New Love and Old by Sara Teasdale
The poem explores the emotional conflict between past and present romantic attachments. The speaker grapples with the lingering presence of an old love while simultaneously being drawn to a new love. The old love manifests as a haunting memory, filled with kind words and sentiments that evoke feelings of guilt and nostalgia. The speaker feels torn, unable to fully embrace the new relationship due to the weight of the past. The struggle is depicted as a haunting experience, where the memories of the old love surround the speaker, creating a sense of reproach. Despite this, the allure of the new love is strong, represented by the captivating gaze that draws the speaker's attention. The internal conflict intensifies as the speaker questions their loyalty and authenticity, pondering the implications of being true to oneself versus being faithful to the old love. Ultimately, the poem captures the complexity of love, illustrating how past relationships can linger and complicate new beginnings. The speaker's emotional turmoil reflects a universal experience of love's duality, where joy and sorrow coexist, leading to a profound exploration of identity and fidelity in the realm of romantic relationships.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Lyric · 118 words
First lines
IN my heart the old love Struggled with the new; It was ghostly waking All night thru.
Dear things, kind things, That my old love said, Ranged themselves reproachfully Round my bed.
But I could not heed them, For I seemed to see The eyes of my new love Fixed on me.
Old love, old love, How can I be true? Shall I be faithless to myself Or to you?
What this Textopian page supports
New Love and Old is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Lyric, Confessional, Modernism
- Length: 118 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for New Love and Old by Sara Teasdale
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering New Love and Old?
- How does this poem by Sara Teasdale fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- In A Subway Station by Sara Teasdale
- Dreams by Sara Teasdale
- The Look by Sara Teasdale
- Sullen Moods by Robert Graves
- Gifts by Sara Teasdale
- Dooryard Roses by Sara Teasdale
Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores emotional themes through structured verse.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love, both new and old, highlighting romantic relationships.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Confessional — The poem reveals intimate feelings and personal dilemmas regarding love.
Tags
love · romance · poetry · emotions · conflict · nostalgia · heartbreak · relationships · identity · loyalty · yearning · self-discovery