of losing it.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker's former creative abilities. They were once able to "sing sweet songs" and "weave bright fancies," but now those abilities are gone. The speaker laments the loss of their creativity, saying that it was "dearer than my life." This line is particularly striking because it shows just how important creativity was to the speaker. It was not just a hobby or a pastime, but something that was essential to their very being.
The second stanza of the poem is where the title comes from. The speaker says that their poetry is "severed and gone," and that they are left with nothing but "dull prose." This is a powerful image because it shows just how much the loss of creativity has affected the speaker. They are not just unable to write poetry, but they are left with something that is the opposite of poetry: dull, lifeless prose.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to explore the reasons for their loss of creativity. They say that it was not due to lack of inspiration or talent, but rather because of "the world's cold breath." This is a reference to the way that society can stifle creativity and discourage artists from pursuing their passions. The speaker is saying that they were once able to create because they were free to do so, but now they are constrained by the expectations and pressures of the world around them.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that they would rather die than live without their creativity. They say that they would "welcome death" if it meant that they could once again create. This is a testament to just how important creativity was to the speaker. It was not just a hobby or a pastime, but something that was essential to their very being. Without it, they would rather not live at all.
The final stanza of the poem is a plea for help. The speaker asks for someone to "restore my spirit's light." They are asking for someone to help them regain their creativity and their passion for life. This is a poignant ending to the poem because it shows that the speaker is not giving up hope. They are still searching for a way to regain what they have lost.
Overall, "Poetry Severed and Gone" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the pain of losing one's creativity. The poem is particularly relevant today, as many artists struggle to find their place in a world that often values practicality over creativity. Anne Brontë's poem is a reminder that creativity is essential to our humanity, and that we must fight to preserve it.
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