Recollections of Love - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
/Recollections of Love - Samuel Taylor Coleridge/
A Lyrical Meditation on the Beloved’s Enduring Presence
Original Poem (English), line by line (commonly cited version):
And in Life’s noisiest hour
There whispers still the ceaseless love of Thee,
The heart’s self-solace and soliloquy.
You mould my Hopes, you fashion me within;
And to the leading love-throb in the Heart
Through all my Being, through my pulses beat;
You lie in all my many Thoughts like Light,
Like the fair light of Dawn, or Summer Eve
On rippling Stream, or cloud-reflecting Lake;
And looking to the Heaven, that bends above you,
How oft! I see you in its azure eyes,
That watch me with the silent light of Love!
Note: Depending on the edition or manuscript consulted, the text of “Recollections of Love” can vary slightly in wording or line arrangement. The version above reflects a commonly referenced form from Coleridge’s later collections.
In “Recollections of Love,” Samuel Taylor Coleridge celebrates the beloved’s continual presence in his inner life. Written in a gently flowing rhythm, the poem explores how love transcends external clamor—the ‘noisiest hour’—by whispering a steadfast consolation from within. In classic Romantic fashion, Coleridge entwines emotional experience with the natural world. Dawn light, evening reflections on a lake, and the ‘azure eyes’ of the sky all become mirrors of the beloved’s spirit, illuminating the speaker’s thoughts.
Throughout the poem, Coleridge emphasizes that this love isn’t passive or merely sentimental: it actively ‘fashions’ the poet from within, guiding his hopes and shaping his perspective. By likening the beloved’s influence to ‘light,’ he suggests that her presence clarifies and beautifies every aspect of his mental world. The poem thus underscores a key Romantic ideal: emotional bonds can elevate one’s perception of nature, transforming ordinary scenery into a tapestry of personal meaning.
In essence, “Recollections of Love” portrays love as an abiding, almost mystical force that pervades both daily reflection and grander landscapes. While the poem remains relatively brief and meditative, it captures the Romantic conviction that profound affection can alter one’s inner life, revealing itself in the gentle resonance of the heart and in the tranquil images of the natural world. (Approx. 200 words)
Key points
1. Love is depicted as a persistent, inward solace that endures amidst life’s external noise.
2. Natural imagery—dawn, rippling streams, the sky—serves as a reflection of the beloved’s constant presence.
3. Coleridge highlights love’s active, creative power: it ‘fashions’ and inspires the poet’s inner being.
4. The poem illustrates a Romantic blending of emotional intensity with the serenity of nature.
5. “Recollections of Love” exemplifies how affectionate memory can shape and illuminate one’s perception of the world.