Absent From Thee
By John Wilmot
Absent from thee I languish still;
Then ask me not when I return?
The straying fool ‘twill plainly kill
To wish all day, all night to mourn.Dear! from thine arms then let me fly,
That my fantastic mind may prove
The torments it deserves to try
That tears my fixed heart from my love.When wearied with a world of woe
To thy safe bosom I retire,
Where love, and peace, and truth does flow,
May I contented there expire,Lest, once more wandering from that heaven,
I fall on some base heart unblest,
Faithless to thee, false, unforgiven,
And lose my everlasting rest.
Summary of Absent From Thee
- Popularity of “Absent from thee”: The poem *Absent from Thee* was penned by John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, a notable figure in English poetry. While many of Wilmot’s works were published after his death, this particular poem was likely known only among close acquaintances during his lifetime. It explores desire, infidelity, and the longing for a secure, loving relationship. Its enduring appeal stems from its frank, sometimes cynical portrayal of human emotions.
- “Absent from thee” as a Representation of Love: The poem delves into the speaker’s complex feelings toward his beloved. He confesses that separation causes him great anguish, yet he deliberately pursues other experiences, even those he knows will be painful. He acknowledges the allure of infidelity but ultimately wishes to return to the safety and peace offered by his original love, to the point of hoping for a peaceful death within her embrace.
- Major Themes in “Absent from thee”: Infidelity, the power of love, and suffering are central to the poem. The speaker grapples with the consequences of his actions, recognizing that his “straying” brings pain. He seems driven by a desire to test the limits of his own desires, highlighting the tension between fleeting pleasure and lasting love, and his ultimate yearning for forgiveness and contentment.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Absent From Thee”
Literary devices enrich a poem, adding layers of meaning beyond the literal. John Wilmot skillfully employs several techniques in *Absent from Thee*.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds creates musicality and emphasizes certain words. The short ‘e’ sound recurs in “When wearied with a world of woe,” drawing attention to the speaker’s exhaustion and despair.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds enhances rhythm and highlights key phrases. The repeated ‘w’ sound in “When wearied with a world of woe” conveys heaviness and sorrow.
- Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words adds texture. The ‘r’ sound in “Lest, once more wandering from that heaven” evokes restless movement and longing.
- Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence from one line to the next without pause creates fluidity and momentum. In the passage “That my fantastic mind may prove
The torments it deserves to try
That tears my fixed heart from my love,” enjambment builds tension and emphasizes the speaker’s internal struggle.
- Imagery: Wilmot uses vivid images to evoke emotions. Phrases such as “Dear! from thine arms then let me fly,” “When wearied with a world of woe,” and “The straying fool ‘twill plainly kill” create immediate, powerful impressions.
- Metaphor: The poem compares abstract concepts to tangible ones. Love, peace, and truth are likened to a flowing river – “Where love, and peace, and truth does flow” – suggesting abundance and restorative power.
- Personification: Abstract ideas receive human qualities, as in “fantastic mind” that “may prove / The torments it deserves to try.” This highlights the speaker’s internal turmoil.
- Rhetorical Question: The poem poses questions that serve to emphasize feelings rather than seek answers, such as “Then ask me not when I return?”
- Symbolism: Certain images carry symbolic weight. Flying represents a reckless pursuit of fleeting pleasures, while “everlasting rest” symbolizes the peace and security the speaker craves.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Absent From Thee”
Poetic devices enhance the artistic quality of a poem. Here is an analysis of those employed in *Absent from Thee*.
- End Rhyme: The poem does not follow a strict end rhyme scheme, but there are occasional internal rhymes and consonant echoes that contribute to its musicality.
- Quatrain: The poem is organized into quatrains—four-line stanzas—a common structure in English poetry that provides order and balance.
- Rhyme Scheme: While the poem lacks a consistent ABAB pattern, the deliberate placement of sounds creates a subtle rhythm that guides the reader through the poem’s ideas.
- Stanza: The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines, contributing to its overall coherence and impact.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly resonant when discussing the pain of separation and the longing for love.
“Absent from thee I languish still;
Then ask me not when I return?
The straying fool ‘twill plainly kill
To wish all day, all night to mourn.”
This opening stanza immediately establishes the poem’s central theme of suffering and the speaker’s sense of helplessness.