Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

LEAVE-TAKING, by LOUISE BOGAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Leave-taking" is a poignant and introspective poem by Louise Bogan, published in her 1941 collection "The Sleeping Fury." The poem reflects on the idea of letting go and the pain that comes with it.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging that there is always a certain sadness associated with goodbyes. The second stanza talks about how one can never truly escape the past, and how it always seems to follow us, making it difficult to leave things behind. The third stanza describes the physical act of leaving, packing up belongings and shutting the door, which adds to the feeling of finality.

The fourth stanza focuses on the passage of time, and how it is both a comfort and a source of pain. The speaker acknowledges that time will heal the pain of the leave-taking, but at the same time, time also serves as a reminder of what has been lost.

In the final stanza, the speaker contemplates the idea of moving on and finding new experiences, but acknowledges that the past will always be a part of them. The poem ends with the speaker realizing that it is possible to leave things behind, but they will always carry a piece of those experiences with them.

Poetic Elements:

Form: The poem consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, giving the poem a sense of structure and balance.
Imagery: The poem contains vivid imagery, such as the description of packing up belongings and shutting the door, which creates a sense of finality and closure.
Tone: The tone of the poem is reflective and contemplative, as the speaker looks back on the past and considers what it means to move forward.

Conclusion:

"Leave-taking" is a moving poem that reflects on the pain and difficulty of saying goodbye. Through its use of vivid imagery and reflective tone, the poem conveys the sense of finality and loss that comes with leaving something behind. Ultimately, the poem offers a sense of hope and resilience, as the speaker realizes that while it is possible to move on, the past will always be a part of them.

Poem Snippet:

"So we must meet apart from love

And talk of other things,

And talk of things in general

Till love has grown to wings."