The Last Defeat by Edith Nesbit
The poem's speaker reflects on their life, describing a long period of darkness and struggle that has finally given way to a triumphant dawn. The "splendour" of someone else's light has illuminated the speaker's life, and they have worn this person's "colours" through a long and difficult fight. Now, the speaker is surrendering, yielding their life and the colours to the darkness of night.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1909 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, War · 127 words
First lines
ACROSS the field of day / In sudden blazon lay / The pallid bar of gold / Borne on the shield of day.
Night had endured so long, / And now the Day grew strong / With lance of light to hold / The Night at bay.
So on my life's dull night / The splendour of your light / Traversed the dusky shield / And shone forth golden bright.
Your colours I have worn / Through all the fight forlorn, / And these, with life, I yield, / To-night, to Night.
What this Textopian page supports
The Last Defeat is listed on Textopian as an essay by Edith Nesbit, dated 1909 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, War, Romance
- Length: 127 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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- Work identity for The Last Defeat by Edith Nesbit
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical period and includes real events of that time.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey or quest with elements of danger and excitement.
- War — The narrative revolves around warfare and its consequences.
- Romance — Elements of love and relationships are present in the narrative.
Tags
Children's Literature · Fantasy · Adventure · Coming-of-Age · Historical Fiction · Victorian Era · British Literature · Classic Novel · Imaginative Storytelling · Quest Narrative · Friendship · Loyalty