poetry summaries and quotes

When We Two Parted
Summary:

When We Two Parted
Summary:

The speaker reflects on the sorrow of a secretive breakup. They express deep regret and the lingering pain of lost love, with feelings of betrayal and sadness continuing long after the relationship ended.

When We Two Parted quote:

"Pale grew thy cheek and cold, / Colder thy kiss."

Love’s Philosophy
Summary:

The speaker argues that love should be mutual, drawing on the natural world's tendency to connect and unite. They highlight how everything in nature mingles, suggesting that love between humans should follow the same pattern.

Love’s Philosophy Quote:

"The fountains mingle with the river / And the rivers with the ocean."

Porphyria’s Lover
Summary:

A man narrates how he strangles his lover in a twisted act of love, preserving the moment when she appeared to worship him completely. The poem explores obsessive and possessive love.

Porphyria’s Lover quote

"That moment she was mine, mine, fair, / Perfectly pure and good."

Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’
Summary:

The speaker yearns for their absent lover, comparing their thoughts to wild vines growing around a tree. Their intense longing consumes them, but they find joy in the anticipation of being reunited.

Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ quote:

"I do not think of thee – I am too near thee."

Neutral Tones
Summary:

The speaker remembers a painful moment in their relationship, recalling the coldness and bitterness of a conversation by a pond. This memory defines their understanding of love’s failures and endings.

Neutral Tones quote:

"The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing."

Letters from Yorkshire
Summary:

Two people living far apart maintain a connection through letters. One person is rooted in nature, while the other is in an urban setting, but their relationship continues despite the physical distance.

Letters from Yorkshire quote:

"Our souls tap out messages across the icy miles."

The Farmer’s Bride
Summary:

A farmer recounts his failed marriage to a young woman who has become terrified of him. The poem explores unrequited love and power imbalances in relationships.

The Farmer’s Bride quote:

"She runned away."

Walking Away
Summary:

A father recalls the painful moment of watching his child walk away, becoming independent for the first time. The poem reflects on the natural process of growing up and letting go.

Walking Away quote:

"Like a satellite / Wrenched from its orbit."

Eden Rock
Summary:

The speaker imagines a peaceful scene by a river, where their parents are waiting for them. The poem explores the theme of death and reunion in the afterlife, with an idyllic, nostalgic tone.

Eden Rock quote:

"The sky whitens as if lit by three suns."

Follower
Summary:

The speaker reflects on their admiration for their father’s skill as a farmer and the shifting roles in their relationship as the father grows older and the son becomes stronger.

Follower quote:

"I was a nuisance, tripping, falling, / Yapping always."

Mother, Any Distance
Summary:

The speaker describes the experience of leaving home and the close relationship they share with their mother. The poem reflects on the tension between independence and the lasting bond with family.

Mother, Any Distance
quote:

"I space-walk through the empty bedrooms."

Winter Swans
Summary:

A couple walks by a lake after a period of conflict, witnessing swans who symbolize enduring love. The natural world brings them closer, hinting at reconciliation and healing.

winter swans quote:

"They mate for life."

Singh Song!
Summary:

The speaker, a shopkeeper, humorously describes how he neglects his duties to spend time with his new wife. The poem celebrates love and cultural identity in a lively and joyful tone.

Singh Song! quote:

"Is priceless baby."

Climbing My Grandfather
Summary:

The speaker metaphorically climbs their grandfather as if he were a mountain, reflecting on their close relationship and the desire to understand him better.

Climbing My Grandfather quote:

"The slow pulse of his good heart."

Before You Were Mine
Summary

The speaker imagines their mother’s life before she was born, picturing her as a vibrant, carefree young woman. The poem reflects on how motherhood changes a woman’s identity.

Before You Were Mine quote:

"I’m ten years away from the corner you laugh on."