Poems dealing with remorse often delve into feelings of guilt, shame, and a desire for atonement. They may recount actions that the speaker wishes to undo or words they wish they had never said.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner‘ depicts a profound sense of remorse and the lifelong penance of the mariner. The language in these poems tends to be heavy and laden with emotion, allowing readers to empathize with the intense regret portrayed, creating a somber and reflective experience.
‘A Hymn to God the Father’ by John Donne is the speaker’s prayer to God that he be forgiven for all his wretched sins.
‘A Hymn to God the Father’ evokes the emotion of remorse through the speaker's profound sense of guilt and repentance. The poem's confessional tone and introspective language express a deep remorse for past sins. The repetition of the phrase "Wilt Thou forgive that sin" emphasizes the speaker's anguish and longing for forgiveness. The acknowledgement of leading others to sin and the fear of perishing with sin also contribute to the overwhelming sense of remorse. Through the exploration of remorseful emotions, the poem captures the weight of wrongdoing and the desperate desire for redemption, evoking a sense of remorse that resonates with readers.
In rich poetic language, ‘Ash Wednesday’ presents the spiritual struggle of an alienated individual lacking faith in decayed modern culture.
The poem reflects the significance of recognizing sins and repentance for attaining meaning and spiritual solace. Using Christian references, the speaker discusses repentance and redemption, evoking the reader's remorse for the speaker and probably for themselves for the wrongs, they might have committed mistakenly.
‘Disabled’ by Wilfred Owen explores the suffering, alienation, and traumatic life of a disabled soldier who participated in the Great War.
Throughout the poem, the soldier grapples with the inescapable consequences of his puerile decision, which left indelible scars on his body and psyche, dooming his life. He can not bear the outside environment and happy boys who remind him of his past life instead of the life he can never have now. The remorse for wasting his own life for nothing can be deeply felt as he contemplates even losing his limbs didn't attain him the glory he anticipated before joining the war.
Gunn’s ‘The Man with Night Sweats’ contrasts past vitality with present fragility, capturing the intimate pain of AIDS.
In ‘The Man with Night Sweats,’ the speaker is remorseful of the fact that he himself is responsible for the suffering of his body and his mind. He explains this deep regret in the lines, “I cannot but be sorry/ The given shield was cracked.”
‘La Figlia Che Piange’ presents the internal conflict of the speaker as he cannot come to terms with the memories of his breakup.
'La Figlia Che Piange' presents the speaker's guilt or remorse over the way his breakup took place. The poem deals with his inner conflict as he is trapped in the thoughts of his breakup, constantly reimagining the scene with unrealized moments or how he wanted it to take place. The overarching emotion of remorse is accentuated as the speaker reflects on the extent of his psychic turmoil - "Sometimes these cogitations still amaze/ The troubled midnight and the noon's repose."
‘Sonnet 110’ or ‘Alas, ’tis true I have gone here and there’ is about the speaker’s realization that he only wants the Fair Youth.
After realizing the value of the addressee's love, the speaker regrets his past decisions, feeling guilty for wronging him. The poem bears the speaker's internal struggle as he remorsefully faces the consequences of his misjudgment. His earnest apology emphasizes his growth and self-awareness and reflects his genuine remorse as he attempts to restore his connection with the youth. The emotion of remorse drives the poem, and the speaker's apology echoes the idea that sometimes, one needs to experience loss to fully understand the lost possession's worth.
Alas! 'tis true, I have gone here and there,
And made my self a motley to the view,
Gored mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear,
‘A Prodigal Son’ reveals how a mixture of desperation, shame, and longing leads a wayward child back toward a redemptive parental love.
Of all the emotions found in Rossetti's poem, the speaker's remorse is the most earnestly felt and articulated. It is this feeling of guilty regret that molds their understanding of their past mistakes, leading them to yearn for redemption and, if possible, reconciliation. The acknowledgment of their current suffering, juxtaposed with the abundance available at home, highlights a regret in forsaking familial love for fleeting pleasures. The speaker's realization that the servants in their father’s house are "rich and blessed" further develops that remorse.
In ‘Part V: The Rime of The Ancient Mariner,’ the dead crew rises, guided by spirits, in a quest for redemption. Supernatural meets divine.
The mariner still feels deeply sorry for what he did. Even when the ship begins to move again and the sounds become peaceful, he cannot forget that he killed the albatross. The voices remind us that although he has started to pay for his mistake, there is still more to come. His sadness over the past and his understanding of its cost stay with him and shape how he sees everything happening around him.
‘White Lies’ by Natasha Trethewey is a poetic exploration of racial identity in the American South through three lies a girl tells about being white.
The poem induces remorse through the narrator’s realization of the impact of her deceit on herself and her family. The act of being punished by her mother for lying, and the internalization of this punishment, evokes a deep sense of regret for her actions. This remorse is central to understanding the poem’s exploration of personal responsibility and moral integrity.
‘What is Evidence’ by Natasha Trethewey delves into trauma and identity, depicting the body as the ultimate testament to lived experience.
This poem evokes remorse through imagery of concealment and reflection. The woman's attempts to hide bruises and wear false teeth suggest a sense of regret or guilt for past actions or decisions. References to fading signatures and markers evoke a feeling of sorrow or remorse for what has been lost or forgotten. The poem's introspective tone and poignant imagery resonate with themes of remorse and reflection.
‘A Poem For Mother’ by Robin S. Ngangom contains the speaker’s regret for how he has lived. He feels his mother should not be proud of him.
The speaker expresses feelings of remorse in this poem when he considers the life his mother has lived and how it doesn't seem to be improving. He feels that she's worked far too hard for other people throughout her life and that she's not been as happy as she deserves to be.
‘London, 1802’ by William Wordsworth is an Italian sonnet that invokes Milton as a means of reclaiming England’s eroded moral values in the industrial age.
Undoubtedly, the second most powerful sentiment expressed by the poem is the speaker's remorse over the direction England has gone in since Milton's death. The octave finds them listing all the ways their country has lost its way. "We are selfish men," they mourn, wishing that the poet might return to teach them again "manners, virtue, freedom, power."
‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a lyrical ballad narrated by an old sailor about a mysterious sea journey.
The Mariner in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' does not just feel guilt, but deep remorse for killing the albatross. He realizes too late that his action was a mistake, and he cannot undo the suffering he has caused. Even after he is forgiven, his remorse never fully fades. He is left telling his story over and over again, hoping to prevent others from making the same mistake.
In ‘I am very bothered’, the Speaker takes on the role of confessor, as he shares a shameful event from his past and offers it up to the Reader to make up their minds about the misdemeanor.
Along with guilt, the speaker also expresses remorse, especially in how he reflects on the pain he caused. He admits to being bothered by his past actions, particularly the injury he gave to someone he seemed to care about. The calm, almost plain tone of the poem makes the memory feel even more unsettling. It suggests that his regret is not just emotional but also rooted in the permanent damage he caused to someone else’s life.
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