'Lines' by Thomas Hardy
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Spoken by Miss Ada Rehan at the Lyceum Theatre, July 23, 1890, at a
performance on behalf of Lady Jeune's Holiday Fund for City Children.
BEFORE we part to alien thoughts and aims,
Permit the one brief word the occasion claims;
--When mumming and grave projects are allied,
Perhaps an Epilogue is justified.
Our under-purpose has, in truth, to-day
Commanded most our musings; least the play:
A purpose futile but for your good-will
Swiftly responsive to the cry of ill:
A purpose all too limited!--to aid
Frail human flowerets, sicklied by the shade,
In winning some short spell of upland breeze,
Or strengthening sunlight on the level leas.
Who has not marked, where the full cheek should be,
Incipient lines of lank flaccidity,
Lymphatic pallor where the pink should glow,
And where the throb of transport, pulses low?--
Most tragical of shapes from Pole to Line,
O wondering child, unwitting Time's design,
Why should Art add to Nature's quandary,
And worsen ill by thus immuring thee?
--That races can do despite to their own,
That Might supernal do indeed condone
Wrongs individual for the general ease,
Instance the proof in victims such as these.
Launched into thoroughfares too thronged before,
Mothered by those whose protest is "No more!"
Vitalized without option: who shall say
That did Life hang on choosing--Yea or Nay--
They had not scorned it with such penalty,
And nothingness implored of Destiny?
And yet behind the horizon smile serene
The down, the cornland, and the stretching green--
Space--the child's heaven: scenes which at least ensure
Some palliative for ill they cannot cure.
Dear friends--now moved by this poor show of ours
To make your own long joy in buds and bowers
For one brief while the joy of infant eyes,
Changing their urban murk to paradise--
You have our thanks!--may your reward include
More than our thanks, far more: their gratitude.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Thomas Hardy's "Lines": A Masterful Exploration of Love and Loss
As a renowned novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy's works have left an indelible mark on English literature. One of his most famous poems, "Lines," is a stunning meditation on the pain of lost love and the longing for something that can never be regained. Through his masterful use of language and imagery, Hardy captures the complex emotional landscape of heartbreak and leaves a lasting impression on readers.
The Poem
"Lines" is a short, eight-line poem that centers on the theme of lost love. The poem is structured in four two-line stanzas, which are written in rhyming couplets. The brevity of the poem is remarkable, as it manages to convey a deep sense of loss and longing despite its simplicity.
The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on the memory of a lost love. The opening line, "When I behold, upon the night's starred face," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is looking up at the sky, presumably at night, and is struck by the beauty of the stars. However, this beauty only serves to remind the speaker of what he has lost.
The second line, "Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance," is a striking image that suggests the vastness of the speaker's emotions. The clouds represent the speaker's feelings of love and longing, which are so great that they cannot be contained within him. Instead, they are projected onto the night sky in the form of these "huge cloudy symbols."
The second two-line stanza continues this theme of loss and longing. The speaker says, "And feel that I may nevermore behold / Thy sweet, loved face, again to be embraced." Here, the speaker explicitly states his desire to see his lost love again. He longs to be reunited with her, to "be embraced" once more. However, he acknowledges the possibility that this may never happen, that he may never see her "sweet, loved face" again.
The third stanza takes a different turn. The speaker says, "And nights as lonely as a desert's prayer / Would sweep me past the reaches of my soul." Here, the speaker is describing the profound sense of loneliness that he feels in the absence of his love. The image of a "desert's prayer" emphasizes the emptiness and isolation of the speaker's existence without his beloved. The phrase "past the reaches of my soul" suggests that this loneliness is all-consuming, extending to the very depths of the speaker's being.
Finally, the poem concludes with the lines, "So sweet love seemed that April morn / When first we kissed beside the thorn." These lines are particularly poignant, as they juxtapose the joy of the speaker's memory of his first kiss with the thorn with the pain of his current situation. The sweetness of that memory only serves to emphasize what is lost, making the speaker's current loneliness all the more acute.
Interpretation
"Lines" is a deeply emotional poem that explores the pain of lost love. Hardy's use of language and imagery is particularly striking, as he manages to convey a profound sense of longing and heartbreak in just eight lines. There are several key elements of the poem that are worth exploring in more detail.
