The story revolves around the theme of loss and longing. The poem-like chapter describes a stormy night where the wind cries like a lost child, symbolizing the pain of separation. The sea-poppies and waves are battered by the strong winds, marking the end of summer and joy. The tortured tree branches grasp at the windows of a house, now closed and devoid of warmth. The "lost child of love" is a metaphor for a past love that has been lost, and the narrator remembers a time when the windows of their heart were open and bright, but are now shut tight with despair.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1905 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature