The Twilight of Love
By Gilbert Parker
Adieu! and the sun goes awearily down,
The mist creeps up o’er the sleepy town,
The white sails bend to the shuddering mere,
And the reapers have reaped, and the night is here.
Adieu! and the years are a broken song,
The right grows weak in the strife with wrong,
The lilies of love have a crimson stain,
And the old days never will come again.
Adieu! where the mountains afar are dim
‘Neath the tremulous tread of the seraphim,
Shall not our querulous hearts prevail,
That have prayed for the peace of the Holy Grail?
Adieu! Some time shall the veil between
The things that are, and that might have been
Be folded back for our eyes to see,
And the meaning of all be clear to me.
Poem Analysis:
Gilbert Parker's poem "The Twilight of Love" is a poignant meditation on the end of love and the passage of time, rendered in a rich, lyrical style. Through evocative imagery and a contemplative tone, Parker explores themes of loss, longing, and the quest for meaning in the face of inevitable endings.
Themes
- The End of Love: The title itself, "The Twilight of Love," suggests a period of decline and the approaching end of a romantic relationship. The repeated use of "Adieu" (French for "goodbye") reinforces the sense of finality and farewell.
- Passage of Time: The poem is imbued with a sense of time passing and the changes it brings. References to the sun setting, the night arriving, and years becoming "a broken song" all convey the inexorable flow of time and its impact on love and life.
- Disillusionment and Loss: Parker reflects on the disillusionment that accompanies the end of love. The "lilies of love" bearing a "crimson stain" symbolize the tainting of purity and innocence by the harsh realities of life. The "old days" that "never will come again" underscore a sense of irretrievable loss.
- Quest for Understanding: Despite the sorrow and loss, there is a hopeful longing for understanding and peace. The poem ends with a desire for clarity, suggesting that one day the meaning behind these experiences might be revealed, and the veil between reality and possibility might be lifted.
Imagery and Symbolism
- Natural Imagery: Parker employs natural imagery to reflect the emotional landscape of the poem. The setting sun, creeping mist, and bending sails all create a mood of melancholy and transition. These images evoke the sense of a day ending, paralleling the end of a love affair.
- Religious and Mythological Allusions: References to the "seraphim" (angelic beings) and the "Holy Grail" (a symbol of ultimate truth and spiritual fulfillment) add a layer of spiritual quest and divine search for peace and understanding. These allusions suggest that the end of love is part of a larger, possibly divine, narrative.
- Stained Lilies: The "lilies of love" with a "crimson stain" are particularly striking. Lilies typically symbolize purity and innocence, while the crimson stain suggests corruption or loss of that purity. This image encapsulates the theme of love's decline and the pain associated with it.
- The Broken Song: Describing the years as "a broken song" conveys a sense of fragmentation and incompleteness. Songs usually symbolize harmony and beauty, and their brokenness suggests a life and love that are disrupted and unfinished.
Structure and Tone
- Lyrical Structure: The poem's structure, with its regular quatrains and rhythmic flow, gives it a lyrical and almost musical quality. This structure contrasts with the sorrowful content, enhancing the emotional impact of the poem.
- Reflective Tone: The tone is reflective and somber, with a sense of resignation to the inevitable end of love. The use of "Adieu" at the beginning of each stanza sets a mournful, farewell mood, emphasizing the finality and sadness of parting.
- Contemplative Progression: Each stanza builds upon the previous one, deepening the exploration of loss and longing. The progression from the physical end of the day to the spiritual longing for understanding mirrors the journey from immediate emotional pain to a broader search for meaning.
"The Twilight of Love" by Gilbert Parker is a deeply emotional poem that captures the essence of love's end and the passage of time. Through rich imagery and contemplative language, Parker explores themes of disillusionment, loss, and the quest for ultimate understanding. The poem's lyrical structure and reflective tone create a powerful elegy to love, making it a poignant meditation on the transient nature of human relationships and the enduring search for meaning amidst the sorrows of life.