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O Love, O great god Love, what have I done, That thou…

“O Love, O great god Love, what have I done, That thou shouldst hunger so after my death? My heart is harmless as my life's first day: Seek out some false fair woman, and plague her Till her tears even as my tears fill her bed.” quote by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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“O Love, O great god Love, what have I done, That thou shouldst hunger so after my death? My heart is harmless as my life's first day: Seek out some false fair woman, and plague her Till her tears even as my tears fill her bed.”

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.

The poet laments love’s power over him, feeling both guilt and yearning after a lover’s death.

In simple terms: Love’s loss haunts the poet.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge and process grief.

Themes

love guilt loss yearning spiritual conflict

Mood

melancholic introspective poetic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal mourning
  • artistic creation
  • spiritual reflection
  • relationship loss

Key Concepts

romanticism mortality psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does guilt shape love’s memory?
  • Can art transform sorrow into understanding?
A Different Perspective

The poet’s self‑condemnation may hinder healing.

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