Who will say farewell? The beating bell. Will anyone miss me? That I dare not tell - Quick, Rose, and kiss me.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker asks who will miss them and requests a kiss from Rose before departing, hinting at imminent death or separation.
- In plain terms
- Who will miss me? I do not dare say, so just kiss me quickly.
- What can you take from it?
- In moments of farewell, physical affection speaks louder than words.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is the speaker afraid to say who will miss them?
- How do we say goodbye without words?
Another view
The tone is melancholic and assumes a tragic end.
More from Cecil Day Lewis
So feast your eyes now On mimic star and moon-cold bauble: Worlds may wither unseen, But the Christmas Tree is a tree of fable, A phoenix in evergreen
Permalink to quote #4 Tempt me no more, for I Have known the lightning's hour, The poet's inward pride, The certainty of power.
Permalink to quote #6 Put out the lights now! Look at the Tree, the rough tree dazzled In oriole plumes of flame, Tinselled with twinkling frost fire, tasselled With stars and moons
Permalink to quote #3
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