Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Beloved" is a poem written by Michael Field, a pseudonym for the collaborative efforts of two British women writers, Katharine Bradley and Edith Coope who wrote under this shared pen name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The poem was published in 1892 as part of their collection titled "Long Ago," which consists of over one hundred poems exploring themes of love, loss, and death. The poem "Beloved" expresses the comforting and protective power of love in the face of life's challenges and inevitable mortality.:

The primary theme of "Beloved" is the transformative and uplifting nature of love. The poem suggests that when one is truly beloved, the negative aspects of life lose their power to harm and bring sorrow. Love is depicted as a healing force, capable of providing comfort, protection, and even transforming the experience of aging, sorrow, sickness, and death.

The poem's structure also includes parallelism, with the repetition of the phrase "What is" at the beginning of each stanza, highlighting the transformative power of love in various life situations.

"Beloved" celebrates the transformative power of love and its ability to alleviate the hardships and fears that come with mortality. The poem suggests that when one is truly beloved, the presence and support of love can transcend the physical and emotional burdens of life. Love becomes a guiding force, offering solace, comfort, and protection throughout life's journey.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...