Retrospection
The poem explores themes of love, memory, and the passage of time. It reflects on the enduring nature of joy derived from love, suggesting that such joy remains untarnished by external circumstances. The speaker acknowledges the inevitability of separation and the divergent paths that lovers may take, likening their estrangement to distant stars. Despite this, the speaker expresses a sense of acceptance and resilience, indicating that sorrow will be faced lightly and without regret. The imagery of "immortelles" and "everlasting skies" evokes a sense of beauty and permanence, contrasting with the transient nature of earthly experiences. The overall tone is one of serene acceptance, emphasizing the power of love to transcend time and distance. The speaker's perspective suggests a deep understanding of the complexities of relationships, where joy and sorrow coexist, yet the former ultimately prevails.
By Georgia Douglas Johnson · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 113 words
First lines
After all -- mine is the joy Which naught can lessen or destroy.
For love has led my flying feet Where immortelles are springing sweet, And everlasting skies of gold Are memories, when earth is cold And though our future paths should lie Estranged, as star-ways, through the sky, I shall not look reproof, nor find Within this pass a charge unkind, And lightly sorrow shall be met For I can never know regret.
What this Textopian page supports
Retrospection is listed on Textopian as a poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson, dated 1918 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: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Philosophical, Modernism
- Length: 113 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for Retrospection by Georgia Douglas Johnson
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- Calling Dreams by Georgia Douglas Johnson
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of love, memory, and existential reflection.
- Romanticism — The themes of love and idealized memories align with Romantic ideals, emphasizing emotional depth and nature.
- Lyric — The personal expression of feelings and thoughts indicates a lyric quality, focusing on the speaker's emotional state.
- Philosophical — The exploration of memory, regret, and the nature of existence suggests philosophical undertones.
Tags
Poetry Collection · African American Literature · Early 20th Century Poetry · Southern Gothic · Racial Identity · Social Justice · Feminism · Domesticity · Motherhood · Childhood Memories · Nostalgia · Regionalism