A Leave-Taking
By Algernon Charles Swinburne
Let us go hence, my songs; she will not hear.
Let us go hence together without fear;
Keep silence now, for singing‑time is over,
And over all old things, and all things dear.
She loves not you nor me as all we love her.
Yea, though we sang as angels in her ear,
She would not hear.Let us rise up and part; she will not know.
Let us go seaward as the great winds go,
Full of blown sand and foam; what help is here?
There is no help, for all these things are so,
And all the world is bitter as a tear.
And how these things are, though ye strove to show,
She would not know.Let us go home and hence; she will not weep.
We gave love many dreams and days to keep,
Flowers without scent, and fruits that would not grow,
Saying ‘If thou wilt, thrust in thy sickle and reap.’
All is reaped now; no grass is left to mow;
And we that sowed, though all we fell on sleep,
She would not weep.Let us go hence and rest; she will not love.
She shall not hear us if we sing hereof,
Nor see love’s ways, how sore they are and steep.
Come hence, let be, lie still; it is enough.
Love is a barren sea, bitter and deep;
And though she saw all heaven in flower above,
She would not love.Let us give up, go down; she will not care.
Though all the stars made gold of all the air,
And the sea moving saw before it move
One moon‑flower making all the foam‑flowers fair;
Though all those waves went over us, and drove
Deep down the stifling lips and drowning hair,
She would not care.Let us go hence, go hence; she will not see.
Sing all once more together; surely she,
She too, remembering days and words that were,
Will turn a little toward us, sighing; but we,
We are hence, we are gone, as though we had not been there.
Nay, and though all men seeing had pity on me,
She would not see.
Summary of A Leave‑Taking
- Popularity of “A Leave‑Taking”: “A Leave‑Taking” is a poignant poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne, published in his 1866 collection of poems. It explores unrequited love through the personification of the poet’s songs as companions in a journey of heartbreak.
- Representation of Love: The poem narrates the speaker’s decision to withdraw from a love that is not reciprocated. The speaker addresses their songs, urging them to cease lamenting because the beloved remains indifferent. The poem depicts a graceful, sorrowful acceptance of this unrequited love, choosing to leave rather than persist in pain.
- Major Themes: The poem centers on unrequited love, the pain of indifference, and the acceptance of futility. The repeated refrain “She would not…” underscores the beloved’s lack of response. The theme is intertwined with resignation and quiet dignity in withdrawing from a situation where love is not returned.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in A Leave‑Taking
- Anaphora: The repetition of “Let us go hence” at the beginning of successive lines establishes a sense of relentless departure and acceptance, acting as a refrain that emphasizes the speaker’s unwavering decision.
- Assonance: Repeated vowel sounds give the poem a musical quality. For example, the “e” sound in “Keep silence now, for singing‑time is over” creates a flowing, melancholic tone, while the “ou” in “flowers without scent” adds to the sense of loss.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds, such as the “f” in “full of blown sand” or the “d” in “deep down the stifling lips,” provides texture and emphasis.
- Consonance: Repeated consonant sounds within words, as in “She loves not you nor me,” reinforce sorrow and quiet desperation.
- Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence from one line to the next without pause, as in “And the sea moving saw before it move / One moon‑flower making all the foam‑flowers fair,” creates a seamless flow that mirrors the speaker’s emotional state.
- Imagery: Evocative descriptions of the sea—“full of blown sand and foam”—create a melancholic, yet beautiful, setting that reflects the speaker’s feelings.
- Metaphor: Love is portrayed as a barren, unforgiving landscape. The line “Love is a barren sea, bitter and deep” captures the central theme of unfulfilled desire and the pain of indifference.
- Personification: The speaker treats their songs as sentient companions, adding a unique dimension that suggests shared sorrow.
- Symbolism: The sea symbolizes vastness and indifference, while the “moon‑flower” represents fleeting beauty and fragile hope. Reaping symbolizes the futility of effort when nothing grows from love.
- Simile: The comparison “and all the world is bitter as a tear” conveys the depth of sorrow through a tangible, painful sensation.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in A Leave‑Taking
- Diction and Tone: Swinburne’s diction is elegant and melancholic, creating a tone of quiet resignation and sorrow without melodrama.
- Rhyme Scheme: Each stanza follows a mostly irregular pattern that ends with the refrain “She would not….” This creates a sense of closure and reinforces the emotional impact.
- Stanza Structure: The poem consists of 12 stanzas of seven lines each, providing a structured framework for the speaker’s emotional journey.
- Repetition: The refrain “Let us go hence” and “She would not…” emphasize the central themes and underscore the speaker’s unwavering decision.
Quotes to be Used
Let us go home and hence; she will not weep.
We gave love many dreams and days to keep,
Flowers without scent, and fruits that would not grow,
Saying ‘If thou wilt, thrust in thy sickle and reap.’