Love and Loss

Where it surfaces

• Stanzas to Miss Wylie

  The speaker's urgent invitation and promises of devotion reflect a theme of romantic longing and the fear of missing out on shared bliss.

• Woman! When I Behold Thee Flippant, Vain

  The speaker's conflicted adoration and the fear of unrequited or imperfect love highlight the theme's presence.

• To ⸻

  The speaker's unrequited or distant love and the longing to reach the beloved's heart.

• Sonnet: As from the Darkening Gloom

  The departed soul enters a realm of 'everlasting love,' while the speaker questions why grief persists in the face of such joy.

• On a Picture of Leander

  Leander's tragic death in pursuit of his beloved Hero highlights the theme of love leading to loss.

• To a Young Lady Who Sent Me a Laurel Crown

  The speaker's devotion to the young lady is expressed through his willingness to kneel and kiss her hand.

• To a Friend Who Sent Me Some Roses

  The roses from a friend bring a tender plea of peace and truth, suggesting themes of affection and the enduring bond of friendship.

• To My Brother George

  The poem expresses deep affection for the brother George, suggesting that natural wonders lose their meaning without shared experience.

• Sonnet: Keen, Fitful Gusts Are Whisp'ring

  The speaker reflects on Milton's love for the drowned Lycid and Petrarch's love for Laura, intertwining themes of affection and mourning.

• Endymion

  Endymion's transition from dream to earthly love is marked by both joy and sorrow, as he renounces his visionary past.

• Book II

  Endymion and the goddess experience the pain of separation and the intensity of their love.

• III

  Glaucus's unrequited love for Scylla and his subsequent seduction by Circe highlight the pain and loss inherent in love.

• IV

  Endymion's passionate confession and the Carian's loss of his lady highlight the pain and transience of love.

• Lines

  The poem explores the intensity of love and the speaker's willing submission to its laws, hinting at both joy and potential madness.

• Sharing Eve’s Apple

  The poem celebrates the passionate, physical aspect of love while acknowledging its impermanence ('it only will last our youth out').

• Song: Hush, Hush! Tread Softly!

  The poem captures the intensity and secrecy of forbidden love, with the constant threat of discovery by the 'jealous old bald-pate.'

• I

  The secret, cautious meeting of lovers under threat of discovery by a jealous figure.

• II

  The speaker's devotion to Isabel is central, as her presence outshines the moon and all natural light.

• III

  The lover's intense, secret kiss is shadowed by the fear of death if discovered, blending passion with the threat of loss.

• Extracts from an Opera

  The verses explore the intensity of love, from adoration and prayer to fear of imperfection and separation.

• O! Were I One of the Olympian Twelve

  The speaker's longing for a law that rewards the lover's toil with kisses and beauty underscores the theme of love's desire and the pain of separation.

• Song: The Stranger Lighted from His Steed

  The secret, unheard kisses and the lady's willing retreat with the stranger suggest a clandestine love affair.

• Asleep! O Sleep a Little While, White Pearl

  The speaker expresses sudden adoration and vows of devotion to a sleeping beloved.

• To a Lady Seen for a Few Moments at Vauxhall

  The poem explores the enduring pain of a lost, momentary love that colors all subsequent experiences.

• To John Hamilton Reynolds

  The longing for repeated 'parting and warm meeting' underscores the pain of separation and the desire to mitigate loss through temporal expansion.

• The Devon Maid

  The speaker's affectionate pursuit of the Devon maid and the desire for a shared, intimate moment evoke themes of love and its transient joys.

• Isabella, or the Pot of Basil

  The central theme of the poem, depicting the intense love between Isabella and Lorenzo and the devastating loss following his murder.

• Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil I

  The chapter depicts the intense, inseparable bond between Isabel and Lorenzo, foreshadowing eventual loss.

• II

  The deepening love between Lorenzo and Isabel is portrayed as tender and all-consuming, foreshadowing potential loss.

• III

  The lover's sick longing and constant watchfulness reflect the theme of love intertwined with the pain of separation.

• IV

  The lovers' prolonged delay and growing pallor reflect the tension between desire and inaction.

• V

  Lorenzo's determination to confess his love is driven by Isabella's visible suffering from unspoken affection.

• VI

  The chapter explores the overwhelming and contradictory nature of passion, where love brings both feverish ambition and meek vulnerability.

• VII

  The chapter depicts the anguish of love intertwined with the foreboding of loss, as Isabel reads Lorenzo's suffering.

• VIII

  Lorenzo's passionate confession and fear of doom reflect the theme of love intertwined with loss.

• IX

  Love is portrayed as a guiding force that transforms the speaker's environment and emboldens him, leading to shared poetic bliss.

• Parting and Reunion

  The lovers' parting and reunion highlight the themes of love and the fleeting nature of separation.

• XI

  The secret meetings of the lovers are tinged with foreboding, as the speaker hints at future woe that idle ears will relish.

• XII

  The chapter questions the unhappiness of lovers and the excessive pity given to them after death.

• XIII

  The chapter contrasts the sweetness of love with the bitterness it can bring, using the tragic fates of Dido and Isabella as examples.