Nature Imagery
One of the most striking elements of "Lines" is its use of nature imagery. Hardy frequently uses images of the natural world to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, the "huge cloudy symbols" and the "night's starred face" are both images of the sky that are used to represent the vastness of the speaker's emotions. Similarly, the metaphor of the "desert's prayer" emphasizes the emptiness and isolation of the speaker's existence without his love.
Rhyming Couplets
Another notable element of the poem is its use of rhyming couplets. The four two-line stanzas are all written in rhyming couplets, which give the poem a sense of unity and coherence. The rhyme scheme also emphasizes the repetition of the speaker's emotions, as each stanza ends with a similar sentiment of loss and longing.
Memories of Love
The poem is structured around the speaker's memories of his lost love. The first two stanzas describe the beauty of the night sky and the speaker's emotions of love and longing. The second two stanzas shift the focus to the speaker's current state of loneliness and isolation. The final two lines of the poem return to the memory of the speaker's first kiss with his beloved. This structure emphasizes the importance of memory in the speaker's emotional landscape. Despite the pain of his current situation, the speaker is able to find solace in his memories of love.
The Pain of Loss
Perhaps the most significant theme of the poem is the pain of loss. The speaker's emotions are dominated by a profound sense of heartbreak and longing. He longs to be reunited with his lost love, but acknowledges the possibility that this may never happen. The poem captures the complexity of this pain, as the memory of his first kiss with his beloved only serves to emphasize what is lost. The speaker's loneliness is all-consuming, extending to the very reaches of his soul.
Conclusion
"Lines" is a masterful exploration of the pain of lost love. Hardy's use of language and imagery is particularly striking, as he manages to convey a deep sense of longing and heartbreak in just eight lines. The poem is structured around the speaker's memories of his beloved, emphasizing the importance of memory in his emotional landscape. The pain of loss is a pervasive theme throughout the poem, as the speaker's emotions are dominated by a sense of loneliness and isolation. "Lines" is a poignant and powerful poem that captures the complexity of human emotions in the face of loss.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Lines by Thomas Hardy: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Imagery
Thomas Hardy, the renowned English novelist and poet, is known for his profound understanding of human nature and his ability to capture the essence of life in his works. One of his most celebrated poems, Poetry Lines, is a masterpiece of emotion and imagery that has captivated readers for generations.
At its core, Poetry Lines is a reflection on the power of poetry to evoke deep emotions and connect us to the world around us. The poem begins with the speaker describing a moment of intense emotional connection with nature, as he stands on a hilltop and gazes out at the landscape below. He is struck by the beauty of the scene, and the way it seems to speak to him on a deep, almost spiritual level.
As he contemplates this experience, the speaker begins to reflect on the role of poetry in his life. He notes that poetry has the power to capture these moments of intense emotion and make them tangible, allowing us to relive them again and again. He also notes that poetry can help us connect with others, by expressing emotions and experiences that are universal to all of us.
Throughout the poem, Hardy uses vivid imagery and sensory language to bring the scene to life. He describes the landscape in rich detail, using words like "purple", "gold", and "crimson" to evoke the colors of the sunset. He also uses sensory language to describe the sounds and smells of the scene, such as the "soughing" of the wind and the "fragrance" of the flowers.
This attention to detail is a hallmark of Hardy's writing, and it is what makes Poetry Lines such a powerful and evocative poem. By painting such a vivid picture of the scene, Hardy allows us to experience it for ourselves, and to feel the same sense of awe and wonder that the speaker feels.
But Poetry Lines is more than just a celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of poetry. It is also a reflection on the human condition, and the way that we are all connected to each other and to the world around us.
Throughout the poem, the speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding, noting that poetry can help us connect with others by expressing emotions and experiences that are universal to all of us. He also notes that poetry can help us find meaning and purpose in our lives, by giving us a way to express our deepest thoughts and feelings.
This theme of connection and empathy is particularly relevant in today's world, where we are often isolated from each other and disconnected from the natural world. By reminding us of the power of poetry to bring us together and help us connect with the world around us, Hardy's poem offers a powerful message of hope and inspiration.
In conclusion, Poetry Lines is a masterpiece of emotion and imagery that captures the essence of life and the power of poetry to connect us to the world around us. Through its vivid imagery, sensory language, and profound insights into the human condition, this poem has become a timeless classic that continues to inspire and move readers today. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, Poetry Lines is a must-read that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.
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