The Rose by Madison Cawein (1888)
The poem reflects on lost love and the passage of time, using the imagery of a rose to symbolize both beauty and decay. The speaker addresses a former lover, recalling a time when the rose was vibrant and full of life, representing their love. The rose, once cherished, now lies lifeless, paralleling the speaker's feelings of abandonment and sorrow. The speaker reminisces about a moment when the lover had expressed comfort in the rose's presence, suggesting that love would endure despite physical separation. However, the current state of the rose serves as a stark reminder of the lover's forgetfulness and the fading of their once-passionate bond. The act of sending the rose on the day of the lover's wedding signifies a poignant acknowledgment of the past and the pain of moving on. Throughout the poem, the repetition of "You have forgot" emphasizes the speaker's sense of betrayal and loss. The rose, a traditional symbol of love, becomes a haunting reminder of what was once vibrant but is now a mere shadow of its former self. The speaker grapples with the idea that while love may be professed, it can also be easily forgotten, leaving behind only memories and a sense of longing. The work encapsulates themes of nostalgia, heartache, and the inevitability of change, ultimately questioning the permanence of love in the face of time and circumstance.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1888 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy · 175 words
First lines
You have forgot: it once was red With life, this rose, to which you said, -- When, there in happy days gone by, You plucked it, on my breast to lie, -- "Sleep there, O rose! how sweet a bed Is thine! -- And, heart, be comforted; For, though we part and roses shed Their leaves and fade, love cannot die. -- " You have forgot.
So by those words of yours I'm led To send it you this day you wed. Look well upon it. You, as I, Should ask it now, without a sigh, If love can lie as it lies dead. -- You have forgot.
What this Textopian page supports
The Rose is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Symbolism, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 175 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Rose?
- How does this poem by Madison Cawein fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem's focus on personal emotions and reflections aligns it closely with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, nature, and emotional depth are prevalent, typical of the Romantic genre.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on loss and remembrance, fitting the elegiac tradition.
- Symbolism — The rose serves as a symbol of love and memory, indicative of Symbolist elements.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Nature · Beauty · Love · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Personification · Alliteration · Enjambment · Free Verse