To Anne: Oh, Say not, Sweet Anne
The poem is a lamentation of the speaker's unrequited love for Anne. It expresses his deep longing and sorrow at being rejected by her. The speaker acknowledges that he has no right to expect anything from Anne, but cannot help feeling a strong emotional connection with her. He implores her not to reject him outright, but rather to consider his feelings and perhaps grant him some hope of reciprocation.
By Lord Byron · First published 1815 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Sentimental Literature · 209 words
First lines
Oh, say not, sweet Anne, that the Fates have decreed The heart which adores you should wish to dissever; Such Fates were to me most unkind ones indeed, To bear me from love and from beauty for ever.
Your frowns, lovely girl, are the Fates which alone Could bid me from fond admiration refrain; By these, every hope, every wish were o'erthrown, Till smiles should restore me to rapture again.
As the ivy and oak, in the forest entwined, The rage of the tempest united must weather; My love and my life were by nature design'd To flourish alike, or to perish together.
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To Anne: Oh, Say not, Sweet Anne is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1815 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: 1815 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Sentimental Literature, Pastoral Poetry
- Length: 209 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The poem expresses deep romantic feelings and adoration for the subject, Anne, with themes of love and devotion.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem is a personal expression of emotion, characteristic of lyric poetry, focusing on the speaker's feelings and thoughts.
- Sentimental Literature — The work emphasizes emotion and sentimentality, particularly in the context of love and fate.
- Pastoral Poetry — The poem uses natural imagery, such as the ivy and oak, to convey themes of unity and enduring love.
Tags
Poem · Sonnet · Romance · Love Letter · Epistle · Verse · Literary Work · English Literature · Classical Poetry · 18th Century Literature · Byronic Hero · Elegy