“After” by Philip Bourke Marston is a genuinely compelling poem as it captures
the emotions and feelings of the narrator struggling to cope with the departure
of his lover. The poem underlines that time is fleeting always and that any
moment one gets, he should take advantage of it as the narrator could not,
himself. Other than that, the poem also highlights that the everlasting pain
from a leaving lover can only be relieved by death.
The poet makes this melancholic poem so powerful by emphasising the fact
that time is inevitable, even when one is in love. This is expressed by using
strong diction in the quote: “A little while ‘twas given”. The word “little”
connotes ideas such as limited, and ephemeral. The narrator points out that
time only permitted him to have his lover for a brief period. Furthermore, this
shows that time is powerful as it cannot be controlled or adjusted by anyone to
his liking. It is merely something one can just appreciate with what is given to
him.
In addition, the narrator points out that every moment one gets, one should
take advantage of it. Diction is once again used as the narrator says he needs
to comprehend everything by “long, long years to weep in,”. The word “weep”
connotes the idea of sorrow, disparity, and numbness. The word indicates that
the narrator is remorseful and dismal of not being able to appreciate the time
with his lover. Furthermore, the repetitive use of the word “long” connotes an
enduring and protracted period. Here, the consequence of the narrator’s
mistake is highlighted by emphasising the amount of time he needs to accept
his lover’s departure.
Lastly, the notion of death is the only solution for the eternal pain from a loved
one’s departure is displayed using juxtaposition and therefore, making this
poem much more powerful. In the quote “Great grief that desolates the soul,
And eternity to sleep in.”, the words “soul” and “sleep” juxtaposes each other.
The word “soul” connotes ideas like light, life and full of spirit. On the other
hand, the word “sleep” connotes words like emptiness, lifelessness, and
fatigue. This suggests that the “great grief” that now inhabits his once lively
soul now has brought him great fatigue for life. In other words, the narrator
believes that there’s no other purpose for living and the only thing to do to
relieve the agony is to have eternal sleep, which is death.
By buttressing the idea that time is inevitable and that the loss of a partner
results in huge turmoil, the narrator has indeed made this a powerful poem.
the emotions and feelings of the narrator struggling to cope with the departure
of his lover. The poem underlines that time is fleeting always and that any
moment one gets, he should take advantage of it as the narrator could not,
himself. Other than that, the poem also highlights that the everlasting pain
from a leaving lover can only be relieved by death.
The poet makes this melancholic poem so powerful by emphasising the fact
that time is inevitable, even when one is in love. This is expressed by using
strong diction in the quote: “A little while ‘twas given”. The word “little”
connotes ideas such as limited, and ephemeral. The narrator points out that
time only permitted him to have his lover for a brief period. Furthermore, this
shows that time is powerful as it cannot be controlled or adjusted by anyone to
his liking. It is merely something one can just appreciate with what is given to
him.
In addition, the narrator points out that every moment one gets, one should
take advantage of it. Diction is once again used as the narrator says he needs
to comprehend everything by “long, long years to weep in,”. The word “weep”
connotes the idea of sorrow, disparity, and numbness. The word indicates that
the narrator is remorseful and dismal of not being able to appreciate the time
with his lover. Furthermore, the repetitive use of the word “long” connotes an
enduring and protracted period. Here, the consequence of the narrator’s
mistake is highlighted by emphasising the amount of time he needs to accept
his lover’s departure.
Lastly, the notion of death is the only solution for the eternal pain from a loved
one’s departure is displayed using juxtaposition and therefore, making this
poem much more powerful. In the quote “Great grief that desolates the soul,
And eternity to sleep in.”, the words “soul” and “sleep” juxtaposes each other.
The word “soul” connotes ideas like light, life and full of spirit. On the other
hand, the word “sleep” connotes words like emptiness, lifelessness, and
fatigue. This suggests that the “great grief” that now inhabits his once lively
soul now has brought him great fatigue for life. In other words, the narrator
believes that there’s no other purpose for living and the only thing to do to
relieve the agony is to have eternal sleep, which is death.
By buttressing the idea that time is inevitable and that the loss of a partner
results in huge turmoil, the narrator has indeed made this a powerful poem.
