The Last Ride Together
By an Unknown Poet
I said, then, dearest, since ’tis so,
Since now at length my fate I know,
Since nothing all my love avails,
Since all my life seems meant to fail,
Since this was written and must be,
My whole heart rises up to bless
Your name in pride and thankfulness.
Take back the hope you gave, I claim
Only a memory of the same,
And this beside, if you will not blame,
Your leave for one more last ride with me.
My mistress bent that brow of hers,
Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs
When pity would be softening through,
Fixed me a breathing‑while or two
With life or death in the balance, right!
The blood replenished me again;
My last thought was at least not vain;
I and my mistress, side by side,
Shall be together, breathe and ride, CAESRA,
So, one day more am I deified.
Who knows but the world may end tonight?
Hush! if you saw some western cloud
All billowy‑bosomed, over‑bowed
By many benedictions, sun’s
And moon’s and evening‑star’s at once,
And so, you, looking and loving best,
Conscious grew, your passion drew
Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star‑shine too,
Down on you, near and yet more near,
Until flesh must fade for heaven was here!
Thus leant she and lingered, joy and fear!
Thus lay she a moment on my breast.
Then we began to ride. My soul
Smoothed itself out, a long‑cramped scroll
Freshening and fluttering in the wind.
Past hopes already lay behind.
What need to strive with a life awry?
Had I said that, had I done this,
So might I gain, so might I miss.
Might she have loved me, just as well,
She might have hated, who can tell!
Where had I been now if the worst befell?
And here we are riding, she and I.
Fail I alone, in words and deeds?
Why, all men strive and who succeeds?
We rode; it seemed my spirit flew,
Saw other regions, cities new,
As the world rushed by on either side.
I thought, all labour, yet no less
Bear up beneath their unsuccess.
Look at the end of work, contrast
The petty done, the undone vast,
This present of theirs with the hopeful past.
I hoped she would love me; here we ride.
What hand and brain went ever paired?
What heart alike conceived and dared?
What act proved all its thought had been?
What will but felt the fleshly screen?
We ride and I see her bosom heave.
There’s many a crown for who can reach.
Ten lines, a statesman’s life in each.
The flag stuck on a heap of bones,
A soldier’s doing! what atones?
They scratch his name on the Abbey‑stones.
My riding is better, by their leave.
What does it all mean, poet? Well,
Your brains beat into rhythm, you tell
What we felt only; you express’d
You hold things beautiful the best,
And pace them in rhyme so, side by side.
It’s something, nay it’s much; but then,
Have you yourself what’s best for men?
Are you, poor, sick, old ere your time,
Nearer one whit your own sublime
Than we who never have turned a rhyme?
Sing, riding’s a joy! For me, I ride.
And you, great sculptor, so, you gave
A score of years to Art, her slave,
And that’s your Venus, whence we turn
To yonder girl that fords the burn.
You acquiesce, and shall I repine?
What, man of music, you grown gray,
With notes and nothing else to say,
Is this your sole praise from a friend,
‘Greatly his opera’s strains intend,
But in music we know how fashions end!’
I gave my youth: but we ride, in fine.
Who knows what’s fit for us? Had fate
Proposed bliss here should sublimate
My being, had I sign’d the bond,
Still one must lead some life beyond,
Have a bliss to die with, dim‑described.
This foot once planted on the goal,
This glory‑garland round my soul,
Could I descry such? Try and test!
I sink back shuddering from the quest.
Earth being so good, would heaven seem best?
Now, heaven and she are beyond this ride.
And yet, she has not spoke so long!
What if heaven be that, fair and strong,
At life’s best, with our eyes upturned,
Whither life’s flower is first discerned,
We, fixed so, ever should so abide?
What if we still ride on, we two,
With life forever old yet new,
Changed not in kind but in degree,
The instant made eternity,
And heaven just prove that I and she,
Ride, ride together, for ever ride?
Summary of The Last Ride Together
- Background: The poem “The Last Ride Together” is a contemporary work that appears to have been attributed to Robert Browning, but it is not found in any of his collections. The piece explores the longing of a lover seeking one final shared moment before parting.
- Central Idea: The speaker pleads for a last ride with his beloved, hoping that the experience will rekindle affection or at least provide closure. He reflects on her subtle gestures and his own feelings, illustrating the depth of unrequited longing.
- Key Themes: Rejected love, hopeful longing, the fleeting nature of time, and the enduring power of memory are central to the poem. The narrative follows the speaker’s inner thoughts and his attempt to find meaning in a final shared experience.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in The Last Ride Together
Although the poem is uncredited, it demonstrates several literary devices that heighten its emotional impact.
- Anaphora: Repetition of the word “since” at the beginning of several lines creates rhythm and emphasis.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds, such as the long “a” in “take back the hope you gave,” adds musical quality.
- Alliteration: The opening of the poem uses repeated consonant sounds like the “d” in “deep dark.”
- Consonance: The recurring “f” in “flesh” and “fate” gives the poem a subtle internal echo.
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions of clouds, sunsets, and celestial bodies create sensory experiences for the reader.
- Irony: The speaker’s declarations of love contrast with the knowledge that his beloved is likely uninterested.
- Metaphor: Comparisons such as “my spirit flew” portray emotional states.
- Paradox: Statements like “the petty done, the undone vast” highlight conflicting ideas.
- Symbolism: Eyes, clouds, and stars symbolize hope, longing, and destiny.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Last Ride Together
The poem’s structure and rhythm also contribute to its effect.
- Diction: The language blends formal diction with colloquial expressions to convey a complex emotional tone.
- End Rhyme: The poem is free verse; it does not rely on a consistent rhyme scheme.
- Repetition: The repeated use of “ride” and “ride together” reinforces the central theme.
- Rhyme Scheme: There is no fixed rhyme scheme; the poem uses varied end sounds for musicality.
- Stanza: The poem is organized into a single long block of verse rather than distinct stanzas.
- Tone: The tone fluctuates between longing, resignation, and quiet determination.
Quotes to be Used
As the world rushed by on either side.
I thought, all labour, yet no less
Bear up beneath their unsuccess.
Look at the end of work, contrast
The petty done, the undone vast,
This present of theirs with the hopeful past.
I hoped she would love me; here we ride.