Now goes under, and I watch it go under, the sun That will…
““Now goes under, and I watch it go under, the sun That will not rise again. Today has seen the setting, in your eyes cold and senseless as the sea, Of friendship better than bread, and of bright charity That lifts a man a little above the beasts that run. That this could be! That I should live to see Most vulgar Pride, that stale obstreperous clown, So fitted out with purple robe and crown To stand among his betters! Face to face With outraged me in this once holy place, Where Wisdom was a favoured guest and hunted Truth was harboured out of danger, He bulks enthroned, a lewd, an insupportable stranger! I would have sworn, indeed I swore it: The hills may shift, the waters may decline, Winter may twist the stem from the twig that bore it, But never your love from me, your hand from mine. Now goes under the sun, and I watch it go under. Farewell, sweet light, great wonder! You, too, farewell,-but fare not well enough to dream You have done wisely to invite the night before the darkness came.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A lamentation of fading light and love, juxtaposing the inevitability of death with steadfast affection, while critiquing pride and false authority.
In simple terms: Love endures despite darkness and pride.
Key Takeaway
Hold love steady amid change.
Themes
love
death
pride
authority
light
darkness
Mood
somber
defiant
hopeful
Type
lyarrative
lament
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- relationship support
- creative writing
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
impermanence
faithfulness
social critique
mythic imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “the sun that will not rise again” represent?
- How can love resist external forces?
A Different Perspective
The poem’s dense language may obscure its emotional core for some readers.