Oh tarnish late on Wenlock Edge, Gold that I never see; Lie long, high snowdrifts in the hedge That will not shower on me.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker laments missing golden moments of youth or beauty that are now obscured by winter and out of reach.
- In plain terms
- I miss the bright times of my past that are now covered by snow and hidden.
- What can you take from it?
- Regret arises when beauty or opportunity passes without being experienced.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What beauty have you overlooked?
- How does nature mirror your loss?
Another view
The image assumes winter always hides beauty rather than offering its own.
More from A. E. Housman
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Permalink to quote #25 But from my grave across my brow Plays no wind of healing now, And fire and ice within me fight Beneath the suffocating night.
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