Maid of Athens, Ere we Part by Lord Byron
The poem is a lamentation of the speaker's impending departure from Athens and his beloved. It expresses the pain of parting and the longing to be with her again. The speaker describes the beauty of the city, the sea, and the woman he loves, emphasizing their connection and the sorrow of being torn apart.
By Lord Byron · First published 1819 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry · 225 words
First lines
Maid of Athens, ere we part, / Give, oh give me back my heart! / Or, since that has left my breast, / Keep it now, and take the rest! / Hear my vow before I go, / Zoë mou, sas agapo!
By those tresses unconfined, / Wood by each Ægean wind; / By those lids whose jetty fringe / Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge; / By those wild eyes like the roe, Zoë mou, sas agapo!
By that lip I long to taste; / By that zone encircled waist; / By all the token-flowers that tell / What words can never speak so well; / By love's alternate joy and woe.
Zoë mou, sas agapo!
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Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The poem expresses deep romantic longing and affection, characteristic of romantic poetry.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem is a personal expression of emotion and sentiment, typical of lyric poetry.
- Love Poetry — The central theme revolves around love and desire, fitting the love poetry genre.
- Travel Poetry — References to geographical locations like Athens and Istambol suggest elements of travel.
Tags
Romanticism · Poetry · Love · Separation · Longing · Nostalgia · Greece · Byzantine Empire · Historical Fiction · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor
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Maid of Athens, Ere we Part is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1819 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Travel Poetry, Cultural Poetry
- Length: 225 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Maid of Athens, Ere we Part by Lord Byron
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