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Poetry · Chapter

XXX: Love Came to Us in Time Gone By explained

The speaker reflects on a past love that arrived shyly and fearfully, acknowledging that love is initially daunting.

What happens

The speaker reflects on a past love that arrived shyly and fearfully, acknowledging that love is initially daunting. Now that love has passed, they welcome the paths ahead.

Themes in this chapter

  • Love and Longing

    The poem centers on the memory of love and its initial shyness, now past.

  • Memory and Nostalgia

    The speaker looks back on love 'in time gone by' with a sense of wistful acceptance.

Characters to notice

  • Narrator

    Reflects on past love and the passage of time.

  • Beloved

    The one who played shyly and stood in fear during the early days of love.

  • Love

    Personified as a fleeting presence that came and went.

Key passages

  • “Love came to us in time gone by When one at twilight shyly played And one in fear was standing nigh⁠— For Love at first is all afraid.”

    Love arrived in the past, when one person acted coyly at dusk and the other stood nearby in fear, because love initially makes everyone timid.

    Describes the hesitant beginning of the relationship.

  • “We were grave lovers. Love is past That had his sweet hours many a one; Welcome to us now at the last The ways that we shall go upon.”

    We were serious lovers. Love, which once brought many sweet moments, is now over; we now accept the paths that lie ahead of us.

    Acknowledges the end of love and a peaceful acceptance of the future.

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