The Kiss by Olive Tilford Dargan
The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of emotional connection. It begins with a speaker who enters a metaphorical "secret room" where love is depicted as dying. The atmosphere is heavy with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, as the speaker reflects on the fragility of love and the inevitability of its decline. The speaker initially believes they can let go of love, rationalizing that it is a natural consequence of life. However, upon witnessing love's helpless state, they experience a profound emotional response. The imagery of a "still-born star" and "shell-thin hand" emphasizes the lifelessness and vulnerability of love, evoking a deep sense of sorrow. In a moment of desperation, the speaker implores love to relinquish its death, symbolizing a desire to reclaim and revive the emotional connection. This act of taking love's death from its lips signifies a willingness to confront pain and loss in order to restore vitality to the relationship. The subsequent opening of the windows and the entrance of sunlight represent a renewal and awakening, suggesting that love, despite its trials, can be rejuvenated. The work ultimately conveys a message about the resilience of love and the importance of embracing both its joys and sorrows. The speaker's journey reflects a deeper understanding of love's complexities, illustrating that true connection can endure even in the face of despair. The transformation from mourning to a sovereign love highlights the power of emotional acceptance and the potential for rebirth in relationships.
By Olive Tilford Dargan · First published 1930 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Symbolism · 166 words
First lines
I stole into the secret room / Where Love lay dying; / Mystic and faint perfume / Met me like sighing; / As heaven had cast a still-born star / He lay nor stirred; the shell-thin hand / Nerveless of high command / Where once the lord-veins sped their fire.
And I had thought me glad / To let him go. "He reaps / His own," I pious said. / But this, ah, this / Unpleading helplessness! / "Give me thy death," I cried, / And took it from his lips. / The windows burst them wide. / The sun came in; / And Love high at my side / Stood sovereign.
What this Textopian page supports
The Kiss is listed on Textopian as a short story by Olive Tilford Dargan, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Olive Tilford Dargan
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Symbolism, Lyric, Modernism
- Length: 166 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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- Work identity for The Kiss by Olive Tilford Dargan
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love and emotional connection.
- Symbolism — The text uses symbols to convey deeper meanings about love and loss.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Tags
Romance · Fiction · Novel · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Realism · Working Class · Marriage · Love Story · Family Drama · Conflict · Emotional Struggle