The Rose by Sara Teasdale (1917)
The poem explores themes of love, longing, and the bittersweet nature of unrequited feelings. The speaker reflects on a night filled with music, where a character named Pierrot sings outside her window. The speaker feels a deep emotional connection to Pierrot's song but is unable to reciprocate his joy with a tangible gift, symbolized by a rose. The rose represents both beauty and sorrow, as it is associated with the speaker's tears and lost opportunities. She finds a rose in darkness, which she kisses and then throws to Pierrot, hoping to convey her feelings. However, the act is tinged with sadness, as Pierrot remains unaware of the true significance of the gesture. The speaker acknowledges that the rose was plucked in a moment of joy, yet it is intertwined with her own pain and the knowledge of her unexpressed love. The imagery of the rose and the act of throwing it serve as metaphors for the complexities of love—its beauty, its transience, and the often unrecognized sacrifices made in its name. The poem captures the essence of longing and the emotional weight of unfulfilled desires, leaving the reader with a sense of melancholy and reflection on the nature of love and connection.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1917 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism · 145 words
First lines
BENEATH my chamber window Pierrot was singing, singing; I heard his lute the whole night thru Until the east was red.
Alas, alas, Pierrot, I had no rose for flinging Save one that drank my tears for dew Before its leaves were dead.
I found it in the darkness, I kissed it once and threw it, The petals scattered over him, His song was turned to joy; And he will never know -- Alas, the one who knew it! -- The rose was plucked when dusk was dim Beside a laughing boy.
What this Textopian page supports
The Rose 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: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism, Modernism, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 145 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Rose by Sara Teasdale
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Kiss by Sara Teasdale
- Lewti Or The Circassian Love Chaunt by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Triolets by Sara Teasdale
- I Love You by Sara Teasdale
- Pierrots Song by Sara Teasdale
- Song by Sara Teasdale
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, beauty, and nature are prevalent, aligning with Romantic ideals.
- Symbolism — The rose serves as a symbol of love and loss, a key element in Symbolist literature.
- Modernism — The poem's introspective nature and focus on individual experience reflect Modernist themes.
Tags
love · loss · longing · nature · beauty · melancholy · romance · poetry · emotion · memory · yearning · night