Too Late by Edith Nesbit (1903)
The story revolves around the theme of love and its fleeting nature. The narrator initially captures love and nurtures it, but soon becomes distracted by the allure of worldly possessions and power. As they focus on accumulating wealth and glory, love slowly withers away, unnoticed until it's too late. The poem ultimately conveys the regret and loss that accompany the realization that true value lies in the relationships and emotions that were neglected.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1903 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Tragedy · 174 words
First lines
When Love, sweet Love, was tangled in my snare I clipped his wings, and dressed his cage with flowers, Made him my little joy for little hours, And fed him when I had a song to spare.
And then I saw how good life's good things were, The kingdoms and the glories and the powers.
Flowers grew in sheaves and stars were shed in showers, And, when the great things wearied, Love was there.
But when, within his cage, one winter day I found him lying still with folded wings, No longer fluttering, eager to be fed -- Kingdoms and powers and glories passed away, And of life's countless, precious, priceless things Nothing was left but Love -- and Love was dead!
What this Textopian page supports
Too Late is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1903 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: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Tragedy
- Length: 174 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Too Late by Edith Nesbit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, with a rhythmic and rhyming structure, typical of poetry.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love, its joys, and its loss, which is characteristic of the romance genre.
- Tragedy — The narrative ends with the death of Love, a tragic event, making it fit into the tragedy genre.
Tags
Victorian Era · Social Class · Family Drama · Marriage · Infidelity · Adultery · Love Triangle · Tragedy · Melodrama · Romance · Guilt · Shame