Longing by Sara Teasdale (1918)
The poem explores the tension between the soul and the body, emphasizing the soul's eternal nature and its capacity for fulfillment beyond earthly desires. The speaker expresses a sense of acceptance regarding the soul's unsatisfied longings, suggesting that it can experience multiple lives and existences. This perspective highlights the soul's resilience and depth, contrasting sharply with the physical body's limitations. The body, in its mortality, is portrayed as a vessel that ultimately returns to dust, unable to experience the joys and pleasures that the soul yearns for. The speaker laments this disparity, feeling a profound sense of loss for the body that cannot partake in the eternal joys that the soul anticipates. The imagery evokes a sense of longing and a bittersweet acknowledgment of the body's transient nature. Throughout the work, the theme of longing is central, reflecting a deep desire for connection, fulfillment, and the experiences that life can offer. The speaker grapples with the idea that while the soul may transcend time and space, the body remains bound to earthly existence, leading to a poignant sense of yearning for what cannot be attained in the physical realm. The poem ultimately presents a duality of existence, where the soul's aspirations clash with the body's reality. This conflict serves as a meditation on the nature of desire, fulfillment, and the human experience, inviting readers to reflect on their own longings and the limitations imposed by the physical world. The emotional weight of the poem resonates with anyone who has felt the pull of unfulfilled desires, making it a powerful exploration of the human condition.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 76 words
First lines
I AM not sorry for my soul That it must go unsatisfied, For it can live a thousand times, Eternity is deep and wide.
I am not sorry for my soul, But oh, my body that must go Back to a little drift of dust Without the joy it longed to know.
What this Textopian page supports
Longing is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1918 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: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism, Existentialism, Modernism
- Length: 76 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a collection of poems that express deep emotional themes and personal reflections.
- Lyric — The poem conveys personal feelings and emotions, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of longing and the exploration of the soul reflect Romantic ideals.
- Existentialism — The contemplation of existence and the soul's desires aligns with existential themes.
Tags
longing · soul · body · satisfaction · eternity · dust · desire · existence · regret · mortality · yearning · spirituality