Let It Be You by Sara Teasdale
The poem explores themes of love, mortality, and the desire for a final connection with a beloved. The speaker expresses a wish for their partner to be present during their last moments, emphasizing the intimacy and familiarity of their relationship. The act of closing the speaker's eyes symbolizes a peaceful departure, underscoring the deep emotional bond shared over the years. The speaker reflects on the enduring nature of their love, suggesting that despite the passage of time and the inevitability of death, their feelings remain constant and profound. The request for a familiar farewell highlights the comfort found in routine and shared experiences, reinforcing the idea that true love transcends even the finality of life. Throughout the work, there is a juxtaposition of love and loss, where the speaker acknowledges the pain of parting while simultaneously celebrating the depth of their affection. The tone is both tender and somber, capturing the complexity of human emotions in the face of mortality. The poem ultimately conveys a longing for connection and the solace that comes from being with a loved one until the very end.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic Literature, Lyric Poetry · 106 words
First lines
Let it be you who lean above me / On my last day, / Let it be you who shut my eyelids / Forever and aye.
Say a "Good-night" as you have said it / All of these years, / With the old look, with the old whisper / And without tears.
You will know then all that in silence / You always knew, / Though I have loved, I loved no other / As I love you.
What this Textopian page supports
Let It Be You 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, Romantic Literature, Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Contemporary Literature
- Length: 106 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Let It Be You by Sara Teasdale
- 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 a poem that employs lyrical language and explores themes of love and farewell.
- Romantic Literature — The poem centers on deep emotional connections and expressions of love.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem reflects personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The poem conveys themes of loss and mourning, fitting the elegiac tradition.
Tags
love · loss · longing · farewell · silence · intimacy · memory · devotion · yearning · nostalgia · parting · emotional