Good-Bye by Georgia Douglas Johnson
The poem explores the theme of parting in the context of love and mortality. It emphasizes the importance of saying farewell while love is still vibrant, suggesting that a departure is more poignant when emotions are still alive. The speaker advocates for a timely goodbye, avoiding the prolonged suffering that can accompany a fading relationship. The imagery of love as a light that can extinguish evokes a sense of urgency and the bittersweet nature of farewell. The poem captures the tension between the desire to hold on and the necessity of letting go, ultimately portraying parting as a dignified act that preserves the beauty of love. The emotional weight of the farewell is underscored by the acknowledgment of death's presence, reinforcing the idea that love, while powerful, is also transient. The speaker's resolve to part while love still glows reflects a deep understanding of the complexities of human relationships and the inevitability of change.
By Georgia Douglas Johnson · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyrical · 81 words
First lines
Let's say "Good-bye"
Nor wait Love's latest breath Poised now so lightly on the wing of Death, While yet within our eyes one fervent gleam Remains to hallow this, a passing dream: Yes, yes "Good-bye,"
For it is best to part While Love's low light still burns Within the heart!
What this Textopian page supports
Good-Bye is listed on Textopian as a poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Georgia Douglas Johnson
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyrical, Elegy, Modernism
- Length: 81 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of love and parting, characteristic of poetic expression.
- Romanticism — The themes of love and emotional depth align with the Romantic genre, focusing on personal feelings and experiences.
- Lyrical — The poem's focus on personal emotion and expression fits the lyrical genre, emphasizing the speaker's inner thoughts.
- Elegy — The themes of farewell and loss suggest elements of an elegy, reflecting on the transient nature of love.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Free Verse · Symbolism · Nature Imagery · Emotional Expression · Loss and Grief · Memory and Nostalgia · Love and Longing · Separation and Isolation · Inner Turmoil