Let Us Forget
The poem explores the idea of letting go of past sorrows and memories to move forward with life. It suggests that holding onto grief can be a form of self-imposed suffering, and that forgetting can be a necessary step towards healing and renewal. The speaker implores the reader to let go of their pain and allow themselves to move on from past hurts.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Melancholy · 169 words
First lines
Let us forget. What matters it that we Once reigned o'er happy realms of long-ago, And talked of love, and let our voices low, And ruled for some brief sessions royally?
What if we sung, or laughed, or wept maybe?
It has availed not anything, and so Let it go by that we may better know How poor a thing is lost to you and me.
But yesterday I kissed your lips, and yet Did thrill you not enough to shake the dew From your drenched lids -- and missed, with no regret, Your kiss shot back, with sharp breaths failing you; And so, to-day, while our worn eyes are wet With all this waste of tears, let us forget!
What this Textopian page supports
Let Us Forget is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Melancholy, Reflective
- Length: 169 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Let Us Forget by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Let Us Forget?
- How does this poem by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- She Had Forgotten by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Cherish You Then The Hope I Shall Forget by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Will You Forget by Madison Cawein
- Song Of Parting by James Whitcomb Riley
- Go Back by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Lost Kiss by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romance — The themes revolve around love, relationships, and emotional connections.
- Melancholy — The tone and themes express sadness and reflection on past emotions and experiences.
- Reflective — The work involves introspection and contemplation about past events and emotions.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nostalgia · Melancholy · Longing · Memory · Forgotten · Lost Love · Heartbreak · Sorrow · Regret