She went as quiet as the dew

Summary

The poem explores themes of loss and the ephemeral nature of life, using the imagery of dew and stars to convey how someone dear has quietly and unexpectedly disappeared. The comparison between the person's departure and the natural elements such as dew and stars suggests a gentle yet inevitable departure, as well as the difficulty of comprehending and accepting their absence. The mention of a familiar flower and a summer evening evokes a sense of nostalgia, underscoring the emotional impact of the loss. The poem reflects on the challenge of believing and understanding such a departure, likening it to complex astronomical calculations, suggesting how confounding and sorrowful it can be to grasp the permanence of such a loss.

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She went as quiet as the dew
From a familiar flower.
Not like the dew did she return
At the accustomed hour!

She dropt as softly as a star
From out my summer’s eve;
Less skilful than Leverrier
It’s sorer to believe!