Early Love Revisited
By Victor Hugo
I have wished in the grief of my heart to know
If the vase yet treasured that nectar so clear,
And to see what this beautiful valley could show
Of all that was once to my soul most dear.
In how short a span doth all Nature change,
How quickly she smoothes with her hand serene —
And how rarely she snaps, in her ceaseless range,
The links that bound our hearts to the scene.
Our beautiful bowers are all laid waste;
The fir is felled that our names once bore;
Our rows of roses, by urchins' haste,
Are destroyed where they leap the barrier o'er.
The fount is walled in where, at noonday pride,
She so gayly drank, from the wood descending;
In her fairy hand was transformed the tide,
And it turned to pearls through her fingers wending
The wild, rugged path is paved with spars,
Where erst in the sand her footsteps were traced,
When so small were the prints that the surface mars,
That they seemed to smile ere by mine effaced.
The bank on the side of the road, day by day,
Where of old she awaited my loved approach,
Is now become the traveller's way
To avoid the track of the thundering coach.
Here the forest contracts, there the mead extends,
Of all that was ours, there is little left —
Like the ashes that wildly are whisked by winds,
Of all souvenirs is the place bereft.
Do we live no more — is our hour then gone?
Will it give back naught to our hungry cry?
The breeze answers my call with a mocking tone,
The house that was mine makes no reply.
True! others shall pass, as we have passed,
As we have come, so others shall meet,
And the dream that our mind had sketched in haste,
Shall others continue, but never complete.
For none upon earth can achieve his scheme,
The best as the worst are futile here:
We awake at the selfsame point cf the dream —
All is here begun, and finished elsewhere.
Yes! others shall come in the bloom of the heart,
To enjoy in this pure and happy retreat,
All that nature to timid love can impart
Of solemn repose and communion sweet.
In our fields, in our paths, shall strangers stray,
In thy wood, my dearest, new lovers go lost,
And other fair forms in the stream shall play
Which of old thy delicate feet have crossed.
Poem Analysis:
Victor Hugo's poem "Early Love Revisited" is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the inevitable changes it brings to both the physical landscape and the emotional connections associated with it. Through vivid imagery and a melancholic tone, Hugo explores themes of love, loss, memory, and the relentless march of time.
Theme and Content
The central theme of the poem is the bittersweet nature of revisiting places tied to past love and the realization of how time alters both the environment and the emotional ties once held dear.
- Nostalgia and Loss: The poem opens with the speaker expressing a desire to revisit a place filled with memories of past love: "I have wished in the grief of my heart to know / If the vase yet treasured that nectar so clear." This sets a tone of nostalgia and longing for a time and place now changed.
- Change and Transformation: Hugo illustrates how nature and human activity have altered the landscape: "Our beautiful bowers are all laid waste; / The fir is felled that our names once bore." The physical changes in the environment serve as a metaphor for the emotional shifts that time brings.
- Memory and Continuity: Despite the changes, there is a sense that memories persist, albeit altered: "Of all that was ours, there is little left — / Like the ashes that wildly are whisked by winds." The imagery of ashes suggests that while the past is gone, its remnants linger in memory.
- Transience of Human Experience: Hugo reflects on the transient nature of human life and love: "Do we live no more — is our hour then gone? / Will it give back naught to our hungry cry?" This existential questioning underscores the fleeting nature of human experiences.
- New Generations and Continuity: The poem concludes with an acknowledgment that new lovers will come to the same places and create their own memories: "In our fields, in our paths, shall strangers stray, / In thy wood, my dearest, new lovers go lost." This cyclical view of love and life suggests a continuity beyond individual experiences.
Imagery and Tone
Hugo employs rich imagery and a melancholic tone to convey the themes of the poem.
- Vivid Imagery: The imagery in the poem is both vivid and evocative. Descriptions such as "The fir is felled that our names once bore" and "The fount is walled in where, at noonday pride, / She so gayly drank, from the wood descending" create a strong visual sense of the changes in the landscape.
- Melancholic Tone: The tone of the poem is melancholic, reflecting the speaker's sadness and longing for the past. This is evident in lines like "The breeze answers my call with a mocking tone, / The house that was mine makes no reply," where the speaker's attempts to reconnect with the past are met with silence and indifference.
Structure and Style
Hugo's use of structure and style enhances the emotional depth and thematic resonance of the poem.
- Structured Reflection: The poem is structured as a series of reflections, each stanza building on the theme of change and loss. This structured approach allows the reader to follow the speaker's emotional journey from longing to acceptance.
- Lyrical Style: Hugo's lyrical style, characterized by flowing lines and harmonious rhythm, adds to the poem's emotional resonance. The use of rhyme and meter creates a musical quality that enhances the reflective and melancholic tone.
"Early Love Revisited" by Victor Hugo is a poignant exploration of the passage of time and its impact on both the physical and emotional landscapes of life. Through vivid imagery, melancholic reflections, and a lyrical style, Hugo captures the bittersweet nature of revisiting places tied to past love. The poem highlights the inevitable changes brought by time and the enduring nature of memory and love, while also acknowledging the continuity of human experiences across generations. Hugo's masterful use of imagery and tone makes "Early Love Revisited" a timeless and moving reflection on the transient yet enduring nature of love and life.