The Curtains now are Drawn
The work explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time through a reflective and melancholic lens. The speaker stands in a desolate, rain-soaked landscape, contemplating the memories of a lost love. The imagery of nature, particularly the harsh weather and the overgrown graves, symbolizes the inevitability of death and the transient nature of life. The repeated refrain emphasizes the idealization of love, suggesting that even in the face of mortality, the experience of love remains profound and transcendent. The contrast between the external environment and the internal emotional landscape highlights the speaker's sense of longing and nostalgia. The use of vivid imagery, such as "spindrift" and "jagged pass," evokes a sense of struggle against the elements, mirroring the emotional turmoil of the speaker. As the narrative unfolds, the speaker grapples with the weight of memory and the impact of love on their existence. The juxtaposition of the harsh reality of life with the beauty of love creates a poignant tension, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss. The work ultimately suggests that while life may be fleeting and filled with sorrow, the act of loving remains a powerful and enduring force.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 232 words
First lines
(SONG)
I. THE curtains now are drawn, And the spindrift strikes the glass, Blown up the jagged pass By the surly salt sou'-west, And the sneering glare is gone Behind the yonder crest, While she sings to me: "O the dream that thou art my Love, be it thine, And the dream that I am thy Love, be it mine, And death may come, but loving is divine."
II. I stand here in the rain, With its smite upon her stone, And the grasses that have grown Over women, children, men, And their texts that "Life is vain"; But I hear the notes as when Once she sang to me: "O the dream that thou art my Love, be it thine, And the dream that I am thy Love, be it mine, And death may come, but loving is divine. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Curtains now are Drawn is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, 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: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Nature Writing, Existentialism
- Length: 232 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Second Night by Thomas Hardy
- The Rift by Thomas Hardy
- Seventy Four And Twenty by Thomas Hardy
- A Night In November by Thomas Hardy
- Just The Same by Thomas Hardy
- The End Of The Episode by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured as a poem, utilizing verse and lyrical elements.
- Romanticism — Themes of love and idealized emotions are central to the text.
- Lyric — The personal expression of feelings and thoughts aligns with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Nature Writing — Imagery of the natural environment is prominent, reflecting the setting and mood.
Tags
drama · tragedy · love · loss · society · class · conflict · human nature · relationships · fate · despair · hope