Pity by Sara Teasdale (1911)
The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the perception of emotional depth. The speaker reflects on a brief yet profound romantic experience that others fail to understand. They observe that outsiders, who have not witnessed the intensity of the speaker's love, question the authenticity of their feelings due to the absence of visible sorrow. The speaker contrasts their inner emotional landscape with the superficial judgments of others, suggesting that true love can exist without overt displays of grief. The speaker expresses a sense of pity for those who have not experienced such deep love, likening their ignorance to a lack of spiritual insight. The imagery of an autumn leaf symbolizes the transient nature of love, while the reference to angels implies a higher understanding of emotional truths. The poem ultimately conveys that the depth of love is often invisible to those who have not felt it themselves, highlighting the disconnect between personal experience and external perception. The speaker's ability to sing despite their loss indicates resilience and a profound inner strength, suggesting that true emotional experiences transcend societal expectations and judgments.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1911 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 119 words
First lines
THEY never saw my lover's face, / They only know our love was brief, / Wearing awhile a windy grace / And passing like an autumn leaf.
They wonder why I do not weep, / They think it strange that I can sing, / They say, "Her love was scarcely deep / Since it has left so slight a sting."
They never saw my love, nor knew / That in my heart's most secret place / I pity them as angels do
Men who have never seen God's face.
What this Textopian page supports
Pity is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Modernist Poetry, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 119 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Pity by Sara Teasdale
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- Love What Is Love by Robert Louis Stevenson
- The Kiss by Sara Teasdale
- Lost Love by Robert Graves
- Love A Sword by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Loves Apparition And Evanishment by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Against Clock And Compasses by Robert Graves
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romantic Poetry — Themes of love and beauty are central, aligning with the romantic tradition.
- Philosophical Poetry — The poem explores deeper existential themes, such as the nature of love and perception.
- Modernist Poetry — The style and themes reflect modernist concerns with individual experience and emotional depth.
Tags
love · loss · grief · pity · emotion · nature · transience · reflection · heartbreak · angels · faith · sorrow