The poem employs a consistent structure with repeated phrases and a refrain that emphasizes longing and uncertainty, suggesting that the speaker grapples with the loss of love and the emotional void it creates. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of the lines underlines the cyclical nature of hope and despair as the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the absence of their beloved.
Thou art the soul of a summer’s day, Thou art the breath of the rose. But the summer is fled And the rose is dead Where are they gone, who knows, who knows? Thou art the blood of my heart o’ hearts, Thou art my soul’s repose, But my heart grows numb And my soul is dumb Where are thou, love, who knows, who knows? Thou art the hope of my after years— Sun for my winter snows But the years go by ‘Neath a clouded sky. Where shall we meet, who knows, who knows?
In 1–2 sentences, explain a conclusion that can be drawn about the poem based on its structure.
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