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This poem is a voice of a grieving individual who, perhaps,
wishes for their loved one to come back to them, either in life
or love. Referencing Ecclesiastes 1,9: “The thing that hath
been, it is that which shall be; in that which is done is that
which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the
sun.”, the speaker waxes poetic as they yearn for a lost love,
either in death or termination of a relationship.
Summary
pre-AICE Literature Poetry Explication
by Bryn Anderson
A poem by Christina Rossetti
The setting in which the poem takes place is
unknown, however, it was written in the
mid-1800’s and likely took place during and shortly
after the summer months. The poet reminisces
about the summer, mentioning birds. The
mention of “As, summer ended, summer
birds taking flight” leaves one to imagine
the birds leaving after the summer to find
warmer homes for the winter. This was
likely written in a Northern climate.
Personal Commentary
The poem was beautiful, the imagery showed how the woman yearned for her lost one, and craved their presence. Although there was a sense of longing and bereft, the nostalgia the woman felt brought memories of happier times, and times of comfort and warmth, yet also longing.
The tones used in this poem are varied and include:
Wistful (full of yearning of desire tinged with
melancholy): “Thus only in a dream we are at one”
Bereft (deprived or robbed of the possession or use of something, lacking something needed, wanted, or expected): “Nor find with dreams the dear companion gone.”
Longing “Thus only in a dream we give and take”
Reflective “Brighten than sunniest day that ever
shone”
Nostalgic “In happy dreams your smile makes
day of night”
The speaker is presumably a woman,
given the following, “I blush
again”. The word “blush” is a
feminine term, used rarely when
describing a male. The speaker
also uses religious terms and
references both faith and a
portion of a biblical verse from
the book of Ecclesiastes.
I Dream of You...
I dream of you, to wake: would that I might
Dream of you and not wake but slumber on;
Nor find with dreams the dear companion gone,
As, Summer ended, Summer birds take flight.
In happy dreams I hold you full in night.
I blush again who waking look so wan;
Brighter than sunniest day that ever shone,
In happy dreams your smile makes day of night.
Thus only in a dream we are at one,
Thus only in a dream we give and take
The faith that maketh rich who take or give;
If thus to sleep is sweeter than to wake,
To die were surely sweeter than to live,
Though there be nothing new beneath the sun.