Reconciliation by Madison Cawein
The poem explores themes of love, reconciliation, and emotional connection. It begins with a plea for deeper affection, emphasizing the speaker's desire for a renewed bond after a quarrel. The imagery of wings and a beating heart symbolizes the restlessness of love and longing. The speaker reflects on the nature of love, likening it to a pearl formed from irritation, suggesting that conflict can lead to growth in relationships. As the speaker contemplates the pain of separation, they realize that their feelings for the beloved have only intensified. The act of acknowledging fault and seeking forgiveness is portrayed as a necessary step toward healing. The reunion is marked by a sense of joy and relief, as the beloved's smile indicates mutual feelings of longing and reconciliation. The poem concludes with a reaffirmation of commitment, expressing a desire for permanence in the relationship. The speaker's intimate gestures, such as smoothing the beloved's brow and kissing, reinforce the emotional depth and tenderness of their connection. The final question underscores the mutual nature of their feelings, highlighting the importance of shared experiences in love. Overall, the work encapsulates the complexities of love, the inevitability of conflict, and the beauty of reconciliation.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1903 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry · 451 words
First lines
Listen, dearest! you must love me more, More than you did before! -- Hark, what a beating here of wings! Never at rest, Dear, in your breast! -- Is it your heart with its flutterings, Making a music, love, for us both? Or merely a moth, a velvet-winged moth, Which out of the garden's fragrance swings, Weaving a spell, That holds the rose and the moon in thrall? -- I love you more than I can tell; And no recall How long ago Our quarrel and all! -- You say, you know, A perfect pearl grows out of -- well, A little friction; tiny grain Of sand or shell -- So love grew out of that moment's pain, The heart's disdain -- Since then I have thought of no one but you, And how your heart would beat on mine, Like light on dew.
What this Textopian page supports
Reconciliation 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: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Confessional Poetry, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 451 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The poem explores themes of love, reconciliation, and emotional connection, characteristic of romantic poetry.
- Lyric Poetry — The personal and emotional expression throughout the poem aligns with the conventions of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — Imagery of nature, such as the moth and the garden, reflects the influence of nature on human emotions.
- Confessional Poetry — The intimate exploration of personal feelings and relationships suggests elements of confessional poetry.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Nature · Spirituality · Mortality · Rebirth · Hope · Sorrow · Loss · Grief · Healing · Redemption