Out of the Depths by Madison Cawein
The work explores themes of love, longing, and despair through a speaker's intense emotional struggle. The speaker expresses a deep desire to forget a beloved figure, whose beauty and charm have become sources of pain rather than joy. In the first section, the speaker reflects on the beloved's face, which evokes both tears and smiles, symbolizing the duality of love's experience. The imagery of dark waters and starlight suggests a profound emotional depth, where memories are both cherished and burdensome. The second section shifts focus to the beloved's physical form, described with sensuality and grace. The speaker acknowledges the allure of her beauty, which captivates and ensnares, making men subservient to their desires. This admiration, however, is tinged with a sense of entrapment, as the speaker grapples with the consequences of such beauty. In the final section, the speaker's plea intensifies, revealing the torment caused by love. The beloved has transformed what was once sweet into a source of suffering, leading to feelings of despair and unfulfilled longing. The invocation to a higher power underscores the desperation of the speaker's situation, as they seek relief from the emotional turmoil that love has wrought. Overall, the work encapsulates the complexities of love, illustrating how beauty can evoke both admiration and anguish, ultimately leading to a yearning for forgetfulness as a means of escape from heartache.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1900 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Confessional Poetry · 265 words
First lines
I. Let me forget her face! So fresh, so lovely! the abiding place Of tears and smiles that won my heart to her; Of dreams and moods that moved my soul's dim deeps, As strong winds stir Dark waters where the starlight glimmering sleeps. -- In every lineament the mind can trace, Let me forget her face!
II. Let me forget her form! Soft and seductive, that contained each charm, Each grace the sweet word maidenhood implies; And all the sensuous youth of line and curve, That makes men's eyes Bondsmen of beauty eager still to serve. -- In every part that memory can warm, Let me forget her form!
What this Textopian page supports
Out of the Depths is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Confessional Poetry, Elegy, Symbolism
- Length: 265 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Out of the Depths by Madison Cawein
- 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 Out of the Depths?
- How does this poem by Madison Cawein fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Answered by Madison Cawein
- Requiem by Emily Dickinson
- Epitaph by Emily Dickinson
- The Relic by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Dying by Emily Dickinson
- Last Days by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses deep personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, beauty, and emotional intensity align with Romantic literary ideals.
- Confessional Poetry — The speaker's personal anguish and desire for forgetfulness indicate a confessional style.
- Elegy — The tone of mourning and loss suggests elements of an elegy.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Spirituality · Faith · Hope · Despair · Suffering · Redemption · Grief