The Poet to His Love by Edith Nesbit
The poem explores the speaker's desire to capture their fleeting thoughts and emotions to express them to their beloved. They consider using rhyme as a trap to catch these elusive ideas, but even with careful observation, they remain out of reach. The speaker is tantalized by glimpses of inspiration, only to see them disappear, leaving their creative endeavors empty and unfulfilled.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Victorian Literature · 178 words
First lines
ALL the flight of thoughts here, shy, bold, scared, intrusive, Fluttering in the sun, between the green and blue, Wheeling, whirling, poising, lovely and elusive, How to cage the flying thoughts, my winged delight, for you?
Set a springe of rhyme, and hope to catch them in it? Strew my love as grain to lure them to the snare? Watch the hours built up, slow minute piled on minute? Still the wide sky guards their flight, and still the cage is bare.
Gleam of hovering feathers, brushing me to flout me! Wings, be weary! Rest! Who loves you more than I? Caught? Oh fluttering pinions whitening air about me! Rustling wings, and distant flight, and empty cage and sky!
What this Textopian page supports
The Poet to His Love is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Victorian Literature
- Length: 178 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a collection of poems expressing the poet's feelings towards his love.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around the poet's romantic feelings and experiences.
- Victorian Literature — The work reflects the literary style and themes prevalent during the Victorian era.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Relationships · Emotions · Intimacy · Passion · Desire · Longing · Beauty · Nature · Imagery