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For the crown of our life as it closes Is darkness, the…

“For the crown of our life as it closes Is darkness, the fruit thereof dust; No thorns go as deep as a rose's, And love is more cruel than lust. Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.” quote by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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“For the crown of our life as it closes Is darkness, the fruit thereof dust; No thorns go as deep as a rose's, And love is more cruel than lust. Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.”

Algernon Charles Swinburne

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He reflects on life's decline, comparing love and death to decay, suggesting that time corrupts even the most beautiful things.

In simple terms: Time erodes love and life.

Key Takeaway

Accept impermanence and its pain.

Themes

mortality love decay time despair

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • aging
  • relationships
  • artistic expression

Key Concepts

Romanticism nihilism existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can beauty persist despite decay?
  • What role does hope play in confronting mortality?
A Different Perspective

May overlook resilience and renewal.

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