A Man's Last Love
The poem explores the theme of unrequited love and the pain it brings to those who experience it. The narrator reflects on a past love that has been lost, lamenting the fact that they were unable to express their feelings when they had the chance. The poem conveys a sense of longing and regret, emphasizing the idea that some loves are doomed from the start.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1899 · Genre: Romance, Poetry, Drama · 164 words
First lines
Like the tenth wave, that offers to the shore Accumulated opulence and force, So does my heart, which thought it loved of yore, Carry increasing passion down the course Of time to proffer thee. Oh! not the faint First ripple of the sea should be its pride, But the great climax of its unrestraint, Which culminates in one commanding tide.
The lesser billows of each crude emotion Break on life's strand, recede, and then unite With love's large sea; and to some late devotion Unrecognised, they bring their lost delight. So all the vanished fancies of my past Live yet in this one passion, grand and vast.
What this Textopian page supports
A Man's Last Love is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Poetry, Drama, Philosophical
- Length: 164 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Man's Last Love by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- When Love Is Lost by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- A Minor Chord by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- More Fortunate by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Cameo by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Their Sweet Sorrow by James Whitcomb Riley
- A Test Of Love by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Romance — The poem expresses deep and passionate love, focusing on the intensity and culmination of romantic feelings.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing poetic devices and structure to convey its themes.
- Drama — The language and imagery suggest a dramatic and emotional exploration of love and devotion.
- Philosophical — The poem reflects on the nature of love and emotions over time, offering a contemplative perspective.
Tags
Romance · Tragedy · Love Story · Poetic Prose · Emotional Journey · Heartbreak · Loss · Grief · Melancholy · Nostalgia · Longing · Yearning