The Wind of Sorrow by Henry van Dyke
The work examines love’s cyclical and transformative nature through vivid natural imagery. It begins by portraying love as a subdued fire whose embers lie hidden beneath the surface of everyday tranquility. Despite attempts to revive this dormant passion through new pleasures and external distractions, the intrinsic and once radiant intensity of love proves elusive. The narrative then shifts as an unexpected, sorrowful force—symbolized by a wind that carries grief and loss—reemerges to rekindle the fading flame of love. This melancholic catalyst forces a confrontation with the past's deep, passionate experiences, revealing that genuine connection can be awakened only when touched by the bittersweet interplay of sorrow and reminiscence. The work’s central tension lies in contrasting the calm predictability of daily life with the dynamic, often unpredictable resurgence of profound emotion triggered by hardship. Through this interplay, the narrative suggests that true passion requires both the warmth of memory and the transformative power of pain. The text invites reflection on how life’s seeming ordinariness may mask underlying depths, and that genuine emotions often lie dormant until stirred by the poignant reminders of what once was.
By Henry van Dyke · First published 1898 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Elegy · 165 words
First lines
The fire of love was burning, yet so low / That in the peaceful dark it made no rays, / And in the light of perfect-placid days / The ashes hid the smouldering embers' glow.
Vainly, for love's delight, we sought to throw / New pleasures on the pyre to make it blaze: / In life's calm air and tranquil-prosperous ways / We missed the radiant heat of long ago.
Then in the night, a night of sad alarms, / Bitter with pain and black with fog of fears / That drove us trembling to each other's arms, / Across the gulf of darkness and salt tears / Into life's calm the wind of sorrow came, / And fanned the fire of love to clearest name.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wind of Sorrow is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry van Dyke, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry van Dyke
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Elegy, Allegorical Poetry
- Length: 165 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Wind of Sorrow by Henry van Dyke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and introspection through poetic language.
- Romantic Poetry — The imagery and themes of passion, nature, and introspection align with Romantic-era aesthetics.
- Elegy — The tone of mourning and reflective sorrow implies a lamentation for lost or fading love.
- Allegorical Poetry — The use of metaphors such as fire and wind symbolizes broader universal themes beyond the literal narrative.
Tags
melancholic · existential · allegorical · philosophical · spiritual · contemplative · poetic · lyrical · symbolic · somber · theological · emotive