The Last Dance by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of lost love and longing. The speaker reflects on a past romantic encounter that has been severed, leaving them with a deep sense of yearning. They recall the final dance they shared with their former lover, which was filled with unspoken emotions and a desperate attempt to cling to what was left of their relationship.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1893 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Inspirational · 253 words
First lines
WHEN LOVE FOR HIS MAKER AWOKE IN MAN, THE DANCE BEGAN
The wave of the ocean, the leaf of the wood, / In the rhythm of motion proclaim life is good. / The stars are all swinging to metres and rhyme, / The planets are singing while suns mark the time. / The moonbeams and rivers float off in a trance, / The Universe quivers-on, on with the dance!
Our partners we pick from the best of the throng / In the ballroom of Life and go lilting along; / We follow our fancy, and choose as we will, / For waltz or for tango or merry quadrille; / But ever one partner is waiting us all / At the end of the programme, to finish the ball.
What this Textopian page supports
The Last Dance is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Inspirational, Romantic, Metaphysical
- Length: 253 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Last Dance 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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Similar titles
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- Last Love by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- So Long by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- As By Fire by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- The Cameo by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse with a focus on rhythm and rhyme.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential concepts such as life, death, and the universe.
- Inspirational — The writing encourages a positive outlook on life and its inevitable end.
- Romantic — The metaphor of dance partners suggests themes of love and relationships.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Death · Mourning · Grief · Loss · Sorrow · Longing · Nostalgia · Melancholy · Tragedy