• XXI

  The brothers' discovery of Lorenzo and Isabel's love sets the stage for impending loss, as their bitterness threatens to tear the lovers apart.

• XXII

  The brothers' plot to kill Lorenzo directly threatens the love between Isabel and Lorenzo, foreshadowing tragic loss.

• XXV

  The protagonist's intense passion and longing for his lady, culminating in her joyful appearance.

• XXVI

  The chapter captures the tender anxiety of lovers parting, even briefly, and the joy of anticipated reunion.

• XXVII

  Lorenzo's love for Isabel is contrasted with the brothers' murderous intent, highlighting the tragic loss of love.

• XXVIII

  Lorenzo's love ends with his death in the forest.

• XXIX

  The brothers' lie aims to sever Isabel's hope of reunion with Lorenzo, emphasizing the theme of love threatened by loss.

• Isabel's Lament

  She mourns the absence of love and the loss of her beloved Lorenzo.

• XXXI

  Isabel's love transforms into sorrow and tragic passion as she frets over her absent beloved.

• XXXIII

  Isabel's love for Lorenzo turns to anxiety and foreshadows loss.

• XXXV

  The ghostly visitation of Lorenzo underscores the enduring love and profound loss felt by Isabel.

• XXXVII

  The basil plant's eyes are bright with love, protecting Isabel from the memory of Lorenzo's murder.

• XXXVIII

  Lorenzo's plea from the grave underscores the enduring bond and sorrow of separation.

• XL

  The speaker's love for a pale, seraphic figure is intertwined with a sense of loss and the grave.

• XLIII

  Isabel's devotion to Lorenzo drives her to seek his remains in the forest.

• XLVI

  Isabel's desperate digging at the grave reflects her profound love and the loss of Lorenzo.

• XLVII

  The glove, a token of lost love, is cherished and mourned over, highlighting the theme of love and loss.

• XLVIII

  Isabel's labor over the basil, which contains the remains of her lover, reflects the intertwining of love and loss.

• L

  The chapter emphasizes love's immortality despite death, with Isabella mourning the loss.

• LI

  Isabel's care for the basil plant symbolizes her enduring love and loss of Lorenzo.

• LII

  Isabel's mourning is expressed through her careful and tearful tending of the basil plant.

• LIII

  Her devotion to the basil plant symbolizes her enduring love for Lorenzo and the depth of her loss.

• LIV

  Isabel's grief for Lorenzo is channeled into nurturing the basil plant, symbolizing her undying love and loss.

• LVIII

  The basil plant serves as a tangible symbol of Isabel's lost love, Lorenzo, and her inability to move on from his death.

• LIX

  Isabel's devotion to the basil plant reflects her enduring love and grief for Lorenzo.

• LXI

  Isabel's death is caused by the loss of her basil plant, a symbol of her love.

• LXII

  Isabel's desperate mourning for her basil plant reflects deep love and profound loss.

• LXIII

  Isabel's death from grief over the loss of her basil plant symbolizes the destructive power of love and loss.

• Acrostic

  The speaker expresses deep affection for his sister, valuing love and brotherhood above poetic fame.

• On Hearing the Bag-Pipe and Seeing “The Stranger” Played at Inverary

  The speaker's inability to choose between the two dainties and his eventual parting from both reflects a theme of love and loss.

• Translation from a Sonnet of Ronsard

  The speaker's love for Cassandra is immediate and consuming, but it brings only burning pains and a sad end.

• Song

  The poem centers on the grief of losing a beloved dove, exploring the pain of separation and unanswered questions.

• Modern Love

  The poem deconstructs romantic love as an illusion, contrasting historical passion with modern triviality.

• The Eve of St. Agnes

  The central romance between Madeline and Porphyro is shadowed by the danger of discovery and the final escape into a storm, highlighting the fragility of love.

• V

  The Lady's heart is wholly occupied with love, brooding all day on St. Agnes' care.

• St. Agnes' Eve Rituals

  The ritual is centered on receiving adorings from loves and visions of delight, highlighting the theme of romantic longing.

• VII

  Madeline's heart is elsewhere, longing for a love that may come through dreams.

• IX

  Porphyro's intense longing for Madeline and his hope for a forbidden encounter highlight the theme of passionate love.

• The Perilous Venture

  Love is portrayed as a feverish citadel under siege, with the lover's heart stormed by hostile forces.

• XIII

  Porphyro's desperate search for Madeline underscores the theme of love's urgency and the potential for loss.

• XIV

  The theme of love and loss is present through the risky venture of Porphyro to see Madeline on St. Agnes' Eve, highlighting the stakes and potential sorrow.

• XV

  Porphyro's tears and emotional turmoil reflect the poignant blend of love and impending loss.

• XVII

  Porphyro's desperate vow to protect Madeline underscores the theme of love's intensity and the fear of loss.

• XIX

  Porphyro's risky plan to win Madeline as his bride underscores the theme of love's pursuit and potential loss.

• Chapter XX

  The urgency and devotion in the plan to wed the lady highlight the theme of love overcoming obstacles.

