Will you Forget? by Madison Cawein
The poem explores themes of memory, love, and the passage of time. The speaker reflects on a past relationship with a girl, expressing concern about whether she will remember their encounters in the future. He recalls moments spent gazing into her eyes, where he perceived no regret, only the potential for love that remained unacknowledged. As the speaker contemplates the future, he imagines a time when she may be with another man, experiencing the full spectrum of emotions that love brings. He hopes that, despite the new experiences, she will retain some memory of their connection, whether it be joyful or sorrowful. The speaker's longing for remembrance highlights the bittersweet nature of unfulfilled love and the desire for lasting impact in another's life. Ultimately, the work captures the tension between the inevitability of change and the hope that meaningful moments will endure in memory, even as life progresses and new relationships form.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Lyric · 175 words
First lines
In years to come, will you forget, Dear girl, how often we have met? And I have gazed into your eyes And there beheld no sad regret To cloud the gladness of their skies, While in your heart -- unheard as yet -- Love slept, oblivious of my sighs? -- In years to come, will you forget?
Ah, me! I only pray that when, In other days, some man of men Has taught those eyes to laugh and weep With joy and sorrow, hearts must ken When love awakens in their deep, -- I only pray some memory then, Or sad or sweet, you still will keep Of me and love that might have been.
What this Textopian page supports
Will you Forget? is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1902 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: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Lyric, Reflective, Sentimental
- Length: 175 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Will you Forget? by Madison Cawein
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- She Had Forgotten by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Cherish You Then The Hope I Shall Forget by Edna St Vincent Millay
- The Lost Kiss by James Whitcomb Riley
- On Parting by Lord Byron
- The Pity Of Love by W. B. Yeats
- Memory Of Cassis by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on emotions and reflections.
- Romance — The themes revolve around love, longing, and the potential for lost connections.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Reflective — The content encourages contemplation on memory and the passage of time.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Love · Loss · Memory · Longing · Nostalgia · Melancholy · Sorrow · Heartbreak · Emotional · Introspective