# XXXIII: Now, O Now, in This Brown Land explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James Joyce.

## What happens

The narrator and beloved walk hand in hand in a brown, autumn landscape, acknowledging the end of their love with a sense of acceptance and nostalgia. They share a final kiss before parting, consoled by the natural cycle of the year.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transience and Loss

The poem directly addresses the end of love and the passing of the year, emphasizing acceptance of loss.

### Nature and Mood

The brown land, wind, and falling leaves mirror the melancholic yet peaceful mood of parting.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The speaker who reflects on the end of love and walks with the beloved.

### Beloved

The companion addressed as 'sweetheart,' sharing a final kiss and farewell.

### Love

Personified as the source of sweet music in the past, now ended.

## Key lines

> Now, O now, in this brown land / Where Love did so sweet music make / We two shall wander, hand in hand, / Forbearing for old friendship’ sake, / Nor grieve because our love was gay / Which now is ended in this way.

In this autumn landscape where love once flourished, we will walk together as friends, not mourning the joy that has passed.

_Establishes the setting and tone of resigned acceptance._

> Yet will we kiss, sweetheart, before / We take sad leave at close of day. / Grieve not, sweetheart, for anything— / The year, the year is gathering.

We will share one last kiss before parting at dusk; do not sorrow, for the year is drawing to its natural close.

_Final farewell with comfort drawn from the cycle of seasons._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_11_se/chapters/xxxiii-now-o-now-in-this-brown-land
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_11_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_11_se/chapters