A Last Wish by Théophile Gautier
The narrative explores themes of love, mortality, and the passage of time through the reflections of a speaker who is nearing death. The speaker reminisces about a profound and enduring love that has spanned many years, contrasting the beauty of spring with the harshness of winter. The imagery of white lilacs symbolizes both beauty and the inevitability of death, as they are associated with graves. As the speaker contemplates their impending demise, they express a desire for a final connection with their beloved. The setting sun serves as a metaphor for the end of life, with the speaker acknowledging their approaching end and the "last abode" that awaits them. The request for a final kiss signifies a longing for intimacy and remembrance, suggesting that even in death, the memories of love will linger. The work encapsulates the bittersweet nature of love intertwined with the acceptance of mortality, emphasizing the importance of cherishing moments of affection before the final farewell. The speaker's yearning for a lasting impression of love in their final moments highlights the deep emotional resonance of human connections, even in the face of death.
By Théophile Gautier · First published 1859 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 156 words
First lines
How long my soul has loved thee, love! It is full many a year agone. Thy spring -- what charm of flowers thereof, My winter -- what wild snows thereon!
White lilacs from the land of graves Blow near my temples. Soon enow Thou'lt mark the pallid mass that waves Enshadowing my withered brow.
My westering sun must speedy drop, And disappear behind the road. Already on the dim hill-top, There gleams and waits my last abode.
Then from thy rosy lips let fall Upon my lips a tardy kiss, That in my tomb, when comes the call, My heart may rest, remembering this.
What this Textopian page supports
A Last Wish is listed on Textopian as a poem by Théophile Gautier, dated 1859 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Théophile Gautier
- Date: 1859 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Elegy, Symbolism
- Length: 156 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Last Wish by Théophile Gautier
- 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 A Last Wish?
- How does this poem by Théophile Gautier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Dove by Theophile Gautier
- Pierrots Song by Sara Teasdale
- Loves Apparition And Evanishment by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- The Picture Or The Lovers Resolution by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- La Beatrice by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Love From Afar by George William Russell
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of love and mortality.
- Romanticism — The themes of deep emotional expression and the exploration of love align with Romantic ideals.
- Lyric — The personal and emotional nature of the text reflects the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The poem contemplates death and loss, fitting the elegiac tradition.
Tags
romance · fantasy · death · desire · longing · supernatural · dreams · loss · yearning · existentialism · beauty · melancholy