Absence - Lyrics Of The Hearthside By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Original Story：

Good–night, my love, for I have dreamed of thee
In waking dreams, until my soul is lost—
Is lost in passion’s wide and shoreless sea,
Where, like a ship, unruddered, it is tost
Hither and thither at the wild waves’ will.
There is no potent Master’s voice to still
This newer, more tempestuous Galilee!
The stormy petrels of my fancy fly
In warning course across the darkening green,
And, like a frightened bird, my heart doth cry
And seek to find some rock of rest between
The threatening sky and the relentless wave.
It is not length of life that grief doth crave,
But only calm and peace in which to die.
Here let me rest upon this single hope,
For oh, my wings are weary of the wind,
And with its stress no more may strive or cope.
One cry has dulled mine ears, mine eyes are blind,—
Would that o’er all the intervening space,
I might fly forth and see thee face to face.
I fly; I search, but, love, in gloom I grope.
Fly home, far bird, unto thy waiting nest;
Spread thy strong wings above the wind–swept sea.
Beat the grim breeze with thy unruffled breast
Until thou sittest wing to wing with me.
Then, let the past bring up its tales of wrong;
We shall chant low our sweet connubial song,
Till storm and doubt and past no more shall be!

Expansion and Analysis

Overview and Interpretation

This poem is a heartfelt expression of love, longing, and emotional turbulence. The speaker addresses their beloved, bidding them goodnight while confessing that even in waking moments, their thoughts are consumed by dreams of love. The soul is metaphorically lost in a vast, boundless sea of passion, tossed like a rudderless ship by wild waves. This imagery conveys a sense of helplessness and emotional unrest.

The poem uses the metaphor of a "stormy Galilee"—a reference to the Sea of Galilee, known for sudden storms—to depict the inner turmoil of the speaker’s heart and mind. The "stormy petrels" symbolize ominous thoughts or worries flying across the mind’s horizon. The speaker’s heart cries out like a frightened bird searching for safety, a "rock of rest," between the threatening sky and relentless waves, symbolizing the struggle to find peace amid emotional chaos.

The poem emphasizes that grief does not seek a long life but rather peace and calm in which to die, highlighting the deep desire for emotional relief. The speaker’s "wings are weary," showing exhaustion from battling the storm of feelings. They long to overcome the distance and darkness separating them from their beloved, yearning to reunite and find solace together.

The closing lines express hope for reconciliation and harmony, encouraging the beloved to return home and join in a "sweet connubial song," where past wrongs and doubts will be forgotten, and peace will reign.

Author Background and Creation Context

This poem reflects the style of romantic and Victorian-era poetry, where themes of love, nature, and emotional depth were common. The author, though not explicitly named here, likely drew inspiration from the intense emotional experiences typical of the Romantic literary movement, which prized individual feeling and the sublime power of nature.

The imagery of the sea, birds, and storms is a classic motif used to explore human emotions and relationships. The poem’s creation might have been inspired by personal experiences of separation, longing, or emotional conflict, common themes in love poetry.

Educational Value for Children and Students

From this poem, children and students can learn:

• Metaphorical language: Understanding how abstract feelings like love and grief can be expressed through vivid images such as seas, storms, and birds.
• Emotional expression: Recognizing how poetry can convey complex emotions like longing, fear, hope, and reconciliation.
• Vocabulary building: Words like tost, connubial, tempestuous, and petrels can enrich their language skills.
• Literary devices: Identifying metaphors, similes, personification, and symbolism in poetry.
• Cultural references: Learning about the Sea of Galilee and its symbolic significance in literature.

Practical Applications and Life Lessons

• Emotional resilience: The poem teaches that emotional storms are part of life, but hope and love can bring peace.
• Communication: Encourages expressing feelings honestly and seeking reconciliation.
• Patience and endurance: Like the weary wings of the bird, sometimes we must endure hardship before finding rest.
• Nature as a mirror: Understanding how natural elements can reflect human emotions helps develop empathy and creativity.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What metaphor does the speaker use to describe their soul's emotional state?
2. What does the "stormy Galilee" symbolize in the poem?
3. Why does the speaker say grief does not crave a long life?
4. What is the significance of the "stormy petrels" in the poem?
5. How does the poem end, and what message does this convey about love and reconciliation?

Answers

1. The speaker compares their soul to a rudderless ship tossed by wild waves in a wide and shoreless sea of passion.
2. The "stormy Galilee" symbolizes the speaker’s inner emotional turmoil and unrest.
3. The speaker believes grief seeks not a long life but calm and peace in which to die.
4. The "stormy petrels" represent ominous thoughts or warnings flying across the speaker’s mind.
5. The poem ends with hope for reunion and peace, where past wrongs are forgotten, and love brings harmony.

This poem offers rich material for students to explore emotional expression, metaphorical language, and the power of hope and love amidst adversity.