• Chapter XXI

  Porphyro's secret and risky approach to Madeline's chamber highlights the intensity and peril of their love.

• XXII

  The tension of Porphyro's hidden vigil and Madeline's vulnerable return evokes the precariousness of love and the fear of loss.

• XXIII

  Madeline's intense, silent emotional turmoil reflects the theme of love and the fear of loss or unfulfilled desire.

• XXV

  Porphyro's intense reaction to Madeline's purity underscores the theme of idealized love and its potential for loss.

• XXVIII

  Porphyro's silent, reverent observation of Madeline underscores the intensity of his love and the precariousness of their secret meeting.

• XXIX

  Porphyro's anguished preparation and the fading noise of the feast evoke a sense of longing and impending separation.

• The Eve of St. Agnes

  Porphyro's elaborate offering symbolizes his devotion and the risk of loss if his plan fails.

• XXXI

  Porphyro's desperate plea for Madeline to awaken underscores the tension between love's fulfillment and the fear of loss.

• XXXII

  Porphyro's inability to redeem his lady's eyes from the spell suggests a tension between love's desire and the loss of connection to reality.

• XXXIII

  The knight's playing of a song about a merciless lady and the lady's disturbed reaction evoke themes of unrequited or tragic love.

• XXXIV

  The painful change from dream to waking brings tears and sorrow, reflecting the tension between love's bliss and its loss.

• XXXV

  Madeline's desperate plea to Porphyro underscores the theme of love threatened by loss and eternal separation.

• XXXVI

  The intense union of Porphyro and Madeline is set against the cold, fleeting night, hinting at inevitable separation.

• XXXVII

  Madeline's realization that her love may lead to loss and abandonment, as she fears Porphyro will leave her.

• XXXVIII

  Porphyro's passionate declaration of love and devotion to Madeline, framed as a pilgrim's quest fulfilled.

• A Dream, After Reading Dante’s Episode of “Paolo and Francesca”

  The poem centers on the sorrow of lovers in hell, with pale lips and a melancholy storm evoking lost love.

• Ode to Fanny

  The speaker's passionate love for Fanny is intertwined with fears of loss, jealousy, and the pain of uncertain affection.

• La Belle Dame Sans Merci

  The knight's brief, intense love for the faery lady ends in loss and desolation.

• VI

  The intimate act of making adornments and the beloved's affectionate response evoke themes of love and its potential transience.

• VII

  The lady's declaration of love, though sincere, foreshadows the speaker's eventual loss.

• VIII

  The deep sighs and the intimate act of kissing suggest a poignant moment of love tinged with melancholy.

• La Belle Dame sans Merci

  The speaker's enchantment by La Belle Dame Sans Merci leads to a doomed love and loss of agency.

• Chorus of Fairies

  Zephyr and Breama's mutual longing and the rivalry between Salamander and the others evoke themes of desire, attachment, and the pain of separation.

• II

  The tender, peaceful embrace of Cupid and Psyche evokes the beauty and fragility of love.

• V

  Love is the central figure invited into the sanctuary, suggesting both presence and longing.

• Lamia

  Lycius's love for Lamia ends in tragic loss when she is exposed and vanishes, leaving him dead.

• Lamia's Transformation and the Meeting with Lycius

  Lamia's love for Lycius is central, but the encounter with Apollonius foreshadows potential loss and tragedy.

• II

  The brief bliss of Lycius and Lamia ends in tragic loss due to pride and exposure.

• Sonnet: The Day Is Gone

  The poem vividly catalogues the beloved's physical attributes now lost, emphasizing the pain of separation at day's end.

• To Fanny

  The speaker's desperate plea for complete, guileless love and the threat of loss if it is not granted.

• Lines to Fanny

  The speaker's intense longing for his beloved Fanny and the pain of remembrance highlight the theme of love intertwined with loss.

• The Cap and Bells

  Elfinan's thwarted love for mortal Bertha and Bellanaine's forced marriage highlight themes of unfulfilled desire and loss.

• XIII

  Bellanaine's unfulfilled love and her yearning for another man after marriage.

• XIX

  Elfinan's lament for his lost love for Bertha and his sorrow over the forced marriage.

• Chapter XX

  Love's thwarted passion leads to destructive fury, blending amorous desire with vengeful cruelty.

• XLIII

  The Emperor's infatuation with Bertha Pearl is revealed, highlighting the theme of romantic love and longing.

• XLV

  The monarch's declaration of being in love and his desire to obtain the lady.

• XLVIII

  The Emperor's love causes him physical and emotional pain

• LI

  The monarch's reaction to the defiant couplet against Cupid reflects themes of love and emotional turmoil.

• LIII

  The speaker defends the prince's love for Bertha, suggesting it is natural and not a crime.

• LIV

  The Emperor's desire to embrace a sweet girl reflects themes of romantic pursuit and longing.

• To George Keats

  The deep, inexpressible feelings of gratitude and love for his brother and friends highlight the theme of love in the face of potential loss.

• The Last Sonnet

  The poem's central tension between the desire for eternal union and the inevitability of separation or death.