'Hither, Hither, Love' by John Keats


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Hither hither, love---'Tis a shady mead---
Hither, hither, love!Let us feed and feed!Hither, hither, sweet---'Tis a cowslip bed---
Hither, hither, sweet!'Tis with dew bespread!Hither, hither, dearBy the breath of life,
Hither, hither, dear!---Be the summer's wife!Though one moment's pleasureIn one moment flies---
Though the passion's treasureIn one moment dies;---Yet it has not passed---Think how near, how near!---
And while it doth last,Think how dear, how dear!Hither, hither, hitherLove its boon has sent---
If I die and witherI shall die content!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Hither, Hither, Love: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry by John Keats

When it comes to Romantic poetry, John Keats stands out as one of the most eminent and celebrated poets of his time. His works are known for their vivid imagery, sensual language, and profound emotions that capture the essence of the human condition. One of Keats' most famous poems is "Hither, Hither, Love," a piece that explores the themes of love, desire, and the fleeting nature of life.

Background

"Hither, Hither, Love" was written by Keats in 1819, during a time of great personal turmoil for the poet. Keats was deeply in love with Fanny Brawne, a woman he had met the previous year, and their tumultuous relationship had a profound impact on Keats' poetry. "Hither, Hither, Love" is believed to have been written as a tribute to Brawne, and the poem's themes of love, longing, and the hopelessness of desire reflect Keats' own experiences.

Structure and Form

The poem is structured as a series of six quatrains, with each stanza following an ABAB rhyme scheme. The use of the quatrain form creates a sense of symmetry and structure that mirrors the poem's themes of order and beauty. At the same time, the ABAB rhyme scheme creates a musicality and fluidity to the poem's language. The poem's title is repeated at the beginning of each stanza, emphasizing the central theme of love and desire.

Interpretation

The poem opens with the line "Hither, hither, love – / 'Tis a shady mead – ", which immediately draws the reader in with its sensual and evocative language. The use of the word "hither" creates a sense of urgency and desire, inviting the reader to join the speaker on a journey of love and passion. The image of a "shady mead" suggests a place of refuge and intimacy, a space where the speaker and their lover can escape from the outside world.

As the poem continues, the speaker addresses their lover directly, urging them to come closer and "lie upon the grass." The use of the phrase "lie upon the grass" is significant, as it suggests a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The grass represents the earth and the natural world, a place of renewal and growth. By lying upon the grass, the speaker and their lover are embracing the natural world and surrendering themselves to their desires.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most striking, as the speaker acknowledges the fleeting nature of love and desire. The lines "Time is stealing on – / Moons like melting snows, / Love's tide shall soon be gone, / Round the blighted rose" suggest that time is moving quickly, and that the speaker's love for their companion is as fragile as a melting snow or a blighted rose. The use of the word "love's tide" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that love, like the tides of the ocean, is subject to the whims of fate and nature.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most heartbreaking, as the speaker acknowledges that their love for their companion is doomed to fail. The lines "O, that we two were maying / Down the stream of the soft spring breeze; / Like children with violets playing, / In the shade of the whispering trees" suggest a sense of longing and lament. The speaker imagines a world where they and their lover can be free and happy, but ultimately acknowledges that this world is an illusion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Hither, Hither, Love" is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry that explores the themes of love, desire, and the fleeting nature of life. Keats' use of vivid imagery, sensual language, and musicality create a sense of intimacy and urgency that draws the reader into the poem's world. At the same time, the poem's acknowledgment of the transience of love and desire creates a sense of melancholy and longing that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. For anyone looking to experience the beauty and power of Romantic poetry, "Hither, Hither, Love" is an excellent place to start.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Hither, Hither, Love! Oh, what a beautiful poem by John Keats! This classic piece of literature is a perfect example of Keats' romantic style and his ability to capture the essence of love in words.

The poem begins with the speaker calling out to love, beckoning it to come closer. The use of repetition in the first line, "Hither, hither, love— / 'Tis a shady mead—", creates a sense of urgency and desire. The speaker is eager to experience love and is inviting it to come to him.

The second line, "Hither, hither, love! / Let us feed and feed", continues the sense of urgency and desire. The speaker wants to consume love, to be consumed by it, and to experience it fully.

The third line, "Hither, hither, sweet— / 'Tis a cowslip bed—", introduces the idea of sweetness and beauty. The cowslip bed is a metaphor for the beauty and sweetness of love. The speaker is inviting love to come and lie down with him in this beautiful place.

The fourth line, "Hither, hither, dear; / By the breath of life, / Something woven round thy feet", introduces the idea of intimacy and closeness. The speaker is calling love "dear" and is asking it to come close to him. The "something woven round thy feet" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the ties that bind two people in love.

The second stanza continues the theme of intimacy and closeness. The first line, "O, a thousand wings", suggests that love has the power to lift the speaker up and carry him away. The second line, "My swift desires", suggests that the speaker's desires are strong and powerful, and that he wants to be carried away by love.

The third line, "Ye love-thoughts hover round / For aye, for aye", suggests that the speaker's thoughts are consumed by love and that they will always be so. The repetition of "for aye" emphasizes the idea of eternity and the everlasting nature of love.

The fourth line, "Dart not—die not—poor bird", introduces the idea of vulnerability. The bird could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's heart, which is vulnerable and easily wounded. The speaker is asking love not to hurt him, not to "dart" and "die" like a bird.

The third stanza introduces the idea of sacrifice. The first line, "I, I would sing", suggests that the speaker is willing to give up something in order to express his love. The second line, "That the serpent-charmer's voice", suggests that the speaker is willing to give up his own voice in order to hear the voice of the one he loves.

The third line, "Hither, hither, wing / Ye with tuneful breath!", suggests that the speaker wants love to come to him with a beautiful voice, like a bird with tuneful breath. The repetition of "hither, hither" emphasizes the speaker's desire for love to come to him.

The fourth stanza continues the theme of sacrifice. The first line, "I would love thee, / Ah, me, / That I long to be", suggests that the speaker is willing to give up his own identity in order to be with the one he loves. The second line, "By the cry of life, / By the stars' sweet fire", suggests that the speaker is willing to swear an oath of love, to commit himself fully to the one he loves.

The third line, "In the emerald mire", suggests that the speaker is willing to give up his own comfort and safety in order to be with the one he loves. The fourth line, "By the zephyr's sigh / And the sultry noon", suggests that the speaker is willing to endure any hardship in order to be with the one he loves.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close. The first line, "I would love thee / Like the bird that flies", suggests that the speaker wants to love like a bird, freely and without reservation. The second line, "By the summer skies", suggests that the speaker wants to love in a way that is as beautiful and pure as the summer sky.

The third line, "I would love thee—yesterday", suggests that the speaker's love is timeless and eternal. The fourth line, "When all sweet things are fled", suggests that the speaker's love will endure even when all other sweet things have passed away.

In conclusion, Hither, Hither, Love is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love in words. Keats' use of repetition, metaphor, and imagery creates a sense of urgency, desire, intimacy, and sacrifice. The poem is a perfect example of Keats' romantic style and his ability to express the deepest emotions in words.

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