“There has fallen a splendid tearFrom the passion-flower at the gate.She is coming, my dove, my dear;She is coming, my life, my fate.The red rose cries, "She is near, she is near;"And the white rose weeps, "She is late;"The larkspur listens, "I hear, I hear;"And the lily whispers, "I wait." She is coming, my own, my sweet;Were it ever so airy a tread,My heart would hear her and beat,Were it earth in an earthy bed;My dust would hear her and beat,Had I lain for a century dead,Would start and tremble under her feet,And blossom in purple and red.”
Quote Analysis:
In this passionate and emotive poem by Alfred Tennyson, the speaker eagerly anticipates the arrival of his beloved. The imagery of nature responding to her presence adds to the anticipation and excitement of her impending arrival. The speaker's longing and love for his beloved are vividly expressed through the personification of flowers and the vivid descriptions of how even in death, he would still be awoken by her presence. This quote captures the deep emotions and intensity of love that transcends time and space.
Modern Relevance of Alfred Tennyson's Poetry
In this excerpt from Alfred Tennyson's poem, the speaker eagerly awaits the arrival of their beloved, with nature mirroring their emotions. The imagery of flowers blooming and the earth reacting to the presence of the loved one captures the intense anticipation and longing for connection. Today, this poem resonates with the timeless themes of love, longing, and the power of human connection, reminding us of the universal experience of waiting for a loved one and the transformative impact of love on the human heart.
Example of Usage
Alfred Tennyson's poem beautifully captures the anticipation and longing for a loved one's arrival. The imagery of nature reacting to the presence of the beloved conveys a sense of heightened emotion and expectation.
Reflection Questions:
As you reflect on Alfred Tennyson's poem, consider the following questions:
- What emotions does the imagery of the passion-flower, red rose, white rose, larkspur, and lily evoke in you?
- How does the poet use nature to convey the anticipation and longing for a loved one's arrival?
- In what ways does the speaker's anticipation of their beloved's arrival manifest in the poem?
- How does Tennyson use language and symbolism to depict the impact of the beloved's presence on the speaker?
- How does the final stanza of the poem emphasize the transformative power of love and connection?
Similar quotes
“The red rose cries, "She is near, she is near;"And the white rose weeps, "She is late;"The larkspur listens, "I hear, I hear;"And the lily whispers, "I wait.”
“If you were close enough to her ruby-red lips you would hear her say, 'I will rise now and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek the one I love.' She is whispering that, and she whispers, 'By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. My beloved is mine and I am his.”
“My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red than her lips' red;If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,But no such roses see I in her cheeks;And in some perfumes is there more delightThan in the breath that from my mistress reeks.I love to hear her speak, yet well I knowThat music hath a far more pleasing sound;I grant I never saw a goddess go;My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.”
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