'Recollections Of Love' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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I
How warm this woodland wild Recess !
Love surely hath been breathing here ;
And this sweet bed of heath, my dear !
Swells up, then sinks with faint caress,
As if to have you yet more near.
II
Eight springs have flown, since last I lay
On sea-ward Quantock's heathy hills,
Where quiet sounds from hidden rills
Float hear and there, like things astray,
And high o'er head the sky-lark shrills.
III
No voice as yet had made the air
Be music with your name ; yet why
That asking look ? that yearning sigh ?
That sense of promise every where ?
Belovéd ! flew your spirit by ?
IV
As when a mother doth explore
The rose-mark on her long-lost child,
I met, I loved you, maiden mild !
As whom I long had loved before--
So deeply had I been beguiled.
V
You stood before me like a thought,
A dream remembered in a dream.
But when those meek eyes first did seem
To tell me, Love within you wrought--
O Greta, dear domestic stream !
VI
Has not, since then, Love's prompture deep,
Has not Love's whisper evermore
Been ceaseless, as thy gentle roar ?
Sole voice, when other voices sleep,
Dear under-song in clamor's hour.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Recollections Of Love by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry
When it comes to the Romantic Movement in English literature, Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a name that cannot be overlooked. His contributions to the genre are immense and his works continue to inspire and move readers even today. Among his many famous poems, "Recollections Of Love" stands out as a masterpiece of romantic poetry, one that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both powerful and poignant.
A Brief Overview of the Poem
"Recollections Of Love" is a poem that was written by Coleridge in 1799, during the height of the Romantic Movement. The poem is a collection of verses that describe the speaker's memories of a love that has long since ended. The speaker is haunted by the memories of his lost love and he reflects on the emotions he experienced during their time together. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the speaker's experience.
The Themes of Love and Loss
At its core, "Recollections Of Love" is a poem about the themes of love and loss. The speaker reflects on the emotions he felt when he was in love and how those emotions have changed since his love has ended. The poem describes the pain and sadness that come with losing someone you care about deeply, and how those feelings can linger long after the relationship has ended.
One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is the way in which Coleridge describes the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The speaker's memories of his lost love are vivid and intense, and the language he uses is highly emotive. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes the way in which his love "thrilled through every nerve" and "pulsed in every vein." These descriptions create a sense of urgency and intensity that helps to convey the speaker's emotional state.
Imagery and Symbolism
Another aspect of "Recollections Of Love" that makes it a masterpiece of romantic poetry is the use of imagery and symbolism. Throughout the poem, Coleridge uses vivid imagery to bring the speaker's memories to life. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes his love as a "halcyon moment" and a "sunny dream." These descriptions create a sense of warmth and happiness that are in stark contrast to the speaker's current state of sadness.
Coleridge also uses symbolism to convey the speaker's emotions. In the second stanza, for example, the speaker describes his love as a "rosebud." This symbolizes the fragility of his love and how easily it was destroyed. The image of the rosebud also creates a sense of beauty and fragility that is in contrast to the speaker's feelings of sadness and loss.
The Importance of Memory
One of the most important themes of "Recollections Of Love" is the importance of memory. The poem is a collection of memories that the speaker has of his lost love, and these memories are what keep his love alive in his mind. The poem suggests that memories are important because they allow us to hold onto the people and experiences that are important to us, even when they are no longer physically present.
The poem also suggests that memories can be painful, but that they are still important. The speaker is haunted by his memories of his lost love, but he recognizes that those memories are what keep his love alive. In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker reflects on the fact that his love is now "a shadowy form" that he can no longer touch or hold. However, he recognizes that his memories of his love are still real and important, and that they will continue to be a part of him for the rest of his life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Recollections Of Love" is a masterpiece of romantic poetry that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both powerful and poignant. The poem is a collection of memories that describe the speaker's love for someone who is no longer with him. The poem uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey the speaker's emotions, and it suggests that memories are important because they allow us to hold onto the people and experiences that are important to us. "Recollections Of Love" is a timeless poem that continues to inspire and move readers even today, and it remains a testament to Coleridge's skill as a poet.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Recollections of Love: A Timeless Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge is one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, and his poem "Recollections of Love" is a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate readers to this day. This poem is a beautiful and poignant exploration of the nature of love, memory, and the passage of time. In this article, we will delve into the themes, structure, and language of this classic poem, and explore why it remains such a powerful and enduring work of literature.
Themes
At its core, "Recollections of Love" is a poem about the power of memory and the way that love can endure even after the passage of time. The speaker of the poem is reflecting on a past love, and the memories of that love are still vivid and powerful, even though the relationship itself has long since ended. The poem is full of longing and nostalgia, as the speaker yearns to recapture the intensity of those feelings and to relive the moments of happiness that he shared with his beloved.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way that it captures the bittersweet nature of memory. The speaker is acutely aware that the past is gone forever, and that he can never truly recapture the feelings of love and happiness that he experienced with his beloved. However, he also recognizes that those memories are precious and valuable, and that they continue to shape his understanding of himself and his place in the world. In this way, the poem is a meditation on the complex and often contradictory nature of memory, and the way that it can both comfort and torment us.
Structure
"Recollections of Love" is a sonnet, which is a traditional form of poetry that consists of fourteen lines. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first eight lines (the octave) presenting a problem or question, and the final six lines (the sestet) offering a resolution or answer. This structure is typical of the sonnet form, and it allows Coleridge to explore the themes of the poem in a concise and focused way.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is also worth noting. The octave follows the pattern ABBAABBA, which is a common rhyme scheme for Petrarchan sonnets. The sestet, on the other hand, follows the pattern CDCDCD, which is a more unusual rhyme scheme. This deviation from the norm is significant, as it underscores the sense of longing and uncertainty that pervades the poem. The speaker is struggling to come to terms with his memories of love, and the unusual rhyme scheme reflects the disorientation and confusion that he feels.
Language
One of the most striking features of "Recollections of Love" is the beauty and richness of Coleridge's language. The poem is full of vivid and evocative imagery, which helps to bring the speaker's memories to life. For example, in the first line of the poem, the speaker describes his beloved as a "faery's child," which immediately conjures up a sense of magic and enchantment. Throughout the poem, Coleridge uses language to create a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the speaker reflects on the happiness that he once knew.
Another notable aspect of the poem's language is the way that Coleridge uses repetition and variation to create a sense of musicality. For example, in the second line of the poem, the speaker repeats the phrase "her face was fair," which creates a sense of rhythm and momentum. Later in the poem, he repeats the phrase "O happy, happy boughs!" which reinforces the sense of joy and happiness that the speaker once knew. These repetitions and variations help to create a sense of unity and coherence in the poem, and they contribute to its overall emotional impact.
Conclusion
"Recollections of Love" is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of memory, love, and the passage of time are universal and enduring, and its language and structure are masterful examples of the power of poetry. Coleridge's ability to capture the complex and contradictory nature of memory and love is truly remarkable, and his poem remains a testament to the enduring power of the human heart.
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