The Sigh by Thomas Hardy (1912)
The poem explores the complexities of love and the unspoken emotions that accompany intimate relationships. The speaker reflects on a moment of tenderness shared with a beloved, marked by a kiss that elicits a sigh from her. This sigh suggests an underlying sadness or concern that the speaker cannot fully comprehend, despite their deep connection. As the speaker contemplates their relationship, they acknowledge that her love for him was steadfast and unwavering until her death. However, the sigh remains a mystery, hinting at unexpressed fears or doubts that lingered even in moments of affection. The speaker grapples with the idea that love can coexist with unarticulated emotions, leaving him to ponder the significance of that sigh long after the moment has passed. The passage of time is evident as the speaker transitions from the warmth of May to the chill of November, symbolizing the shift from love's bloom to the inevitability of loss. The speaker's reflections evoke a sense of regret, suggesting that the sigh represents a missed opportunity for deeper understanding and communication. Ultimately, the poem captures the bittersweet nature of love, where joy and sorrow intertwine, leaving lasting impressions that resonate through memory.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1912 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy · 254 words
First lines
LITTLE head against my shoulder, Shy at first, then somewhat bolder, And up-eyed; Till she, with a timid quaver, Yielded to the kiss I gave her; But, she sighed.
That there mingled with her feeling Some sad thought she was concealing It implied. -Not that she had ceased to love me, None on earth she set above me; But she sighed.
She could not disguise a passion, Dread, or doubt, in weakest fashion If she tried: Nothing seemed to hold us sundered, Hearts were victors; so I wondered Why she sighed.
Afterwards I knew her throughly, And she loved me staunchly, truly, Till she died; But she never made confession Why, at that first sweet concession, She had sighed.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sigh is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Narrative Poetry, Victorian Literature
- Length: 254 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is structured as a poem that expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, longing, and emotional depth align with the Romantic movement's focus on individual experience and emotion.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on loss and remembrance, fitting the elegiac tradition of mourning and reflection.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story of love and emotional complexity, typical of narrative poetry.
Tags
melancholy · love · loss · regret · nature · human emotion · romanticism · despair · longing · nostalgia · isolation · yearning