how does the last stanza shape the overall meaning of the poem? support your answer by citing evidence from the text
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
1 answer
The last stanza of the poem shapes the overall meaning by emphasizing the theme of lost love and the fleeting nature of love. The image of Love fleeing and hiding his face among the stars suggests that love is elusive and transient, symbolized by its movement from the earthly realm to the celestial realm. This idea is further reinforced by the speaker's murmuring "a little sadly," indicating a sense of longing or regret for love that has been lost or is out of reach. The stanza adds a sense of resignation and melancholy to the poem, deepening its exploration of the theme of love's impermanence.