Autumn Violets by Christina Georgina Rossetti
The speaker reserves violets for spring and love for youth, asking that autumn violets remain hidden beneath leaves. If a later, sadder love arises, it should accept its limits and give itself without demanding faithfulness in return, like Ruth gleaning scanty corn.
By Christina Georgina Rossetti · Genre: Sonnet, Love Poetry, Nature Poetry · 176 words
First lines
Keep love for youth, and violets for the spring: / Or if these bloom when worn-out autumn grieves, / Let them lie hid in double shade of leaves, / Their own, and others dropped down withering; / For violets suit when home birds build and sing, / Not when the outbound bird a passage cleaves; / Not with dry stubble of mown harvest sheaves, / But when the green world buds to blossoming. / Keep violets for the spring, and love for youth, / Love that should dwell with beauty, mirth, and hope: / Or if a later sadder love be born, / Let this not look for grace beyond its scope, / But give itself, nor plead for answering truth -- / A grateful Ruth tho' gleaning scanty corn.
Genres
- Sonnet — Fourteen rhymed lines turn from the seasonal place of violets to the expectations of later love.
- Love Poetry — The speaker contrasts youthful love accompanied by beauty, mirth, and hope with later love that gives without demanding a return.
- Nature Poetry — Violets, withering leaves, nesting and departing birds, and harvested fields establish the contrast between spring and autumn.
Tags
later love · violets · spring · autumn · giving · sonnets
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Autumn Violets is listed on Textopian as a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Sonnet, Love Poetry, Nature Poetry
- Length: 176 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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