Languor by David Park Barnitz (1867)
The poem explores themes of love, mortality, and the passage of time. It begins with an admiration of the beloved's beauty, comparing their face to the dawn and expressing a longing for intimacy through kisses. The speaker reflects on the transient nature of life, where days and nights pass without pause, emphasizing the inevitability of death. As the poem progresses, the speaker contemplates the idea of decay and the eventual return to the earth. There is a juxtaposition between the physical deterioration of the beloved and the enduring nature of love. The speaker expresses a desire for a connection that transcends death, envisioning a scenario where the beloved's body, once decayed, could still offer love in a transformed state. The imagery of decay is intertwined with a yearning for eternal affection, suggesting that even in death, love can persist and evolve. The poem concludes with a powerful desire for a kiss that embodies an everlasting bond, highlighting the tension between the ephemeral nature of life and the desire for enduring love.
By David Park Barnitz · First published 1867 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 133 words
First lines
Although thy face be whiter than the dawn, Fairer than aught the dawning hath descried, Hast thou not now, O dear love deified, Enough of kisses upon thy forehead wan?
The days and nights, like beads to pray upon, Pass by before our eyes and not abide, And so these things shall be till we have died, Until our bodies to the earth are gone.
I think how pleasant such a thing must be, That all thy lovely limbs should fall away, And drop to nothing in their soft decay.
Then may thy buried body turn to me, With new love on thy changed lips like fire, And kiss me with a kiss that shall not tire.
What this Textopian page supports
Languor is listed on Textopian as a poem by David Park Barnitz, dated 1867 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: David Park Barnitz
- Date: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Elegy, Philosophical
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of love and mortality.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time align with Romantic ideals.
- Lyric — The personal expression of emotions and thoughts indicates a lyric quality.
- Elegy — The contemplation of death and decay suggests elements of an elegiac tone.
Tags
Literary Fiction · Psychological Drama · Coming-of-Age · Family Secrets · Small Town Life · Social Hierarchy · Class Conflict · Moral Ambiguity · Existential Crisis · Identity Crisis · Self-Discovery · Relationships