Gifts by Sara Teasdale (1920)
The poem explores the theme of love through a series of gifts exchanged between the speaker and their loves. Each stanza reflects on the nature of these relationships, highlighting the emotional and spiritual contributions made by both the speaker and their partners. The first love is characterized by joy and laughter, suggesting a youthful and carefree connection. The second love introduces a more complex emotional landscape, marked by tears, indicating deeper struggles and vulnerabilities. The third love transcends the previous experiences, offering silence, which implies a profound understanding and acceptance that goes beyond words. In return, the speaker acknowledges the gifts received from each love. The first love's gift of singing symbolizes joy and creativity, while the second love provides the ability to see, representing insight and awareness. The third love, however, is the most significant, as it grants the speaker's soul, suggesting a deep, transformative bond that shapes their identity and essence. Overall, the work encapsulates the evolution of love, illustrating how each relationship contributes uniquely to personal growth and self-discovery. The interplay of giving and receiving emphasizes the complexity of love, where joy, sorrow, and silence all play crucial roles in the journey of the heart.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 70 words
First lines
I GAVE my first love laughter, I gave my second tears, I gave my third love silence Thru all the years.
My first love gave me singing, My second eyes to see, But oh, it was my third love Who gave my soul to me.
What this Textopian page supports
Gifts 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, Symbolism, Modernism
- Length: 70 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of love and emotional expression through structured verse.
- Romanticism — The themes of love and deep emotional connections align with the characteristics of Romantic literature.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
- Symbolism — The use of metaphorical language and symbols to convey deeper meanings is evident in the poem.
Tags
love · gifts · emotion · relationships · poetry · self-discovery · silence · laughter · tears · soul · introspection · memory