What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why, I have…
“What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why, I have forgotten, and what arms have lain Under my head till morning, but the rain Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh Upon the glass and listen for reply, And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain For unremembered lads that not again Will turn to me at midnight with a cry. Thus in the winter stands the lonely tree, Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one, Yet knows its boughs more silent than before: I cannot say what loves have come and gone, I only know that summer sang in me A little while, that in me sings no more.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker reflects on forgotten loves and the passage of time, feeling lingering sorrow and the silence of lost connections.
In simple terms: Forgotten loves cause quiet sorrow.
Key Takeaway
Honor memories, acknowledge loss.
Themes
memory
loss
time
loneliness
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
emotional
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
nostalgia
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- What memories still haunt you?
- How can you transform sorrow into growth?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on past may hinder present growth.