Pictured by Madison Cawein (1903)
The work explores themes of longing, beauty, and unrequited love through vivid imagery and emotional depth. The speaker reflects on an idealized vision of a beloved, capturing her physical attributes with rich descriptions that evoke nature and celestial elements. The face of the beloved is portrayed as a source of both inspiration and heartache, symbolizing unattainable desire. The speaker's admiration is evident in the detailed portrayal of the beloved's features: her eyes are likened to the dawn and mythical beings, her brows to snow, and her hair to the night. These comparisons emphasize her ethereal beauty and the speaker's deep infatuation. The use of natural imagery creates a sense of purity and innocence, contrasting with the speaker's internal turmoil and despair. As the poem progresses, the speaker acknowledges the bittersweet nature of his feelings. The beloved, while enchanting and captivating, remains out of reach, leading to a sense of hopelessness. The repetition of phrases underscores the speaker's fixation and the emotional weight of his longing. The final lines encapsulate the essence of unreciprocated love, highlighting the tension between admiration and sorrow. Overall, the work serves as a poignant meditation on the complexities of love, the pain of desire, and the idealization of beauty, leaving the reader with a sense of melancholy and reflection on the nature of affection and longing.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1903 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Imagism · 194 words
First lines
This is the face of her I've dreamed of long; Here in my heart's despair, This is the face of her Pictured in song.
Look on the lily lids, The eyes of dawn, Deep as a Nereid's, Swimming with dewy lids In waters wan.
Look on the brows of snow, The locks brown-bright; Only young sleep can show Such brows of placid snow, Such locks of night.
The cheeks, like rosy moons, The lips of fire; Love thinks no sweeter tunes Under enchanted moons Than their desire.
What this Textopian page supports
Pictured is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1903 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: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Imagism, Love Poetry, Symbolism
- Length: 194 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and thoughts through structured verse, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, beauty, and longing align with the ideals of Romanticism.
- Imagism — The vivid imagery and focus on visual details reflect the principles of Imagism.
- Love Poetry — The central theme revolves around love and desire, typical of love poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Simile · Personification · Alliteration · Assonance · Consonance · Enjambment · Caesura