'The Return' by Sarah Teasdale
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He has come, he is here,
My love has come home,
The minutes are lighter
Than flying foam,
The hours are like dancers
On gold-slippered feet,
The days are young runners
Naked and fleet --
For my love has returned,
He is home, he is here,
In the whole world no other
Is dear as my dear!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Return: A Masterpiece of Poetic Sensibility
Sarah Teasdale's "The Return" is a masterpiece of poetic sensibility that captures the essence of human experience with its evocative imagery and lyrical beauty. The poem is a poignant meditation on the theme of love and loss, reflecting the poet's own struggles with the pain of separation and the longing for reunion.
Background and Context
Sarah Teasdale was an American poet who lived from 1884 to 1933. She was known for her romantic and lyrical poetry that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. "The Return" was published in 1918, during the height of World War I, a time of great upheaval and uncertainty in the world.
The poem is part of Teasdale's collection of poems titled "Love Songs" which was published in 1917. The collection received critical acclaim and established Teasdale as a major literary figure of her time. "The Return" is one of the most famous poems in the collection and has been widely anthologized and studied by scholars and poetry lovers alike.
Analysis and Interpretation
"The Return" is a poem that is rich in symbolism and imagery. The poem follows the journey of a lover who has been separated from their beloved for a long time and is now returning to their side. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own unique imagery and emotional resonance.
Stanza One
In the first stanza, the poet describes the arrival of the lover, who is greeted by the sound of bells ringing in the distance. The bells are a symbol of celebration and joy, signaling the return of the beloved to their home. The imagery of the bells is also reminiscent of wedding bells, suggesting that the reunion between the two lovers is like a marriage, a union of two souls.
The poet then goes on to describe the landscape, which is bathed in the light of the setting sun. The imagery of the sunset is a symbol of the end of a journey, but also the beginning of a new chapter in life. The sunset also suggests the passage of time, with the implication that the two lovers have been apart for a long time and have endured the hardships of separation.
Stanza Two
In the second stanza, the poet uses powerful imagery to convey the emotion of the reunion. The lover is described as "a flame in my heart" and the poet's heart is described as "a bird in a cage". These metaphors suggest the intensity of the emotion that the poet is feeling, with the lover's presence igniting a passionate flame within the poet's heart.
The metaphor of the bird in the cage is also significant, suggesting that the poet's heart has been locked up and constrained by the pain of separation, but is now free to soar and express its emotions with the return of the beloved.
Stanza Three
In the third and final stanza, the poet reflects on the bittersweet nature of the reunion. The lover is described as being "changed" and the poet wonders if the passage of time and the hardships of separation have taken a toll on the beloved. The poet also reflects on the impermanence of life, describing the world as a "changing moon" and the lover as a "flower that fades".
The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant, with the poet expressing the fear that the reunion may be fleeting and that the two lovers may be separated once again. However, the poet also finds solace in the fact that the memory of the reunion will remain, sustaining the two lovers through the trials and tribulations of life.
Themes and Motifs
"The Return" is a poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and reunion. The poem is a meditation on the pain of separation and the joy of being reunited with the one you love. The poem also reflects on the impermanence of life, suggesting that everything is fleeting and that we must cherish the moments of happiness that come our way.
The poem also makes use of several motifs, including the imagery of bells, sunsets, and birds. These motifs are used to evoke powerful emotions and create a sense of symbolism and meaning within the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sarah Teasdale's "The Return" is a masterful poem that captures the essence of human experience with its powerful imagery and lyrical beauty. The poem is a reflection on the pain of separation and the joy of reunion, exploring themes of love, loss, and impermanence. The poem is a testament to Teasdale's skill as a poet and her ability to evoke powerful emotions and create a sense of meaning through her use of symbolism and imagery. "The Return" is a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today, inspiring us to cherish the moments of happiness and love that come our way.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has the power to transport us to different worlds, to evoke emotions we never knew existed, and to make us see the world in a different light. Sarah Teasdale's poem "The Return" is a perfect example of how poetry can do all of these things and more. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in "The Return" to understand why it is considered a classic of modern poetry.
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
When I go back to earth And all my joyous body Puts off the red and white That once had been so proud, If men should pass above With false and feeble pity, My dust will find a voice To answer them aloud:
"Be still, I am content, Take back your poor compassion. Joy was a flame in me Too steady to destroy. Lithe as a bending reed Loving the storm that sways her-- I found more joy in sorrow Than you could find in joy."
Sorrow was my own queen; I loved her on long eves When stars would fade and die; And scarce a wandering breeze Would sigh across the sky But she would fold me close, The darling of her eyes...
Now let's break down the poem and explore its themes. The first theme that stands out is the idea of death and the afterlife. Teasdale imagines her body returning to the earth and becoming dust, but she also imagines that her dust will find a voice to answer those who pity her. This suggests that she believes in some kind of afterlife or continuation of the self beyond death. This theme is further explored in the second stanza, where Teasdale personifies sorrow as her own queen and describes how she found more joy in sorrow than in joy itself. This suggests that Teasdale sees sorrow as a necessary part of life, and perhaps even as a gateway to a greater understanding of the self and the world.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of joy and its relationship to sorrow. Teasdale suggests that joy is not something that can be destroyed, but rather something that is steady and enduring. She also suggests that joy can be found in sorrow, which is a counterintuitive idea but one that is central to the poem's message. Teasdale seems to be saying that it is through experiencing sorrow that we can truly appreciate joy, and that the two are inextricably linked.
The imagery in "The Return" is also worth exploring. Teasdale uses vivid and evocative language to paint a picture of the afterlife and the emotions that come with it. For example, she describes her body putting off the red and white that once made it proud, which suggests a kind of shedding of the physical self. She also describes herself as lithe as a bending reed, which is a beautiful and delicate image that suggests a kind of flexibility and resilience in the face of adversity.
The language used in "The Return" is also worth examining. Teasdale's use of language is simple and direct, but also poetic and evocative. She uses repetition to great effect, repeating the word "joy" several times throughout the poem to emphasize its importance. She also uses alliteration, assonance, and other poetic devices to create a musical and rhythmic quality to the poem. This helps to make the poem more memorable and impactful, and also adds to its overall beauty.
In conclusion, "The Return" is a classic of modern poetry that explores themes of death, the afterlife, joy, and sorrow. Through vivid imagery and poetic language, Sarah Teasdale creates a powerful and evocative portrait of what it means to be human and to experience the full range of emotions that come with it. Whether you are a seasoned poetry lover or a newcomer to the genre, "The Return" is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
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