The poem's speaker is consumed by despair, having lost all sense of self and surroundings except for a romantic obsession. They are drawn to the beloved's beauty, comparing it to rich flowers and scented hours. The speaker has forgotten their past, including idyllic memories of nature, and can only think of the beloved. They express a desire to be like happy, honest men who have lived good lives and are now at peace in their graves, implying a sense of desperation and longing for escape from their emotional turmoil.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1905 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mystery