When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up…
“When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste: Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow, For precious friends hid in death's dateless night, And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe, And moan the expense of many a vanish'd sight: Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reflects on memory, loss, and how thinking of a dear friend can ease sorrow.
In simple terms: Remembering a loved one eases grief.
Key Takeaway
Cherish memories to heal pain.
Themes
grief
memory
friendship
healing
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- mourning
- solitude
- consolation
- reflective writing
Key Concepts
mortality
nostalgia
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recalling a loved one change your present sorrow?
- What rituals help transform grief into gratitude?
A Different Perspective
If the friend is absent, remembrance may deepen longing.