Regret and Remorse
The poem explores the theme of regret and remorse, describing a person who has made mistakes in their past and is now consumed by sorrow and longing for what could have been. The speaker reflects on the choices they made, realizing that they were misguided and selfish, leading to lost opportunities and damaged relationships. The poem conveys a sense of nostalgia and yearning for a chance to redo the past, but acknowledges that time cannot be turned back.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Psychological · 79 words
First lines
Regret with streaming eyes doth seem alway A maiden widowed on her wedding day.
While dark Remorse, with eyes too sad for tears, A crushed, desponding Magdalene appears.
One, with a hungering heart unsatisfied, Mourns for imagined joys that were denied.
The other, pierced by recollected sin, Broods o'er the scars of pleasures that have been.
What this Textopian page supports
Regret and Remorse is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Psychological, Literary
- Length: 79 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Regret and Remorse by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- 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
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Similar titles
- Warning by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Sorry by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Unsatisfied by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Foes by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Slipping Away by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Let Them Go by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep emotional and existential concepts such as regret and remorse.
- Psychological — The text delves into the mental and emotional states of regret and remorse, examining their impact on the human psyche.
- Literary — The writing style is sophisticated and employs literary devices such as metaphor and personification.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Romanticism · Love Poems · Heartbreak · Longing · Sorrow · Melancholy · Nostalgia · Reflection · Introspection