Love and Life by Edith Nesbit (1905)
The poem explores the theme of love and its transformation from youthful passion to mature responsibility. In the early stages, love is carefree and joyful, singing sweet songs. However, as it grows older, love must confront the harsh realities of life, earning a living through hard work and tears. The speaker acknowledges that love has evolved into a strong and brave force, prioritizing provision and protection over romantic expressions. Instead of singing, love now offers a lifelong commitment, a helping hand, and enduring faith.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1905 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction · 178 words
First lines
LOVE only sings when Love is young, When Love is young and still at play, How shall we count the sweet songs sung When Love and Joy kept holiday? But now Love has to earn his bread By lifelong stress and toil of tears, He finds his nest of song-birds dead That sang so sweet in other years.
For Love's a man now, strong and brave, To fight for you, for you to live, And Love, that once such bright songs gave, Has better things than songs to give; He gives you now a lifelong faith, A hand to help in joy or pain, And he will sing no more, till Death Shall come to make him young again!
What this Textopian page supports
Love and Life is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 178 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Love and Life by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Love and Life?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Via Amoris by Edith Nesbit
- One Way Of Love by Edith Nesbit
- Her Marriage Lines by Edith Nesbit
- True Love And New Love by Edith Nesbit
- The Manchester Marriage by Elizabeth Gaskell
- Guinevere by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
Genres
- Romance — The narrative primarily revolves around the themes of love and relationships.
- Drama — The story contains elements of conflict, tension, and emotional upheaval.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context of the story are based in a specific historical period.
Tags
Romance · Victorian Era · Social Class · Family Drama · Marriage · Relationships · Women's Rights · Feminism · Societal Expectations · Personal Growth · Self-Discovery · Love Triangle