Her Voice by Oscar Wilde
Analysis
"Her Voice" is a poem written by Oscar Wilde. The poem is written as somewhat of an argument with himself. At first, Wilde says he loves the woman and looks to marry her (he's the bee and she's a flower), but as the poem progresses, he realizes that the two are too different and instead they should simply "kiss once again, and part".
"Her Voice" is a six stanza poem written in the rhyme scheme ABABBAA. There isn't any particular meter structure, however, Wilde does a fantastic job of switching up the feet in a way to keep the rhythm nice and neat. As well, the rhyme helps keep the poem at a nice pace and hold a great structure.
Poem
Her Voice The wild bee reels from bough to bough With his furry coat and his gauzy wing, Now in a lily-cup, and now Setting a jacinth bell a-swing, In his wandering; Sit closer love: it was here I trow I made that vow, Swore that two lives should be like one As long as the sea-gull loved the sea, As long as the sunflower sought the sun, - It shall be, I said, for eternity 'Twixt you and me! Dear friend, those times are over and done; Love's web is spun. Look upward where the poplar trees Sway and sway in the summer air, Here in the valley never a breeze Scatters the thistledown, but there Great winds blow fair From the mighty murmuring mystical seas, And the wave-lashed leas. Look upward where the white gull screams, What does it see that we do not see? Is that a star? or the lamp that gleams On some outward voyaging argosy, - Ah! can it be We have lived our lives in a land of dreams! How sad it seems. Sweet, there is nothing left to say But this, that love is never lost, Keen winter stabs the breasts of May Whose crimson roses burst his frost, Ships tempest-tossed Will find a harbour in some bay, And so we may. And there is nothing left to do But to kiss once again, and part, Nay, there is nothing we should rue, I have my beauty, - you your Art, Nay, do not start, One world was not enough for two Like me and you.
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