This broader category of poems encapsulates the universal loss experience in all its forms. From losing loved ones, relationships, and dreams, to the intangible losses of time and youth, these poems delve into the intricacies of grief, resilience, and acceptance.
They often speak of the cyclical nature of life, finding beauty in impermanence, and the power of letting go.
‘One Art’ by Elizabeth Bishop reveals the extent to which people will deny the possibility of grief as a way of coping with inevitable loss, comparing it to an art form that can be easily mastered.
The central topic addressed by Bishop's poem is undoubtedly loss. Plenty of poems have pined and wrestled with life's mutability and impermanence, what sets this poem apart is its approach. Instead of passionately rallying against it, the speaker embraces it in a sadly ironic manner that highlights the need to make peace with loss. By the end of the poem, it becomes clear that it's just as difficult to romantically rebel against loss as it is to acquiesce to it.
‘Poppies’ captures a mother’s heartache for her war-bound son, weaving symbols of memory with the scars of war’s aftermath.
Loss is portrayed both emotional and physical. The speaker feels it most keenly through the absence of touch, of voice, and of presence. It’s layered into every line, expressed through actions like smoothing a collar or releasing a bird.
‘Sea Canes’ by Derek Walcott is a beautiful and deeply sad poem about loss. It uses the natural world to imply that there are ways to feel close to those one has lost again.
Loss is clearly a very important topic in this piece. From the first lines, Walcott shares the depth of his loss with readers and indicates that he'd do anything to get his loved ones back.
Ros Barber’s ‘Material’ stitches a nostalgic mourning of the shift from hankies to tissues, blending personal grief and societal critique.
Loss is fundamentally connected to the poem, as the poet wrote this poem grappling with profound loss after her mother's death. She admitted that this collection helped her process the loss of her mother as she navigated her grief through writing. The poem 'Material' channels this loss, with handkerchiefs symbolizing the connection and longing for her mother. Each material object and tradition represents aspects of her mother and her time with her, as the poem reflects the loss of an entire era's values and warmth. Thus, the poem embodies the poet's repressed emotions of loss while portraying what humanity has lost with increasing industrialization.
Michael Longley’s ‘Ceasefire’ is a unique and powerful retelling of a classical scene with immense modern significance.
Priam's tragic loss of his son is compounded by the fact that he must literally and figuratively beg at the feet of the man who killed him in order to recover his body for burial. Longley brilliantly renders how painful this experience must have been for Priam, which is so moving that even Achilles is brought to tears. Interestingly, Achilles is also moved by the loss, despite causing it and having no prior relationship with Hector.
Put in mind of his own father and moved to tears
Achilles took him by the hand and pushed the old king
Gently away, but Priam curled up at his feet and
Wept with him until their sadness filled the building.
‘Vespers’ by Louis Glück attempts to determine who or what carries the burden responsibility for the premature death of a life.
Glück's poem uses the tomato crop to discuss a particular type of loss: the death of someone or something you feel a responsibility for. Although the poem begins with the speaker attempting to assign blame, they eventually realize that it doesn't matter. Regardless of who or what is truly at fault, the speaker cared enough about the tomatoes to feel guilty over their premature demise, which leaves them heartbroken.
‘As imperceptibly as grief’ by Emily Dickinson analyzes grief. The poet compares it to the passing away of the summer.
The poem brilliantly depicts the manner in which become become accustomed to loss as similar to the passing of the seasons, which occurs so subtly that we scarcely notice it. Similarly, Dickinson implies that one day a person will realise they had not thought of their lost loved one, even if only for hours or minutes and then they will realise that the acute feelings of loss are lifting.
In ‘Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking’ by Walt Whitman, nature’s symphony reveals life’s mysteries, echoing the quest for love and meaning amidst solitude.
Loss permeates the poem, manifesting in various forms, such as the death of the she-bird and the subsequent grief experienced by the narrator. It delves into the profound emotional impact of loss, highlighting themes of mourning, longing, and existential anguish. Through poignant imagery and introspective reflections, the poem explores the transformative power of loss and its enduring presence in the human psyche.
Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,
Out of the mocking-bird’s throat, the musical shuttle,
Out of the Ninth-month midnight,
Over the sterile sands and the fields beyond, where the child leaving his bed wander’d alone, bareheaded, barefoot,
‘Absence’ explores grief’s solitude, contrasting unchanged scenes with internal turmoil, capturing the stark reality of loss.
Loss is central to the poem, as the unchanged beauty of the setting amplifies the speaker’s sense of absence. The contrast between the serene environment and the speaker’s emotional turmoil highlights the depth of their loss, illustrating how personal grief can alter one’s perception of familiar surroundings.
I visited the place where we last met.
Nothing was changed, the gardens were well-tended,
‘The River’ by Sara Teasdale narrates the poignant merging of the river in the sea from the personified river’s perspective.
Loss and the ensuing despair and pain are central to this poem. The river's encounter with the sea shatters her dreams of attaining peace and leads to the loss of her innocence, hope, and expectations, causing disillusionment. Furthermore, the dark and wild sea transforms the river, consuming her freshness of rainwater, which leads to a fundamental change in the river, turning her bitter; thus, the river loses her identity or elemental essence as the sea converts her and merges her into itself. The pain of this loss is evident in the river's vain cries to the valleys, asking them to take her back.
‘A Dead Rose’ mourns the short-lived nature of beauty, with vivid imagery and poignant emotions.
This poem looks into the topic of loss through its depiction of the faded beauty of the rose. The poem captures the sense of loss as the rose's vibrant colors and fragrance diminish over time. It conveys the melancholy realization that beauty is ephemeral and that we experience a sense of loss when something once cherished changes or fades away. The poem invites reflection on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of loss and decay.
O Rose! who dares to name thee?
No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet;
But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat,—-
Kept seven years in a drawer—-thy titles shame thee.
Romano’s ‘When Tomorrow Starts Without Me’ offers solace in grief, exploring love and afterlife, reassures that loved ones remain forever.
The poem delves into the pain of loss, reflecting both the narrator’s sorrow in leaving and the grief of those left behind. It balances this pain with the comfort of enduring love and shared memories. The message is one of hope: though loss is inevitable, the bonds of love remain unbroken, offering strength and solace.
‘Little Boy Blue’ by Eugene Field is a beautiful, heartbreaking poem that describes the aftermath of a child’s death. It focuses on the child’s toys and how, despite many years having gone by, they’re still waiting for him.
The loss of a child and how that loss affects the child's still-waiting toys is at the heart of the poem. While the speaker does not mention the child's parents, it's likely that they, too are preserving something of the same attitude as the personified toys.
‘The Triumph of Achilles’ depicts the titular hero as he mourns the loss of his beloved companion Patroclus.
The poem presents the weight of Achilles' loss as comparable to the burning of dozens of Greek ships, presumably with men aboard. This is just one way in which the poet captures the all-consuming nature of loss; it feels as if nobody has ever experienced it in the same way. This is, naturally, ironic as loss is one of the few emotions that everybody will feel at some point in their lives.
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