Love's Burial-Place by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Name: Love's Burial-Place
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The poem explores the themes of love, loss, and the interplay between memory and reality. It begins with a dialogue between a lady and a poet, where the lady inquires about the fate of love. The poet asserts that love is dead, prompting a reflection on its burial place. He metaphorically suggests that love is interred in the heart, specifically within the lady's bosom, which he refers to as "Love's Tomb." As the conversation unfolds, the poet elaborates on the nature of love's demise, indicating that it once thrived but ultimately succumbed to a decline. This decline is portrayed as a gradual fading, suggesting that love can wither away due to neglect or emotional distance. The imagery of a tomb serves to emphasize the finality of love's death, while also evoking a sense of nostalgia for what once was. The poem delves into the complexities of romantic relationships, highlighting the tension between idealized love and the harsh realities that can lead to its end. The poet's reflections reveal a deep sense of melancholy, as he grapples with the loss of a once-vibrant connection. The lady's responses indicate her own awareness of this loss, creating a poignant dialogue that captures the essence of heartache. Throughout the work, the poet employs rich imagery and metaphor to convey the emotional weight of love's absence. The notion of love being buried in the heart suggests that while love may die, its memory lingers on, shaping one's identity and experiences. The interplay between the living and the dead, as represented by love's tomb, underscores the enduring impact of love, even in its absence. Ultimately, the poem serves as a meditation on the transient nature of love and the inevitable sorrow that accompanies its loss. It invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with love, loss, and the memories that remain, even when love itself has faded away. The dialogue format enhances the emotional resonance, allowing for a dynamic exploration of the themes at play.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1938 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 129 words

First lines

_Lady_. If Love be dead -- / _Poet_. And I aver it! / _Lady_. Tell me, Bard! where Love lies buried / _Poet_. Love lies buried where 'twas born: / Oh, gentle dame! think it no scorn / If, in my fancy, I presume / To call thy bosom poor Love's Tomb. / And on that tomb to read the line: -- / "Here lies a Love that once seem'd mine. / But took a chill, as I divine, / And died at length of a decline. "

Open reader

Similar titles

Genres

Romantic Poetry — The poem explores themes of love, loss, and emotional depth characteristic of Romantic literature.
Lyric Poetry — The personal and expressive nature of the poem aligns with the conventions of lyric poetry.
Philosophical Poetry — The poem reflects on the nature of love and existence, engaging with philosophical themes.
Elegy — The poem mourns the loss of love, fitting the elegiac tradition.

What this Textopian page supports

Love's Burial-Place is listed on Textopian as a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1938 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 1938 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Elegy, Dramatic Monologue
Length: 129 words
Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs

Good citation fit

Work identity for Love's Burial-Place by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph