A Maiden by Sara Teasdale (1920)
The poem explores the theme of unrequited love through the voice of a maiden who yearns for a connection with a beloved. She imagines herself as a rose, symbolizing beauty and desire, wishing to reach out and adorn the beloved's window. This imagery conveys her longing and the barriers she faces in expressing her feelings. The maiden also envisions herself as a bird, capable of singing her love openly, yet she remains silent and withdrawn, reflecting her societal constraints and personal insecurities. The repetition of her status as a maiden emphasizes her feelings of helplessness and the emotional turmoil stemming from her unacknowledged affection. Despite her deep feelings, she recognizes that her love will remain unreciprocated, leading to a sense of melancholy. The poem captures the tension between desire and the inability to act on it, highlighting the pain of longing and the silence that often accompanies it. The maiden's beauty and potential for love are overshadowed by her shyness and the societal expectations placed upon her, leaving her in a state of yearning and unfulfilled dreams.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 141 words
First lines
Oh if I were the velvet rose Upon the red rose vine, I'd climb to touch his window And make his casement fine.
And if I were the little bird That twitters on the tree, All day I'd sing my love for him Till he should harken me.
But since I am a maiden I go with downcast eyes, And he will never hear the songs That he has turned to sighs.
And since I am a maiden My love will never know That I could kiss him with a mouth More red than roses blow.
What this Textopian page supports
A Maiden is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Feminist Literature, Nature Poetry
- Length: 141 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
- Ye Maidens Pretty by Sabine Baring Gould
- The Rose by Sara Teasdale
- The Look by Sara Teasdale
- Young Love by Sara Teasdale
- The Blind by Sara Teasdale
- Triolets by Sara Teasdale
Genres
- Poetry — The work is a lyrical poem that expresses emotions and themes of love and longing.
- Romanticism — The poem explores themes of unrequited love and idealized emotions, characteristic of Romantic literature.
- Lyric — The poem is personal and emotional, focusing on the speaker's feelings and inner thoughts.
- Feminist Literature — The poem reflects on the constraints and experiences of a maiden, highlighting gender roles and societal expectations.
Tags
love · longing · yearning · nature · romance · maidenhood · beauty · sorrow · unrequited love · poetry · flowers · birds